ST PAUL’S First made a significant statement in the Premiership 1 title race on Saturday afternoon, producing a stunning comeback to hand league leaders Jersey Wanderers their first league defeat of the season in a remarkable 5-4 victory.
Meanwhile, Rozel Rovers Women clinched the Cherry Godfrey Women’s Division with a 3-0 win over Jersey Wanderers Women at Springfield on Sunday afternoon.
Ma-Ya Larsson’s volley opened the scoring after excellent work from Alena Clyde-Smith. Daisy Kilpatrick doubled the lead just 30 seconds into the second half.
Charley Skinner netted the third with a curling left footed effort to secure all three points, and a 4th league title in the past six seasons for Rozel.
The men’s games were played on a heavy surface and amid a full programme of muddy fixtures across the Island, the clash at Les Quennevais more than lived up to its billing.
Wanderers appeared to be cruising in the opening stages as a Hugo Pereira double, before of a strike from Casey Nixon, put the visitors 3-0 ahead inside the first half.
However, St Paul’s refused to fold and found a crucial lifeline before the interval when Joey O’Toole rose highest to plant a header into the corner, reduced the deficit and shifted the momentum.
That goal proved pivotal, as the hosts emerged a different side after the break. Capitalising on a complacent second-half performance from the leaders, St Paul’s turned the match on its head. Callum Gilroy and Stanley Dunne struck to draw the sides level, before Ethan Hutcheson completed the turnaround by firing the home side in front.
Much of St Paul’s attacking threat stemmed from left-back Sonny Cassidy, who delivered a hat-trick of assists from wide areas as Wanderers struggled to regain control.
The visitors were not finished, though, and substitute Harry Scott restored parity to make it 4-4, setting up a breathless finale. With time running out, Gilroy completed the comeback in dramatic fashion to secure a famous win for St Paul’s and close the gap at the top of the table.
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Elsewhere in Premiership 1, St Clement delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend with an emphatic 8-0 home win over Madeira at Springfield Stadium.
Seaney McColgan was at the heart of everything for the hosts, producing a man-of-the-match display that included a hat-trick of goals and a hat-trick of assists. Karl Hinds continued his prolific season with another brace, while midfielders Darren Coyle (two) and Mark Logue completed the scoring as St Clement made light work of their opponents.
The result ensured both St Clement and St Paul’s claimed maximum points, increasing the pressure on Jersey Wanderers in the race for the Premiership 1 title.
There was late drama at Les Quennevais, where Grouville edged past St Ouen’s in a 4-3 thriller. Grouville’s goals were scored by Andre Nunes (two), Harrison Moon and Blake Derbyshire. The visitors’ goals came courtesy of Jack Steel and Renato Geraldo.
In Premiership 2, St John First and Sports Club of Jersey served up another entertaining encounter, just a week after meeting in the league. This time, the Trademen’s Trophy quarter-final took centre stage and the tie once again produced plenty of goals.
After ending 3-3 at full time – thanks largely to a 95th-minute equaliser from Harry Crowther – the match went into extra-time. A goalless additional half-hour followed before St John held their nerve in the penalty shootout, winning 4-2. Noah Trench, Crowther and Jeremy Johnson had found the net in normal time for St John.
Sporting Academics maintained their impressive form with a commanding 5-2 victory over Trinity First. Philip Quinn struck twice, with William Gunnell, Diogo Franca and Jamie Savory also on the scoresheet as the Accies moved three points clear at the top ahead of Rozel Rovers First.
In Championship action, Grouville Reserves completed a successful weekend for the club by securing a 4-1 win over a struggling St Peter Reserves side.
Rozel Rovers First v St Peter First and Jersey Wanderers Reserves v St Clement Reserves were both postponed due to unplayable pitches.
A full local football report, including results, scorers and updated league tables, will appear in Wednesday’s edition of the Jersey Evening Post.
