Guernsey Press

Northerners’ hopes slip away with sending off

GROUVILLE were not in any need of a helping hand on Saturday – but they got one nonetheless.

Published
North captain Sam Murray scores one of his two first-half goals against Grouville on Saturday. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin, 31301874)

With Northerners having done well to go into the break on level terms thanks to a brace of Sam Murray headers either side of two goals in two minutes for the visitors, the chocolate-and-blues were given a mountain to climb 90 seconds into the second half when Craig Young was shown a straight red card.

The former Guernsey Muratti captain gave referee Neil Jarvis no choice but to send him from the field for a two-footed challenge on Charlie Payn right under the official’s nose.

From that moment on there was only going to be one winner and Grouville were ruthless in the way they turned the screw, winning 5-2.

Earlier, the Jersey side had found themselves going a goal behind to their hosts very much against the run of play in the eighth minute when Danny Cooley picked out an inexplicably unmarked Murray who planted a firm header past Jacob Vidergrain on North’s first attack of note.

Before that, Archie Drillot had made a block from Harrison Moon’s shot after just 15 seconds and the Grouville No. 9 clipped the top of the crossbar with a volley on 5min. as the visitors made a bright start to the game.

The royal blues were winning most of the battles in midfield and looking a real threat going forward, but they did look a bit susceptible in defence on the rare occasions they were tested and on 18min. one long diagonal pass from Ryan Lamb picked out Brandon Wallace to spark a counter-attack, which ended with Vidergrain pushing Keene Domaillle’s shot wide.

Three minutes later, though, North were suddenly trailing.

The equaliser came when Max Rivers shrugged off the challenge of a North defender to reach Kieran Stephens’ through ball and showed good composure to slot home.

Barely a minute later, Moon made North pay for some sloppiness by finding the bottom corner of the net while on the stretch to put his side ahead.

It was no more than Grouville deserved at that stage and 10 minutes before half-time Dave Rihoy made an important block to prevent Rivers from extending the lead.

However, North rallied late in the half and after Luke Mollet nearly set up Lamb for an equaliser with a cross to the far post, the Cooley-Murray combination came up with another goal for the home side.

It followed good work from Domaille in switching the play to the right-hand side and this time Murray had far more competition for the fullback’s cross but he still managed to win the aerial battle and guide his header in off the far post.

Vidergrain saved well from Lamb on the stroke of half-time as the momentum threatened to swing North’s way, but Young’s poor challenge shortly after the turnaround put the hosts right on the back foot and Grouville made them pay.

The home side actually had only nine men on the pitch as Grouville went ahead once more as Murray was receiving treatment for a blow to his ribs when, on 62min., Rivers volleyed home after a long throw into the North penalty area caused all sorts of problems for the defence.

Moon had a couple of good chances to increase the lead which he failed to take, but it was third time lucky when he knocked in the rebound from close range after Rivers hit the post with 12 minutes remaining.

The latter completed his hat-trick just two minutes later as he turned in the box to create a yard of space before picking his spot in the bottom corner.

Substitute Blake Derbyshire could have made the margin of victory even more convincing in the closing moments, but he put one chance over the bar and had another well saved by Leroi Riley.

It mattered not by that stage, though.

In the other Jeremie Cup match, holders St Peter beat Bels 3-1 (report in Monday's Guernsey Press).