On Saturday St Martins comfortably beat Grooville from Jersey in the Jeremie Cup Quarter Final. Three excellently worked goals scored by Ben Coulter (2) and Marc McGrath and a fourth tapped in by Chris Le Noury sealed a good win for Saints.

Although there are no first team fixtures for a couple of weeks there  are several important second team games, starting on Wednesday night at BPL. 

Match report from www.thisisguernsey.com, written by Gareth Le Prevost.

GOALS galore, a couple of red cards and tempers flaring throughout - the rest of the Division One campaign has a lot to live up to after an early season thriller last night at Blanche Pierre Lane.

It would be fair to assume, though, that referee Geoff Greening will not be on Paul Ockleford’s Christmas card list. ‘I am hugely disappointed by the officiating,’ was all the Rangers coach was prepared to say on the matter afterwards, as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

Somehow Rangers had managed to go into the interval on level terms at 2-2 despite St Martin’s totally dominating the opening period, but the visitors’ chances of pulling off a remarkable win were dealt an ultimately fatal blow when they had two players dismissed in the space of five second-half minutes.

A simmering match eventually boiled over spectacularly quarter-of-an-hour from the end when a two-footed challenge from Marc McGrath left Jacques Isabelle writhing in agony, right in front of his own dugout. He would later show off the stud marks on his shin. However, Greening felt the Saints striker had played the ball and no free kick was forthcoming, much to Rangers’ disgust. Then, to rub salt into the wounds, from the resultant bounce ball Saints went straight on the attack and took a 3-2 lead through, of all people, McGrath. Before play restarted, Ryan Gontier was shown a straight red card, obviously for taking his frustration out verbally on the referee.

Rangers then equalised for the third time, however the game finished 4-3 to St Martins as Ben Coulter slotted in the winner off the post, in the 86th minute. 

St Martins suffered a dissapointing start to the season as they lost 2-1 at home to North.

North proved a point to their doubters as many have dismissed North’s chances of retaining their title after a summer of turmoil that has seen more than 10 players leave the club during the transfer window. But in the league’s opening match last night, Simon Tostevin scored twice as they took care of a St Martin’s side who themselves could have hold of the old Priaulx Cup come the end of the season.

The St Martins goal was scored from the penalty spot by Ben Coulter.

Young First Tower team outclassed by St martins Ac!  

Goals by Dom Heaume (2) Ryan Tippy Tippet and a double bouncing downward header by Jake I didn’t realise training started at 10 fal..Ellis (just in case you didn’t realise there was training this Sunday 9th August at 10am as well M8)

Embarrassing misses..... .Back post poorly timed Sunday morning type header... Dom, 1 yard over the bar header... Chris (Sarg) Le Noury, 10 yard shot that bounced off the walls of the Fermain Tavern... Tom (Sinatra) Strawbridge!

Other then that the Jack Loveridge Shield was comfortably won. Well Done Lads! All in all my observation told me that the Club put on a good days football and entertainment, well done to all those that made it possible.

This Saturday the Junior and Senior teams are playing Jersey teams First Tower and St Clements with BBQ a BBQ after the games! This should be a good day at the club and anyone is welcome to come along! Please get there from 1pm onwards as it will be good to support the Junior sides as well.

The games times are as follows:

13:00 U14 V St Clements 9 a Side Friendly BPL 2.

13.00 U16 1 V First Tower Johnnny Walker Trophy BPL 1.

15:00 U16 2 V St Clements Friendly BPL 2.

15.00 Saints 1st V First Tower Jack Loveridge Trophy BPL 1.

See the training section for more information.

Training U14-commences 03 August @ 5.30p.m. - Blanche Pierre Lane

U16 commences 22 July @ 6.30p.m. - Saumarez Park

U21 commences 22 July @ 6.30p.m. - Saumarez Park

New Players Welcome to attend Contact Jason Woodhard – 07781 132173 James Le Gallez – 07781 425513.

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the club we were not included in the draw for the Hampshire Cup for the 2009/2010 season. However, we are actively looking to enter an off-island tournament during the season and more details will be forthcoming in due course.

The first pre-season game of the season will be on the 1st August in Jersey against Jersey Scottish. The second will be the annual friendly game against 1st Tower, this year being played in Guernsey on the 8th August.

Regarding the game vs Jersey Scottish, the boat will leave Guernsey at 09.00 and return at 21.00, and the cost will be £35. There will be both a 1st and 2nd team game against them and the squads will be picked at training.

St Martins first competitive fixture of the season is against Vale Rec on the 14th August at the Track. Should we proceed to the next round we will then face either Rovers or Rangers on the 19th August. The final will take place on the 22nd August.

Training for the new season is set to start on Tuesday 14th July. Be there for 18:45 with Trainers, Moulded Boots and your own Water Bottle. As last season training will be on Tuesday and Thursday nights and Sunday mornings at 10am.

Following the closure of the June transfer period, St Martins are pleased to announce the signing of Tom Strawbridge from Sylvans. Tom is an influential centre back and was part of the Guernsey team that has just returned from the Island Games. The club is pleased to have Tom on board and looks forward to seeing him play for St Martins in the coming season.

St Martins AC have not been successful at securing entry into the FA Vase this season, but only because upgrades to their floodlights will not be completed by the deadline set of 1st July 2009. However, the club still expects the upgrade to be completed in time for the start of the forthcoming season, and when the works are complete the floodlights would not only meet the entry requirements for the FA Vase, but such is the quality of the upgrade it would meet the requirements for clubs playing in the Football Conference.As an alternative, Saints have recently secured entry into the Hampshire Senior Cup for this season.

Saints coach Colin Fallaize said “Whilst it is naturally disappointing not to have made the FA Vase this season, it is a massive positive that we were accepted into the competition subject to the deadline for the floodlight upgrade, which it is unfortunate that we could not meet due to circumstances beyond our control. This will hopefully pave the way for entry in the 2010-2011 season. The Hampshire Senior Cup provides an excellent alternative for us, and whilst winning the league and domestic cups remains our priority for this season, I hope the Cup will further inspire us in our drive to improve as a club”.