Cup shocks keep coming as College take down Rangers
When the Guernsey FA Cup was created 20 years ago, this was the type of occasion it was hoped the competition would produce.
Seven goals in 90 hugely entertaining minutes, including a nail-biting finish, culminated in a genuine giant-killing as ‘non-league’ Elizabeth College knocked out Priaulx League Rangers.
That sets up a delightful quarter final of the minnows against Railway side CF Independant, vanquishers of another Priaulx outfit, Belgrave Wanderers, four weeks ago.
The romance of the cup, arguably in need of rekindling this winter, is now guaranteed to produce the first non-Priaulx semi-finalist since 2021.
Listen to chat on all the latest local action on this week’s Guernsey Press Football Podcast
At the KGV on Saturday, Elizabeth College and Rangers both played full parts in turning this into a cracker. But on the balance of play the students’ win was deserved, not least because of their third goal, a fabulous strike 15 minutes from time by Silas Eyton-Jones, worthy of winning a cup tie at any level.
College neatly worked the ball out to the right, where Eyton-Jones, moving forward from not far inside Rangers’ half, looked to have few options on, but he didn’t need them as he unleashed a blistering shot 25 yards from goal which flew into the top left corner of Rob Cowley’s net.
This was College’s purple patch, as they went from trailing 0-1 to leading 4-1 in the space of less than half an hour.
At that stage, they were threatening to tear Rangers apart.
Almost every advance looked like it might produce another goal, as composed centre halves Gil Hunter and Josh Fallaize fed skilful midfielders like Jack Becker, Jake Rowe and Jimmy Montgomery, all moving the ball around with increasing confidence and incisiveness, while up front powerful Sam Gregson, who scored two, was a threat aerially and on the deck.
Suddenly, though, when College looked out of sight, Rangers rallied, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes of the match.
If there had been Premier League-length stoppage time, Rangers might well have forced extra time, but in the end their late flourish produced nothing greater than a more respectable scoreline, and deservedly so, as College hung on to claim a famous victory.
In the first half, College showed glimpses of their quality on the ball, but Rangers were arguably more threatening in and around the penalty box. On 20 minutes, Owaine Mansell was disappointed to miss the target with a decent chance from 12 yards.
On 35 minutes, a slightly sloppy spell from College was punished as Shane Billien took advantage of a trinity of gifts – a misplaced defender’s pass, too much space and an advancing goalkeeper caught in no man’s land – to open the scoring with a neatly-finished lob.
College goalkeeper James Troop was in much better form twice soon after, getting off his line quickly and powerfully to avert aerial danger, and ensuring his team went in only one goal down at the break.
Coaches Chris du Feu and Ed Adams must have taught their students a lesson or two at half time.
Almost from the whistle they were more composed and adventurous.
On 50 minutes, it was 1-1, when Gregson scored a penalty after being pulled down right in front of referee Tom Strawbridge, who was again excellent all afternoon. Gregson got his and College’s second 15 minutes later, clinically heading home a superb delivery from the right.
Soon after Eyton-Jones’ stunner had made it 3-1, Tom Le Boutillier took advantage of a defensive error and finished well from close range to score College’s fourth, which didn’t seem it at the time but would ultimately prove decisive.
10 minutes from time, Billien scored with a free header from close range. Cue squeaky bum time, as Alex Ferguson famously called it, as College suddenly struggled to retain their composure and momentum swung back.
Five minutes later, it was 4-3, as Jacob Le Messurier scored, also from close range, but time soon ran out on the comeback.
