- Reigning champions handed the advantage as Scottish lose to St Ouen.
- A point against Wanderers on Tuesday will hand St Paul’s the title.
- Lester scores third hat-trick in five games to move into pole in the race for the JEP Golden Boot.
CHAMPIONS St Paul’s are back in the driving seat in the Premiership title race after leaders Jersey Scottish suffered their second defeat of the season last night.
St Paul’s defeated Rozel Rovers 6-1 at Le Couvent, with a third hat-trick in five games for Kieran Lester, to move joint top of the table with one game to play, while the Scots finished their programme with a 2-1 defeat to St Ouen.
Jersey Scottish manager Stuart Knox: “The title race is finished … St Paul’s will win it now.”
The title race could still result in a play-off, but only if JTC Wanderers beat St Paul’s at St Saviour on Tuesday night.
Scottish, who paid the price for a couple of uncharacteristic defensive errors, dominated the opening 20 minutes but fell two goals behind through goals from former St Paul’s players Dominic Pougeolle and Ryan Thorpe before Jamie Savory pulled a goal back for the Scots.
Scottish manager Stuart Knox said: ‘We’re gutted; we made two mistakes and were punished for them, but I don’t blame the players because they have both been rocks in our defence this season.
‘We created enough chances to have got back into the game but we did not take them.
‘I can’t fault my players because they battled really hard and it’s hard to take that we’ve been beaten by a team that had two shots and scored from them both.
‘The title race is finished; St Paul’s will win it now.’
St Ouen manager Peter Flambard said: ‘Our front three work hard to close players down and win the ball and we profited from that last night with both of our goals.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Scottish | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 75 | 16 | 59 | 44 |
| St Paul’s | 17 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 59 | 9 | 50 | 44 |
| Jersey Wanderers | 17 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 35 | 25 | 10 | 36 |
| St Ouen | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 29 | 25 | 4 | 29 |
| Trinity | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 26 | 36 | -10 | 23 |
| St Peter | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 31 | -13 | 16 |
| St Brelade | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 20 | 39 | -17 | 14 |
| Rozel Rovers | 16 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 20 | 34 | -14 | 13 |
| St Lawrence | 17 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 52 | -38 | 11 |
| St Clement | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 14 | 45 | -31 | 10 |
‘Yes Scottish had a lot of the ball but we defended well as a unit, we used the ball well when he had it and our goalkeeper Joe Bevis was only forced into one excellent save.’
At Le Couvent, Ross Philpott gave Rozel a surprise lead early on but the current champions made their possession count before the break.
After a Luke Watson header had levelled the scores St Paul’s took the lead in the second period with another headed effort; this time from Craig Leitch, who showed great composure to loop the ball over the ‘keeper with the deftest of touches.
Lester struck twice to push his side 4-1 in front, and after Watson had grabbed his second (and St Paul’s fifth) the former First Tower man then found the net again – for the 13th time in five matches – to complete the scoring.
The Premiership title is now St Paul’s to lose. They need just a point to win the league without the need for a play-off, and manager Paul Brannan is understandably delighted about that fact.
‘It’s a massive result for us and having the league in our own hands is where everyone wants to be,’ said Brannan.
Of Lester, who is doing his chances of NatWest Island Games selection no harm with his superb goal-scoring run, Brannan added: ‘Kieran is on fire at the moment. He’s one of the most natural finishers in the league and he has taken to the Premiership so well.
St Brelade gave themselves hope of avoiding relegation with a 3-0 win at home against bottom-placed St Clement.
Kyle Hampshire, James Murray and Dan Romeril netted for the winners, who must now wait on the results of the three clubs below them before they find out whether they remain in the Premiership.
St Lawrence remain in the second relegation spot following a 3-1 defeat by JTC Jersey Wanderers at JTC Park, where Clayton Romeril (two) and Chris Andrews scored for the hosts and Michael Donoghue for the visitors.
Lester now leads race for the inaugural JEP Golden Boot Award with 26 goals in league and cup matches this season. Current Premiership Player of the Year Darryl Wilson is two behind in second, while Lester’s club colleague Craig Leitch is tied with Trinity’s Karl Hinds in third on 20 goals.
