Football: Barclays league division one-Hall brace sinks nine-man St Francis |12 March 2011

It should have been a good day for St Francis as they gave debuts to their two new Malagasy players in the shape of former LightStars midfielder Rajonaina Rakotomanga and Fortunat Rasonaivoarison.

They also had former St Michel defender Neddy Rose in their ranks, but the day ended on a bitter note for the west Mahe side.

However, the two late sending-offs had nothing to do with the win as St Michel had already wrapped up the game by then.

St Michel, who had drawn blanks in their opening fixture against St Roch, were desperate for all three points.

They almost broke the deadlock in the fifth minute as Malagasy Fulgence Rajaoniary controlled a long ball to fire at point-blank range, but goalie Andrea Libanotis did well to block the shot. Bernard St Ange, who had a good game after making a rare start, inexplicably drove the loose ball wide.

Nine minutes later, St Michel opened the scoring from Gervais Waye-Hive’s pinpoint cross, which Hall met with a glancing header that flew past Libanotis to make it 1-0.

In the 16th minute, St Francis’ Malagasy Fortunat tested goalie Gino Melanie with a long-range effort which he turned out for a corner.

St Francis, though, had to reshuffle their defence when Neddy Rose limped off with a probable groin injury in the 21st minute. However, Alpha Baldé replaced him and he raised the game with his probing runs and ball skill which forced St Michel on to the back foot.

It was a good 15-minute spell for St Francis, but unfortunately they failed to create any clear-cut chances and St Michel managed to weather the storm to regain the momentum.

In the 39th minute, Allen Larue raced forward to centre to Hall, who had just returned with a bandaged head after a collision. Hall’s towering header from Larue’s centre sailed agonisingly wide.

Hall, though, made amends on the stroke of half-time as once again Larue galloped forward following a neat passing move to cut back to him. Hall controlled and blasted the ball into the roof of the net for a 2-0 half-time score.

St Michel had a goal ruled out for offside seconds after the restart when Hall picked up St Ange’s through-ball to rifle a fierce shot, which Libanotis spilled. With his first touch, substitute Francis Nourrice drilled the loose ball home but assistant referee Walter Underwood flagged offside as the striker was ruled to have moved too early.

Hall then twice had chances to complete his hat-trick, the best one coming in the 50th minute from Waye-Hive’s superb cross, but the lanky midfielder miscued his shot.

In the 65th minute, St Francis defenders Eldrick Adelaide and Yannick Manoo gave the ball away to Hall with Libanotis off his line. Hall’s instinctive shot was just off target.

St Francis lost their heads in the 80th minute as Manoo, who in the first half was booked for an off-the-ball incident with Waye-Hive, was shown another yellow for a reckless tackle on the same player. This left referee Gonzague Boniface with no option but to give him his marching orders.

A minute later, it was the turn of Harry Libanotis to be sent off, again for a crude tackle on Waye-Hive, after being shown the yellow earlier for dissent.

St Francis were now down to nine men and this was too much for coach Patrick Cafrine, who had a go at referee Boniface but was soon sent to the stands.

The win for St Michel is a morale-booster for coach Vivian Bothe as they attempt to defend their title.

R. J-L.