JERSEY Scottish took a massive step towards winning the flybe.
Combination Division I title last night after ending champions Trinity’s magnificent 37-game unbeaten league run.
The Scots played some super football throughout and they deservedly won 3-0 with goals from Ryan Lumsden, Ross Crick and Mark Brown - all three having passed late fitness tests.Scottish’s victory now leaves them requiring four points from their final two games, against relegated Sporting Academics tomorrow week and then away to St Paul’s on Monday 19 April, to lift the James Marquis Memorial Trophy for the first time since 1999.Scottish manager Bob Kearsey said: ‘Getting the three points is a big step towards the championship and with two games to go they will both very big games for us.
I’ll be disappointed if we don’t win it now but away to St Paul’s in our final game will be extremely tough on their tight pitch.’The first goal was always going to be important last night and fortunately we got it.
Ryan Lumsden got into some space to nod the ball home well and, overall, to beat the champions and restrict them to just one chance throughout was extremely pleasing.’My defence played as well as they’ve played all season and I’m surprised that Scott Devlin or Jamie Brewster have not had a look-in with the Island side because they are both playing really well.’We have a lot of quality and it came out last night.
We defend from the front and the midfield never stop running.
At the back no goals conceded in seven games says it all.’Lumsden was left with a free header from David Brodie’s left-wing corner after 15 minutes and although it was 1-0 at the break Scottish could have been four goals to the good.Ged McConnell, who, like Crick, had scored 21 goals in Scottish’s previous ten matches, squandered two golden opportunities - one well cleared off the line from Jon Fitzmaurice.
Crick broke clear but closing in on goal he was denied by an excellent last-ditch tackle from James Hayward.Ten minutes after the resumption Scottish grabbed their second when Crick slotted home his 51st goal of the campaign after a fine pass from the influential Mark Brown.Twenty minutes from the end Brown made it 3-0 to delight the Scottish supporters.
Trinity took a throw-in but Dave Brodie, who was again a constant threat in Scottish’s midfield, got a touch to the ball to put Brown clear.
The former professional showed his undoubted class to take the ball round Trinity’s last defender and the goalkeeper before rolling the ball into the unguarded net.Trinity joint-manager Joe Morley said: ‘We didn’t do ourselves justice at all, we froze a bit on the night.
Scottish played really well and we were well beaten.
We play Scottish again in the Wheway Cup on Tuesday and we have to show a lot more commitment than we did last night.’Scottish: Jamie Brewster; Scott Devlin, Ryan Lumsden, Craig Ferey; James Scott, Gordon Brodie, David Brodie, Ged McConnell, Paul Duxbury; Mark Brown, Ross Crick.
Subs used: Jordan Docherty, Lee Harvey and Chris McNabb.Cautioned: Scott, Harvey.Trinity: Sean McDonald; James Hayward, David Lloyd, Ray Grant; Gerard Meadows, Darren Swanson, Paul Beckett, Paul Crompton, Jon Fitzmaurice; Dave Le Roux, Jimmy Reilly.
Subs used: Allan Brown and Lee Jones.Cautioned: Meadows.Officials: Steve Landick, Andy Bradshaw, Barry Breuilly and Andy Cox.
Article posted on 26th March, 2004 - 12.00am
Most Commented: