ST PAUL’S exited the Dorset Cup at the third round stage on Saturday, but manager Tony Hoyland was anything but downcast about the experience.

The players have come away disappointed,’ said Hoyland.

‘They now know Poole were beatable, but things didn’t go our way on the day.’ Saints, trying to bed down a new set of players, fell behind in the sixth minute, yet in the next 20 minutes or so created four golden chances that were, unfortunately, squandered.

An even period of play followed before Saints equalised after the break through Kamil Adamczau.

But within five minutes, Saints trailed again, harshly in Hoyland’s opinion as ‘keeper Danny Evans was pushed before the Dorset side scored following a corner.

‘It was fairly even from that point right to the end, but we had to commit more and more players forward in search of an equaliser.

Their third didn’t come until the fifth minute of stoppage time, so the final score doesn’t really give a true indication of the match,’ said Saints’ new boss.

The experience of the much more physical UK approach will make Saints’ players better, claimed Hoyland, adding: ‘It was a good team performance, with 18-year-old Craig Russell working very hard up front.

Players in Jersey are skilful, but it does them nothing but good to learn how to handle the more physical aspects of the game.

And the team bonding we’ve achieved with the overnight stay will do St Paul’s nothing but good.’ The defeat ends Jersey’s interest in club county cup competitions.

St Paul’s squad: Danny Evans, Carl Eubank, Derek Johnston, Jay Cassidy, Anthony McGovern, Rob Cameron, Steven McGinness, Kevin Mitchell, Jason De Andrade, Kamil Adamczau, Craig Russell, Martin Cassidy, Paul Singh and Glen McKenna.