Football: Barclays league division one-St Louis Suns and St Michel joint leaders |01 March 2010

On Saturday, St Louis Suns registered a morale-boosting 3-0 win over LightStars at Stad Linite and on La Digue, Anse Reunion edged Northern Dynamo 2-1.

St Michel v St Roch

St Roch had their chances against St Michel but inexperience cost them the match.

Klaus Pragassen had a great chance to shock St Michel as he eluded the Anse Aux Pins-based team’s ball-watching defence in the 13th minute. Pragassen found himself one-on-one with goalie Nelson Sopha but he failed in his attempt to round the number one custodian who dived at his feet to save his team’s blushes.

A minute later, St Michel almost went ahead as Wilnes Brutus chased a long ball over the defence but his lob was blocked by a retreating defender.

St Michel though duly went ahead in the 19th minute. Gervais Waye-Hive’s cross was deflected by Daven Belle and goalie Egbert Havelock failed to hold the ball letting in Brutus to score in an empty net (1-0).

Just past the half hour mark, St Michel extended their advantage again from some sloppy defending by St Roch.

Brutus broke clear to centre to Don Anacoura but Havelock went for the ball and missed it. Anacoura easily tapped the ball into the net (2-0).

Waye-Hive and Anacoura missed good opportunities for St Michel in the 33rd and 36th minutes.
St Roch had a decent opportunity in the 41st minute as Ervin Pragassen squared the ball to Roy Julie who had only Sopha to beat but he miscued his shot.

In injury time, St Michel went close as Waye-Hive’s free-kick was deflected to Brutus whose volley was tipped over by Havelock. From the resulting corner taken by Malagasy Nestor Benahovy, Anacoura’s glancing header hit the crossbar as St Roch rode their luck.

In the 54th minute, St Michel went further ahead as Daven Belle brought down Anacoura and referee Gonzague Boniface pointed to the spot. Anacoura picked himself up to place the ball past Havelock (3-0).

Six minutes later, Anacoura was denied a blatant penalty as he rounded Havelock who brought him down but referee Boniface failed to award the spot-kick.

In the 68th minute, St Michel’s Godfrey Denis’ mistake let in Nerrick Athanase but he failed to score.

Three minutes later, St Roch again threatened as Patrick Bonne beat substitute goalie Gino Melanie to set up Steven Télémaque who shot wide.

St Roch were reduced to 10 men when Daven Belle received his second yellow card for dissent by referee Boniface who gave him his marching orders.

St Louis Suns v LightStars

With David Dorby making his debut for them, St Louis Suns almost stole the lead in the first minute as the impressive Fabien Cadeau nearly embarrassed LightStars goalie Denis Fideria.

They had the edge and in the 10th minute, Denis Barbé threaded a pass to Trevor Poiret who was in the clear but shot weakly at Fideria.

St Louis Suns pulled off the disappointing Ryan Antat in the 50th minute and brought on Elijah Tamboo. It proved to be an inspirational substitution by coach Marc Mathiot.

Tamboo gave his team the lead with his first touch seconds later as he pounced on Cadeau’s teasing cross to place his shot low past Fideria (1-0).

Five minutes later, St Louis Suns scored again as Cadeau hustled for the ball to release Poiret who blasted it into the roof of the net (2-0).

In the 57th minute, Cadeau was rewarded for his brilliant performance as he raced clear to hold off the challenge of captain Bernard Esther to shoot through Fideria’s legs (3-0).

In the 67th minute, LightStars substitute Enersto Doway centred to Renick Esther who looked clearly offside but his header was well-saved by goalie Joel Lesperance.

In the 70th minute, Malagasy Mano Ravo grazed the crossbar with a lob as St Louis Suns held on to win.

Anse Reunion v Dynamo

Anse Reunion won with second half goals from Yelvanny Rose and Philip Zialor.
Damien Tamboo reduced the arrears for Glacis-based Northern Dynamo.

R. J-L.