St Peter scored a ‘controversial’ late goal to defeat Grouville 2-1 at St Peter while Trinity and current champions Jersey Scottish recorded comfortable wins against Rozel Rovers and St Paul’s.
St Peter and Trinity remain locked together on 34 points – the Saints now leading on goals scored as both clubs have a goal-difference of 34 – with Scottish three points behind but with a game in hand.
Meanwhile at the other end of the table, Jersey Wanderers kept their survival hopes alive following a 1-1 draw at the Hockey Club against First Tower.
Junior Ollie Thompson put Wanderers ahead before Ross Goodchild equalised.
Had Wanderers lost they would have been relegated for the first time in Combination history.
But they didn’t, so they remain very much alive with one game remaining – against St Paul’s.
If Wanderers win they move above St Paul’s by one point and then St Paul’s would require a point from their final match away to St Peter to remain in the top flight.
St Peter manager Jon Trigg said: ‘Winning keeps it very much alive, we were nervous and we need an early goal in games to settle us.
‘We didn’t play well, but it’s not about performances at this stage of the season it’s about results and we ground out the three points.
‘Grouville’s style is very difficult to play against, it’s frustrating and we just got through.
Thankfully we don’t have to play them again until next season.
Grouville manager Ian Horswell said: ‘We’re extremely disappointed with St Peter’s winning goal, it was a foul on our goalkeeper.
‘Peter Vincenti had his arm on goalkeeper Casey Hickling’s shoulder so Casey was restricted from getting up for the ball.
As he tried to jump he toppled over, the ball went free, leaving Scott Walsh a tap-in on the goal-line.
‘I felt we were worth at least a point; we were awarded one penalty when we should have had two.
Their goalkeeper was late with his challenge on Luc Le Mière but nothing was given.
‘If the challenge would have happened outside the penalty area it would have been a free kick so why is it not a penalty? ‘You need luck to win titles and St Peter had a huge slice of luck on Saturday.
It was a disappointing result for us but there were many positives; the main one Luc being back and turning in an outstanding performance.’ Gary Freeman shot St Peter ahead on the hour before Grouville equalised ten minutes from the end when Russell Le Feuvre scored a penalty kick awarded when Craig Grant pushed Peter Hall in the back.
Walsh tapped home what turned out to be the winner, a couple of minutes from the finish.
Ross Crick notched a brace and Chris Andrews and Jordan Docherty singles as Scottish defeated St Paul’s 4-0 at St Saviour.
Defender John Beatson and strikers Jimmy Reilly and Danny Craven notched for Trinity, the parish side who were given a good game by visitors Rozel Rovers.
Coca-Cola Combination Div I: Jersey Wanderers 1, First Tower 1; St Paul’s 0, Jersey Scottish 4; St Peter 2, Grouville 1; Trinity 3, Rozel Rovers 0.
Dog Club Trophy semi-finals: Jersey Scottish Res 2, St Lawrence Res 1; Grouville Res 0, Trinity Res 4.
Div I Res: Rozel Rovers 2, First Tower 0.
Div C: Jersey Wanderers 1, St Ouen 0; St Clement 0, St Peter 6; St Lawrence 6, Rozel Rovers 5.
Primary Schools’ inter-insular: Jersey 0, Guernsey 0.
Lloyds TSB Junior League U16 Div I: Jersey Wanderers 2, First Tower 0.
Div II: St John 4, Sporting Academics 10; St Clement 1, St Peter 4; Grouville 1, St Ouen 1.
U16 Eric Amy Cup semi-final: St Paul’s 0, St Brelade 2.
U14 Div I: First Tower 2, St Paul’s 8; Jersey Wanderers 9, St Brelade 0; St Peter 0, Trinity 6.
Div II: St John 1, St Ouen 0; Grouville 2, Rozel Rovers 4.
U12 Red Group: First Tower 3, St Clement A 1; Jersey Wanderers A v St Paul’s A postponed.
White: Jersey Scottish 0, St Peter A 3; Rozel Rovers A 1, Grouville A 2; Jersey Wanderers B 0, St John A 4.
Blue: St Clement B 9, St Peter B 1; St Ouen 5, Rozel Rovers B 0.
Inter-group: St Paul’s B 9, St John B 0.
