Saints win keeps them ahead in Wheway race

The Corbet Field side were forced to work hard for their victory on Saturday as an early Steffan Timms penalty meant they were behind for almost an hour, before an own-goal and strikes from Jacob Masterton-Pipet and Glenn Le Tissier handed them the three points.

‘It was a very sloppy first half-hour from us, we did not really get going and did not move the ball around particularly well, but to be fair to the boys after that they started to really play,’ said Romeril following the result.

‘We made a few tweaks at the break and then in the second half we scored three that were allowed and had another two disallowed, which is really encouraging to do against a team so disciplined and well organised.

‘It was the sort of game where the lads could have got on each other’s backs but they stayed focused, remained patient and got the goals that we needed.’

Rec will finish in the top four in Romeril’s first season at the helm and are still mathematically in the hunt for a Wheway Cup spot, although they require an unlikely goal difference swing to leapfrog Saints.

‘We’ve lost one game in the last 10 now and could double last season’s points tally in the league, which really speaks volumes about the group and how they’ve performed this season,’ Romeril said.

‘After winning the Stranger Cup we said to the lads that it’s important to stay focused and finish the season well, so full credit to the lads because the standards haven’t dropped at all.

‘We’ve had a great season – if you told me at the start of the year that we would win a trophy, get a win against every other team, double last season’s points tally and only lose five league games, I would not have believed you.

‘Now it’s vital to finish the season well with our last couple games and then build on it going into next season, the boys are all in it together so I’m very pleased with how we’re doing.’

Elsewhere in the Priaulx, St Martin’s got back to winning ways as they edged out Belgrave Wanderers 1-0 in their penultimate league game thanks to a Callum Le Lacheur goal.

‘The result on Saturday was great for us and it was definitely a well deserved win, especially since the average age of our starting XI was only 20, so we’re really proud of the lads,’ said Saints boss Jason Leaman.

‘It was great putting out such a young squad because almost all of the lads have come through the ranks at the club and have now made their way to the first team.’

Victory for last season’s champions sees them rise to second in the Priaulx League table, although North have two games in hand on Leaman’s men.

‘During the game we had a lot of possession and played some really nice football, and the lads were really disciplined both in and out of possession,’ said the St Martin’s gaffer.

‘We definitely cannot fault the work ethic, attitude and application of the boys and we probably should have scored a few more goals to be honest, but at the end of the day a win is a win.

‘I have tweaked the formation recently and the lads have adjusted to that well, so there’s plenty of positives for us to take.’

Saints’ last league game of the season comes next week against Vale Rec, with the Blanche Pierre Lane club almost certain to fully secure their spot in the Wheway Cup for next season.

‘Our mindset remains the same for every game we play, we will prepare the best we can and look to close our season with three points,’ Leaman said.