Peter Millar scored a last-minute penalty corner to salvage a draw for Old Victorians Convicts in the Senior Cup on Saturday.
The former professional, who was part of a team that had struggled to find their set-piece mojo throughout the contest, fired home with the final touch of the 70 minutes to claim a 4-4 draw against Affinity JHC Leopards.
Although the result of this particular game was always unlikely to have a major say in the overall Senior Cup picture – the top two, who it seems will be Convicts and Leopards, will contest the final in April – it was a highly entertaining match at Les Quennevais as the Island’s top players warmed-up for tomorrow’s inter-insular.
OVs took a first-half lead through Jersey captain Tom Millar, who deflected home a precise pass from Phil Cuming. That advantage barely lasted a minute, however, as Nick Ferraby rounded OVs keeper Andy Brown to score.
A Tom Millar run along the right by-line proved the catalyst for OVs’ next score, credited to Ben Rawlinson at the far post in the build-up to half-time.
The sides traded goals at the start of the second half, with Jack Le Bihan equalising at the far post before Tom Millar scored his second.
OVs were pressing hardest but couldn’t capitalise on a penalty corner count that was swelling to reach double figures. Leopards remained dangerous on the break and two goals from Sam Dunstan put the men in red in the lead with ten minutes to play.
Still the Channel Islands champions couldn’t find their rhythm when awarded penalty corners – and Peter Millar had a penalty stroke saved by John Beswick, after the former’s goal-bound effort was stopped on the line by a defender’s foot.
With the final play, however, Peter Millar fired through Beswick’s legs to salvage a draw.
Earlier on Saturday, Victoria College had come from behind to beat First Names Hautlieu 2-1 – goals coming from Adam Smith (Hau), and Mark Boarer and Nick Pearce (Vic) – and the sides met again on Monday night. This time, however, Hautlieu left Les Quennevais with a point after they equalised, to make it 4-4, with the final penalty corner of the game. Smith scored a brace and Luke Maguire two, while Adam Gower, Nick Pearce, Tom Bolton and Mark Boarer scored for the school.
Other results, Minor Cup: JHC Lions 2, VC Colts 0; Island Ladies 1, Victoriana 2.
