ST PAUL’S opened up a two-point lead at the top of Coca-Cola Combination Division I on Saturday following a 2-1 victory over title challengers Trinity at St Saviour.

Craig Culkin and Martin Cassidy’s side took full advantage of the strong wind at their backs to cross over leading 2-0, only for Trinity, who lost their unbeaten league record, to pull a goal back on the hour to set up a grandstand finish.

Despite dominating possession in the closing stages, Trinity were unable to prise open the Saints’ defence, in which captain Stuart Andre played a prominent role, ably assisted by James Fortune and junior Luke McGlone.

Craig Leitch turned well to fire St Paul’s ahead inside 15 minutes before a delicate back-heel pass by Leitch put Dave Watson clear to make it 2-0 midway through the half.

James Keating pulled off two fines saves to deny McGlone and Watson, while in the second half he also saved brilliantly from Leitch again.

Lee Jones hit a top corner from 20 yards for what turned out to be Trinity’s consolation.

Culkin said: ‘I was pleased with the result but it will count for nothing if we fail to capitalise in our final three league games. We have a tough run-in and we will be going all out to win each game.

‘There were a lot of good performances and I was particularly pleased with the two 17-year-olds Rupert Murray

and Luke McGlone. They epitomised everything that our club is about – we have a good youth structure in place and we aren’t frightened to play the youngsters.

‘We took some calculated risks because we felt a draw would be no good for us. Slowly but surely there is now a lot of belief in this squad and I believe the best team won on the day because we had the cutting edge in the final third through Nathan Taylor and Craig Leitch.

‘I thought our second goal was top-class, following a fine four-man move with Leitch providing an excellent pass to Watson to put him clear.

‘Goalkeeper James Keating was Trinity’s best player and I think that tells the story of the game.’

Jersey Scottish, whose recent 3-1 win against Rozel Rovers was overturned to a 1-0 Rozel win at Friday night’s league delegates’ meeting because the Scots played an ineligible player in the game, moved back into second place following a 3-2 victory against Grouville at Le Boulivot.

The Scots, who have played two games more, won with goals from Paul Aitken, Reuben Legge and Jack Boyle, with Grouville netting through Glen McKenna and Peter Warrell.

Trinity slipped a place to third and fourth-placed St Peter failed to close the gap after they were defeated 2-0 by Jersey Wanderers at the Hockey Club. A Liam Sutton goal and an own goal moved Wanderers out of the bottom two, with Portuguese Club now dropping into the second relegation place.

Just three points separate four clubs fighting to avoid the second relegation slot, and with just two games each remaining there are some anxious times ahead for Portuguese, Grouville, Wanderers and Rozel.

Portuguese and Grouville both have to play Rozel and Trinity, while Wanderers face Tower and Grouville and Rozel play Portuguese and Grouville.

Relegated First Tower were denied their first league win of the season on Saturday when Rozel scored a stoppage-time goal at La Hague Manor for a 2-2 draw. Scott Healey and Paul Lennon scored for Rozel while Tower, who

collected their first point of the campaign, profited from Jody MacCarthy’s penalty kick together with an own goal.