Football: Barclays league division one-St Michel open six-point lead |13 July 2009

On Friday, St Michel narrowly defeated Anse Reunion 1-0, while on Saturday, La Passe could only manage a goalless draw against LightStars on La Digue. On the same day on Mahe, SMB beat bottom club Foresters 2-1.

Dorasamy double dumps Foresters

SMB captain Che Dorasamy scored a brace to help his team come from behind to overcome Foresters 2-1 on Saturday at Stad Linite.
SMB slightly had the edge in this match and in the 21st minute, Yannick Julie saw his well-struck left foot volley from Gerard Basset’s half-cleared corner deflected at the last minute as the ball headed for the net.

Foresters though stunned SMB in the 29th minute as Leeroy Gomme left fly a 30-metre shot which crashed under the crossbar and over the line to beat goalie Peter Toule for a 1-0 lead.

However, Foresters’ advantage was short-lived as Dorasamy equalised with a freekick a minute later. Dorasamy’s shot lack the sting but somehow it went through goalie Oscar Constance’s fingers for a soft goal to make it 1-1.

In the 39th minute, Constance redeemed himself as he saved Jason Fred’s blushes. The defender miscued SMB’s Jean-Paul Aglaé’s cross and Constance avoided an embarrassing own goal.

SMB showed more determination to claim all three points and in the 55th minute, Colin Laporte struck the post with a strong shot.  Three minutes later, Laporte’s spectacular overhead kick was saved by Constance.

SMB took the lead in the 61st minute from another Dorasamy freekick which Constance should have saved but allowed to sail over him for a 2-1 score.

In the 65th minute, Laporte showed some good ball skills but his shot was stopped by Constance.
In the 78th minute, SMB’s David Dorby was lucky only to receive a yellow card from referee Jean-Claude Labrosse, who had to replace his assistant Davis Fred, with a calf strain, by Eldrick Adelaide at half-time. Dorby lunged at Dave Malcouzane with a two-footed tackle.

From the resulting free-kick Gomme drove a fierce free-kick but Toule parried the danger.
In the 85th minute SMB almost added a third goal as Basset released substitute Marcus Labiche, who should have gone for glory but squared to Laporte and this fluffed the chance.

Zialor strikes to break Anse Reunion resistance

St Michel’s Philip Zialor’s single strike broke down La Digue-based Anse Reunion’s resistance at Stad Linite on Friday evening.

Despite the adverse weather and slippery condition, the two teams put on a very strong display which was fiercely contested.
Anse Reunion gave a debut to their Malagasy defender Jean Eddy Randriamihaju, who has been with the team for some time and they started brightly.

In the second minute, Julius Adrienne embarrassed Henny Dufresne to leave him on his backside on the bye-line before crossing to Malagasy Milison Niasere, whose weak header failed to trouble goalie Nelson Sopha.
Three minutes later, Anse Reunion claimed for a penalty as Samy Radegonde’s cross came off Alex Nibourette’s hand but referee Jourdan Benstrong was not convinced.

In the 11th minute, Malagasy Jocelyn chipped a ball in the penalty area where Milison beat captain Godfrey Denis in the air but Sopha saved his header at the second attempt.

St Michel weathered the storm and in the 16th minute, impressive Malagasy Nestor Benahovy sent in an in-swinging freekick which goalie Ricky Rose came for but missed.  Nibourette though could not direct his header into the empty net.

Two minutes later, Zialor set up Benahovy whose thunderous long range effort was punched out by goalie Rose.
In the 22nd minute, Zialor slipped a pass to Leeroy Corallie but he was pulled by the short by defender Bernard Rose, but surprisingly referee Benstrong waved play on, much to the disgust of the league champions.

The St Michel bench were more furious with referee Benstrong in the 28th minute as he failed to penalise Yelvanny Rose for a blatant foul on Don Anacoura and they made their feelings known to him.

Seven minutes later, Anse Reunion had to replace the injured Julius Adrienne – the victim of a crunching tackle by Anacoura.
St Michel almost broke the deadlock in the 39th minute after a brilliant run by Nibourette as he skipped past a couple of defenders to send in a teasing centre. But Alfredo Manou headed across goal when it looked easier to bury it in the net.

St Michel put a stranglehold on the match in the second period as they pegged Anse Reunion on the defensive. Another Benahovy freekick in the 51st minute caused confusion in the penalty area and the ball dropped to Anacoura whose close range shot was blocked.

Anse Reunion tried to revive their fading attack as they brought on their latest Malagasy acquisition, Francisco Ramsay, for Milison in the 65th minute but he had little impact on the match.

St Michel took the lead in the 71st minute from Benahovy’s cross and Zialor rose majestically to head powerfully past goalie Rose despite some strong challenge to make it 1-0.

Anse Reunion tried to restore parity in the 89th minute as Jocelyn centred to Randriamihaju, who had moved to midfield and his well-placed shot produced a good save by Sopha.

Deep in injury time, St Michel stretched Anse Reunion’s defence as Zialor released Anacoura, who looked suspiciously offside which was not signalled by assistant referee Jossy Cedras. Anacoura though shot across goal when he could have squared to a couple of teammates who were in a better position.

In the end, St Michel just deserved victory in a very tight match.

R. J-L.