Saint Pauls On A High

admin · 28-10-2007, 15:23 PM

ST PAUL'S returned to the top of Division I in the Coca Cola Jersey Football Combination last night following a 1-0 victory over champions Jersey Scottish at Springfield.

Craig Russell scored the only goal of the match on the half-hour, but St Paul's were fortunate to come away with the three points as Scottish had the better of the possession and chances.

It was backs to the wall for St Paul's for the opening 15 minutes as Scottish stroked the ball around confidently, forcing Saints' goalkeeper Andrew Bird to make excellent saves from Jack Boyle and Ross Crick.

Luke Watson went close with a flicked header that whizzed past a far post, while Watson had a long-range effort tipped over the crossbar by Bird. St Paul's passing went astray too often, but they came back with Russell missing a good opportunity before he crashed home the only goal of the night when the ball fell kindly to him in front of goal with the Scottish defence affording him too much space.

Two minutes later Russell should have scored again but he lifted the ball over the crossbar after cutting in from the left.

Scottish lost the influential Boyle following a strong challenge ten minutes before the break, and with it went a little of their fluency.

Just after the hour Jean-Paul Martyn slipped in Craig Leitch but he was denied from doubling St Paul's advantage with a super parry to his right by Scottish keeper Craig Fletcher.

Scottish went to three at the back as they pressed hard for the equaliser, but it never came as Crick twice fired agonisingly wide of a far post, Dave Brodie and Crick drove shots over the crossbar and Watson had a goal-bound effort well blocked by Jon Fitzmaurice.

Stuart André and James Fortune served St Paul's defence well as the team maintained their 100 per cent record, with just one league goal conceded in five games.