As predicted by both managers pre-match, it was a closely-fought affair with defences on top throughout, goalkeepers rarely called into action and the winning goal scored after hesitancy in St Paul’s defence.
Josh Collins, who marshalled Grouville’s defence well, punted a free-kick 60 yards up field through the middle of the Saints’ defence and when a weak header by Lee Bradshaw fell short of goalkeeper Danny Evans, who could have come to collect the ball, Cardoso nipped in to score what turned out to be the only goal of the game.
In truth both sides cancelled each other out, there wasn’t a player on the pitch who looked like unlocking either defence although Lucas Parker hit a post after ten minutes for the Saints and Cardoso struck the apex of the goal late on when the Saints were throwing players forward in search of an equaliser.
Twice St Paul’s scrambled good deliveries into their penalty area away while Jamie Allan made an excellent tackle to prevent Luc Le Mière a clear run at St Paul’s goal.
Grouville’s Shaun Heslop brilliantly cleared a cross over his own crossbar, with Glen Durrans breathing down his neck, while Grouville goalkeeper Alex Buesnel was alert to push away a cross-cum-shot from Parker.
Grouville manager Ian Horswell said: ‘I’m delighted with the win for everyone at the club.
I’ve used 24 players in five matches in the competition and they have all been magnificent.
‘I feel for those who were left out but everyone cannot play in the final.
We set our stall out to frustrate St Paul’s and make life difficult for them.
‘I think we achieved that, our defence was solid and we looked to get our quick midfielders forward to support Toni Cardoso when we got the ball.
‘St Paul’s are a great young side and I’m sure they will continue to improve.’ St Paul’s manager Paul Durrans said: ‘We’re disappointed; we did not play anywhere near as well as we can.
The plan was to get the ball wide but Grouville closed us down quickly so we had few chances to do it.
‘Apart from hitting the woodwork we didn’t bother their goalkeeper enough.
Grouville are difficult to break down when they get so many players behind the ball, the tactics works often for them and on the night they were the better team.’ It was Grouville’s first top-flight trophy success, the last time they won the Le Riches Cup was in the last season of the former Saturday Football League back in 1975.
John Garton, of Le Riches Cup sponsors Checkers, presented the trophy to winning team captain Russell Le Feuvre.
St Paul’s: Danny Evans; Shaun Irvine, Lee Bradshaw, James Fortune, Jamie Allan; Glen Durrans, Stuart André, Stephen Jones, Lucas Parker; Steve Cumming, Craig Leitch.
Cautioned: Bradshaw, Leitch, Parker, Irvine.
Grouville: Alex Buesnel; Jason Bingham, Craig Northedge, Josh Collins, Shaun Heslop; Luc Le Mière, Murray Dron, Russell Le Feuvre, Richard Stevens, Ben Holt, Toni Cardoso.
Cautioned: Bingham, Holt.
Officials: Dave Goldsmith, Russell Barry, Barry Breuilly.
Fourth: Peter Smith.
