Football: Barclays league division two - Foresters champions |27 November 2014

Mont Fleuri-based Foresters claimed the Barclays league division two title with a 3-1 victory over the Under-17 selection on Tuesday afternoon at Stad Linite in their penultimate league match.

Foresters players and fans celebrated their promotion to the first division after a five-year absence and in a season when they had to fend off strong challenges from St John Bosco and SPDF.

The boys of coach Bryan Bastienne showed their intention early on in this match as captain Godfrey Denis saw his long range effort in the second minute crash against the crossbar.

Foresters opened the scoring in the 15th minute as their top scorer Francis Nourrice burst through to ride a couple of tackles and got a lucky break to shoot into the net to make it 1-0 as their fans became more vocal.

The league leaders though almost conceded in the 21st minute after a wrong decision by assistant referee Gilbert Lusta who flagged for a so-called back pass which referee Kieren Yocette obliged. Darian Hoareau floated the free kick into the penalty area to Abdul Jumaye whose header was saved by goalkeeper Ryan Jules.

Foresters went close to increase their lead on the half hour mark when Ryan Roseline picked the ball on the left and squared it to Martin William in the penalty area. William played a brilliant one-two with Nourrice to open up the Under-17 defence and his instinctive left foot shot came off the foot of the post after the best move of this half.

The Under-17 began to grow in confidence in this match as Foresters’ tempo dropped and in the 33rd minute Nick Labiche forced goalkeeper Jules to tip over a fiercely struck free kick.

In the 41st minute, Labiche, the son of former St Michel and national team player Marcel Labiche, and Rai Jean-Louis, the son of St Michel coach and ex-Seychelles international midfielder Ralph Jean-Louis, combined at a short corner. Rai played the ball short to Nick who let fly a cracking shot which sailed into the roof of the net past goalkeeper Jules to make it 1-1.

The Foresters coach was unhappy with his players for giving away the goal as he felt his team had slackened their grip in the match as they underestimated their opponents.

Foresters though came back for the second period more determined as William went on a mazy run in the opening minute as he exchanged passes with Carlos Mondon before flashing his shot across goal.

In the 47th minute, William was denied by a fantastic save by goalkeeper Trevor Henriette after Ervyn Estico chipped the ball forward and he met it with a glancing header which looked to be heading for goal if not for the Under-17 goalkeeper’s timely intervention.

In the 54th minute, the Under-17 goalkeeper Henriette produced another decent save to thwart Mondon with a dipping free kick from 30 metres out.

Foresters’ pressure paid off four minutes later from Estico’s free kick in the penalty area and Williams sneaked in at the back post to head the ball home to make it 2-1.

Just past the hour mark, Jean-Louis and Labiche combined at a free kick as Labiche lofted the well-worked set piece at the far post to the unmarked Daryl Louise who headed wide when he should have hit the target.

Foresters needed another goal to see off the Under-17 selection who were also desperate for points as they stare relegation in the face.
In the 74th minute, William slipped a pass to Marty Fanny who skipped past a few tackles but tried to round goalkeeper Henriette who stopped him in his stride.

A minute later, Nourrice latched onto a long pass to hold off the challenge of Louise but he miscued his shot when he was clean through.

Foresters killed off the contest in the 82nd minute as William went on a marauding run down the left to elude a defender and shoot at goalkeeper Henriette who fumbled and there was Nourrice to stab the loose ball into the net to complete his brace and increase his team’s lead to 3-1 as they secured the three points which propelled them to winning the Barclays league division two crown. The win led to jubilant celebration at the final whistle as Foresters were promoted to the first division as champions to the delight of their die-hard fans.

Coach Bryan Bastienne was happy with his team’s success though he felt his players could have done better in this final match.

“We seemed to underestimate our opponents after taking the lead. But at half-time, I told them to put pressure on their defence and we managed to score two more goals. Overall it has been a difficult season as we had a small squad but the players worked hard and we managed to remain unbeaten in the second round after suffering three defeats all season. I’m happy to have won this title and would like to congratulate the players,” coach Bastienne told Sports Nation.

As for Foresters captain Godfrey Denis, he praised his coach Bastienne for his perseverance as he claimed his first second division league title to add to his wide collection of honours he won with St Michel.

“It was not an easy season as we did not have a management team for most of the season except for the last five matches which helped to boost morale in the camp and help us secure the title. But I would like to praise our coach for his devotion and encouragement to the players during our difficult moment and to help us achieve our target. I’m happy today especially for the younger players who can savour the feeling of being champions,” captain Denis told Sports Nation.

The league trophy and medals were presented to the Foresters players by Barclays Bank’s marketing manager Sonny Barra and the Seychelles Football Federation secretary general Jemmy Adela as the players enjoyed their successful league campaign.

Sports Nation congratulates Foresters on claiming the Barclays league division two title and a place in the top flight next year after losing their spot at the end of the 2009 season.

R. J-L.