Springfield is the venue for the Channel Islands’ oldest football competition showpiece, with St Clement bidding to prevent St Saviour making it a hat-trick of final victories.
Yesterday St Clement scored four times in the final 19 minutes to win 6-0 away to St Martin, while St Saviour came from a goal down to win 3-2 at home to St Lawrence.
And it was Island strikers who were in form – former professional Danny Craven netting four of St Clement’s goals while Jersey’s leading top flight marksman last season, Craig Leitch, scored twice in St Saviour’s success.
St Saviour manager Ian Corfield said: ‘It was a cracking game and full credit to St Lawrence, they really surprised me.
We had a strong side and it appeared it was going to be easy but they made it hard for us.
‘And they scored two great goals, the first flew in off the inside of a post and the second a long range effort from Ross Crick – our goalkeeper didn’t stand a chance with either shot.
‘It was a good performance in the end with Joel Speight and Carl Scott outstanding in our defence.’ Opposite number Ian Watts said: ‘We getting stronger every year.
It’s disappointing to lose because we scored two excellent goals but excellent goals alone don’t win you matches.
‘Jordan Rae held off two defenders before slipping Ross Goodchild in and he finished well to give us the lead.
‘St Saviour equalised following a scrambled goal and at half time I said to the players “”keep it tight”” only for us to gift them a second early on.
‘St Saviour then scored a third shortly after and we were then chasing the game.’ Watts also praised his central defenders – Craig Le Sueur and Stephen Reed – for turning in good performances.
Darren Quintal tucked away St Saviour’s opener after Craig Leitch scuffed a goal-bound shot.
St Saviour: Max Jouan; James Hayward, Joel Speight, Carl Scott, Ian Esnouf; Adam Speight, Jordan Docherty, Luke Le Mière, Lucas Parker; Darren Quintal, Craig Leitch.
Sub used: Sam Baldwin.
St Lawrence: Jason Watts; Matt Godel, Craig Le Sueur, Stephen Reed, Simon Lester; Sean Doran, Tom Titshall, Ross Crick, Jordan Rae; Phil Helleur, Ross Goodchild.
Subs used: Michael Reed, Tim De Luca.
Officials: Andy Norman, Nick Parker, Joao-P Martins.
Youthful St Martin fought gamely throughout only to be finished off in closing stages when St Clement added a four late goals for a 6-0 win.
The hosts had a couple of good chances inside the opening hour, but a shot was blocked on the goal-line and then Peter Vincenti had an effort well saved on the hour.
Craig Russell opened the scoring with a low cross shot after he had been put through.
Craven made it 2-0 six minutes before the break with a glancing header from a corner.
Chris Carter slid home St Clement’s third before Craven completed the rout with a hat-trick in a 13-minute spell – two strikes from ten yards sandwiched by a 25-yard lobbed effort.
St Clement manager Dave Melton said: ‘We managed to grab a couple of goals in a tight first half and after that we played well.
We stepped up the pace, blended well and we’re getting stronger every game.
Danny took his goals well, his finishing is lethal at times.’ St Martin manager Gary Westwood said: ‘We could well have been level at the break as we squandered a couple of good chances.
‘Our effort was good but with just one Division I player – they finished with 11 – it was always going to be difficult to get a result.
‘We are young and next season the players will come back a year older and stronger.
We lost by six and in my opinion the final scoreline did not reflect the game.’ St Martin: Jeff Ferguson, Daniel Lundy, Bradley Wherry, Rob Searle, Tom Wherry, Tom Perchard, Peter Vincenti, John Searle, Richard Russell, Phil Livingstone, Steve Meiklejohn.
Subs used: Matt Westwood, Andy Le Moine, Greg Banner.
St Clement: Matt Addison; Danny Hughes, Kevan Crowell, Chris Carter, Sean Anderton, Scott Healey, Luke Watson, Danny Craven, Craig Russell, Dave Le Roux, Stuart André.
Subs: Danny Evans, Sam Dewhurst.
Officials: Dave Roworth, Paulo Martins, Paul Le Moine.
