St Martin’s 1 (Hunter)
North 0
Everyone still has some way to go to knock the Northerners off their Priaulx perch but St Martin’s did their bit to keep the league alive and stop the leaders going 10 points clear with a late goal at Blanche Pierre Lane.
Louis Hunter, so often a talisman for his family club, returned to the match-day squad but only on the bench for starters.
He came on for Saints’ debutant Glenn Le Tissier, starting up front in his first game since his switch from Vale Rec, and played the decisive role on 75 minutes, when he popped up at the back post to finish low into the corner from George Goubert’s cross into the box.
Saints had been the stronger side over the course of the 90 minutes but North’s resilience in defence was to be admired.
The champions started strongly, making a decent chance in the first three minutes as Goubert headed a corner towards goal, forcing North goalkeeper Ollie Miller into an early save.
North responded with a few chances of their own, the best falling to Keene Domaille, who made a good run into the penalty area before getting a shot away, but was just off target.
Le Tissier thought his moment had come when Rio Bowditch played a good ball across Miller and in to the box but the keeper beat him to it.
And Saints keeper Max Wall made his first significant intervention when he grabbed Domaille’s through ball just ahead of the onrushing Owen Wallbridge.
Bowditch headed home on 20 minutes but from an offside position before Miller made a great double save to keep his side level, first pushing away Alex Roussel’s long-distance drive and then collecting Goubert’s effort from the rebound.
Saints started the second period strongly and dominating the ball. Roussel had another decent effort from distance which Miller saved well, and just before the goal came, Lucas Meza went close from Tom Solway’s cross.
North remain at the top of the Priaulx League table and are six points clear of Saints, who have one game in hand.
The position is likely to have changed before Christmas though, with North due to meet Rovers at Northfield tomorrow evening in a game which could put them nine points ahead, or cut their lead to just four if Rovers, who beat Sylvans 2-1 on Saturday, can overcome them.
St Martin’s: Wall, T Solway, B Solway, Mason, Le Gallez (Ward), Geall, Hall, Roussell (Meza), Bowditch, Le Tissier (Hunter), Goubert.
North: Miller, K Marsh, Mourant, R Marsh, Drillot, Mahon, Wallbridge, Prigent (Young), Domaille (Wilson), Smith (Marley), Le Huray (Tough).
