Rihoy scores hat-trick as North reach semi-finals

The chocolate-and-blues dominated the ball against St Brelade, but they had to come from behind twice in the regulation 90 minutes to force extra-time before their superiority – both in footballing terms and also stamina – told for a 6-2 win on an energy-sapping Northfield pitch, which had been softened by the morning rain.

On a day when the home side donned their smart new kit for the first time, it helped that they found their shooting boots, too, having been drawing blanks in the Priaulx League of late, barring the own goals Rovers contributed to their tally four days earlier.

Dave Rihoy led the way with a hat-trick, while there was a brace for Tyrese Kelly and the other goal came from another young substitute in Auryn Le Tissier, but this was a win the team had to work extremely hard for.

St Brelade were well organised by former Jersey Bulls coach Gary Freeman and hard to break down during normal time, with a strong defence protected by the double-pivot ahead of them.

That was evident throughout the opening half-an-hour when North’s midfield found themselves with plenty of space to work in the middle of the pitch but constantly found the door closed when they looked to get into the final third.

There was little in terms of chances during the first quarter of the game and the hosts were then forced into a reshuffle when they lost Ryan Lamb to injury, upsetting their balance somewhat.

St Brelade made matters worse by taking the lead shortly afterwards thanks to a great finish from Ryan Le Cornu, who curled his first-time shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

That came against the run of play, yet five minutes later it should have been two, but Jake Syvret contrived to put a golden chance wide from seven yards after a neat interchange between Connor Maher and Will Yates.

With that solitary goal separating the sides at the break, North needed to find more of a cutting edge after the turnaround and visiting goalkeeper Tyler Quinn was eventually called into meaningful action just before the hour mark by Le Tissier, who had just come on for Keene Domaille.

Chris Le Cheminant’s volley drew another save out of Quinn on 65min. as the game started to heat up and North’s keeper Seb Jennings then made two impressive stops in the space of a minute to deny both Syvret and Rafa Andrade.

North finally got the goal they merited on 75min. when, after a set-piece had been half-cleared by St Brelade, Archie Drillot knocked the ball back into the box, Le Cheminant made a nuisance of himself and the ball fell to Rihoy who drilled it in via the post.

The tie took another turn 10 minutes later, though, when St Brelade’s best player Maher fired home in a goalmouth scramble at a corner.

The visitors were cock-a-hoop, but their joy lasted barely 60 seconds as North went straight up the other end and Kelly curled in an equaliser, taking the game to extra-time.

St Brelade were visibly ‘leggy’ by now and North soon took full control.

Rihoy gave them the lead for the first time when he rolled the ball into the empty net, having pressurised Quinn into missing his kick as the keeper came out of his area to try and deal with Simon Marley’s through ball.

Kelly hit the post moments later on a rapid counter-attack sprung by Mason Prigent’s ball forward, but within a few seconds Rihoy had set up Le Tissier to make it 4-2.

In the second half of extra-time, Rihoy completed his hat-trick when Quinn was unable to stop his firm shot despite getting a good piece of it and Kelly wrapped things up with seven minutes to go when he slotted home from Le Tissier’s assist.

• IN THE FNB Priaulx League on Saturday, St Martin's thumped Vale Rec 5-0 in the top-of-the-table clash at Blanche Pierre Lane while Rovers and Sylvans drew 1-1 at Port Soif.