Football: Land Marine Cup-Mellie inspires Foresters to victory |11 November 2008

In danger of losing their place in the Barclays League Division One unless they pick up at least a point in their last match against tailenders Plaisance, Foresters needed just four minutes to open the score on Sunday at Stad Linite.

After the ball hit the hand of a Fire Brigade defender in the penalty area, referee Julien Sanders pointed to the penalty spot. Ian Mellie stepped up to take the spot kick, which Fire Brigade’s goalkeeper Lovence Marengo blocked. As the ball broke loose, Samuel Amice was the first to react and he placed it in the net.

After Norvil Gaspard’s 19th minute pile-driver was tipped over the crossbar by Marengo, the Fire Brigade keeper could do nothing in the 33rd minute as he was beaten a second time. Involved in all of Foresters’ build-ups, Mellie pounced on a defensive error to filter a ground-level pass to captain Francis Nourrice, who scored with an easy tap-in.

After squandering a good opportunity when he sent his 23rd minute shot straight into the gloves of Foresters’ goalie Julio Toulon, Fire Brigade’s international striker Michel Joubert was denied by the crossbar in the 64th minute.

Foresters extended their lead with a third goal in the 70th minute. Nourrice’s diving header from Mellie’s cross was acrobatically palmed over the cross-bar by Marengo, who also blocked Collin Marie’s header from the resulting corner. Lurking dangerously in the box, substitute Aaron Jean sneaked in to score on the rebound.

Joubert was again guilty of a clear miss in the 75th minute and Fire Brigade paid the price by conceding a fourth goal with nine minutes left to play. Having played a part in his team’s first three goals, Mellie decided it was time for some magic of his own as he embarked on a solo run, leaving five players, including the Fire Brigade keeper, in his wake to score the fourth and best goal of the match.

When it looked like Toulon, who was yellow-carded for arguing with the referee, would keep a clean sheet, Hansel Coeur-de-Lion netted Fire Brigade’s consolation goal in the 88th minute.
Foresters play league champions St Michel tomorrow in the first quarterfinal match.

G. G.