Combination Division I title race wide open.
A stoppage-time headed goal from substitute Ross Goodchild secured Tower a 2-1 victory and the three points they gained moves them out of the second relegation place and up two places to seventh.Scottish still head the table from Trinity on goal-difference but Jersey Wanderers are now well in the title hunt as they are just one point behind the top two teams with all having played nine games.Wanderers will go top of the table tomorrow afternoon if they can beat St Paul’s at the Hockey Club.Scott Walsh shot Tower ahead in the 30th minute last night, with the first chance of the game, but within ten minutes Scottish were level through Ross Crick.The latter squandered a good opportunity with a header seconds after the resumption and although Scottish pressed Tower back for long periods, their only other decent scoring opportunity fell to Lee Harvey, but from eight yards he failed to get a clean contact on the ball and he prodded his effort wide with the underside of a boot.Two of Tower’s substitutes then combined for the match-winner – Goodchild getting between two defenders to nod Kevin Mitchell’s cross from the left over advancing goalkeeper Jamie Brewster from 15 yards.Tower manager Dave Philpott said: ‘It was a welcome three points and I felt we deserved them because of the effort everyone put in.
We defended very well in the second half; the midfield closed down the opposition quickly while the back four kept it tight.’Although Scottish got behind us a few times our goalkeeper only had a couple of saves to make.
We shut down space well and made it difficult for the Scottish to play.’Scottish boss Bob Kearsey said: ‘It’s been a strange few days for results, who would have predicted that at the beginning of the week? We dominated a second half and get beaten by a sucker punch while Trinity should have been beaten by Portuguese but then snatch a last-gasp equaliser.’That’s football and we’re still top of the league.
Tower gave us the tough game I expected and unfortunately we didn’t have anyone clever enough to break them down.’It’s the second time this season we’ve had a chance to make a gap at the top and have not achieved it.
I’m sure a second goal would have killed Tower off but unfortunately for us it never came.’Walsh fired Tower ahead with a rising shot from 12 yards after exchanging passes with John Rutter 25 yards from goal.Crick pounced to level the scores after a great run down the right and cross into the Tower area from James Scott.Scottish pushed the ball round well in the second period but they were unable to create many clear-cut opportunities following some exit work as a unit by defenders Matt Swinburne, Peter Gough, James Prendergast and Blake Applegate.Tower’s victory lifted them one point above St Peter and two ahead of Rozel Rovers but they will change again tomorrow against as Rozel host St Peter at Le Couvent.Scottish: Jamie Brewster; Lee Burns, Scott Devlin, Craig Ferey; Chris McNabb, Charlie Smith, James Scott, Ged McConnell, Paul Duxbury; Ross Crick, Lee Harvey.
Subs used: Dave Brodie, Jordan Docherty.Cautioned: Burns.First Tower: Casey Hickling; Matt Swinburne, Peter Gough, James Prendergast, Blake Applegate; Chris Carter, Chris Conning, Nathan Jégou, Bradley Russell, Scott Walsh; John Rutter.
Subs used: Ross Goodchild, Kevin Mitchell, Jody MacCarthy.Cautioned: Russell.Officials: Andy Cox, Andy Bradshaw, Steve Proffitt.
