Football: Barclays league division one-St Michel celebrate title victoriously |25 October 2010

These two teams had fought neck and neck at the top for the crown though St Michel had the edge and wrapped up the title last week.

On Saturday therefore, St Michel gave some of their fringe players some playing time and they did not disappoint.

In the 10th minute, Bernard St Ange tested goalie Vincent Euphrasie with a long range effort which he saved at the second attempt.

Four minutes later, La Passe responded as Malagasy Eric Rajaobery beat the St Michel offside trap to race clear and centre to captain Bruno Saindina who could not direct his volley on target.

In the 15th minute, St Michel opened the scoring after Nelson Laurence played a glorious through ball to Francis Nourrice who out-sped his marker Jean-Paul Adela to cut the ball back to Leeroy Corallie who fired into the roof of the net (1-0).

Two minutes later, St Michel again threatened as Alex Nibourette galloped forward to send a teasing cross but Euphrasie cleared the danger.

Midway in this half, La Passe captain Saindina was lucky not to be sent off for retaliation as he lashed out at Dereck Agathine after he was stopped in his stride by the defender’s tough tackle. Both players were shown a yellow card by referee Jean-Claude Labrosse as peace was soon restored.

In the 27th minute, St Michel stretched their lead as Nibourette centred to St Ange whose initial shot was blocked but he had a second bite of the cherry and fired home with his shot coming off the crossbar. The official delayed awarding a goal until assistant referee Walter Underwood validated it by raising his flag and pointing to the centre (2-0).

La Passe should have reduced the deficit in the 34th minute after some good work by Achille Henriette to pick out Malagasy Claude Fredo Ranoly at the far post but with the goal at his mercy, he hit the foot of a post.

Three minutes later, La Passe reduced the arrears as Rajaobery centered to captain Saindina whose header was spilled by goalie Gino Melanie. Marcus Labiche was on hand to bury the loose ball (2-1).

The second half was an anti-climax as both teams lowered their pace though St Michel managed to create two decent chances.

In the 50th minute, Nourrice latched onto a through ball but his powerful shot was blocked by Euphrasie.

A minute later, Corallie burst through to rifle a shot at Euphrasie who was equal to the task.
La Passe for their part had a gilt-edged opportunity in the 55th minute as Saindina thumped a low shot but Melanie did well to save.

La Passe brought on their new foreign player, Zimbabwean Shaun Jenitala, in the later stages but it was too late to make an impression with St Michel holding on for a victory.

The league trophy was presented at the end of the match to St Michel as champions and La Passe as runners-up in a very low-key ceremony.

Seychelles Football Federation vice-chairman Roch Henriette and Barclays Bank managing director Loganaden Sidambaram presented the cups.

St Michel manager Andrew Jean-Louis told Sports Nation that his team played as champions in the first half despite fielding some of their reserve players. He said that he was proud of his team’s achievement this season.

St Francis edge out St Louis Suns

Baie Lazare-based team St Francis edged St Louis Suns 1-0 at Stad Linite on Friday evening.

In the 25th minute, St Francis threatened as Evans Esther headed over Kevin Louis’ cross.

Ten minutes later, St Louis Suns went close as Roddy Melanie broke clear but goalie Andrea Libanotis raced out to tackle him.

A minute later, St Francis almost broke the deadlock as Stephan Barallon fired a free-kick which came off the St Louis Suns crossbar.

St Louis Suns looked out of sorts and on the stroke of half-time they almost gifted St Francis a goal from a poor clearance to Malagasy Robert Edmond whose low shot was saved by goalie Joel Lesperance.

Edmond again went close in injury time from Harry Libanotis corner but his header hit a post.

St Francis took the lead in the 69th minute through Roddy Monthy who beat Lesperance to make it 1-0.

St Louis Suns’ only chance to level matters fell to substitute Trevor Poiret in the 81st minute but he shot over the crossbar.

LightStars beat Northern Dynamo

On Praslin on Saturday, LightStars won in front of their fans, beating visitors Northern Dynamo 1-0.
Malagasy Mario Ravo scored the all-important goal in the second half.