Football: Barclays League Division One-Anse Reunion edge Plaisance closer to relegation |31 October 2008

However, Plaisance were unlucky to lose to a very poor Anse Reunion side, who would have suffered defeat but for their foreign players.

Plaisance could also point to the officials, who were very poor and, sadly, affected the match result.

Plaisance should have taken the lead in the second minute as Eric Bertin set up Darrel Pouponneau, whose fierce shot forced a good save out of Anse Reunion’s goalie Ricky Rose.

In the 19th minute, Plaisance went ahead as Anse Reunion’s makeshift defence of Evans Ernesta and Franky Rose failed to clear a bouncing ball and there was Andy Mougal to pounce on it to volley past Rose for a 1-0 lead.

A minute later, Anse Reunion almost drew level from Brian Dorby’s long ball to Yelvanny Rose, who volleyed wide a good opportunity.

In the 26th minute, Kenyan Gwada Sylla picked out Roderick Rose, who cut inside to lay the ball to Malagasy Milison Niasere, who shot wide when it looked easier to score.

Just past the half-hour mark, controversy loomed large as Dorby sprang Plaisance’s offside trap. Assistant referee Trevor Bijoux raised his flag but then lowered it as Milison, who was in an offside position, was not interfering with play.

Dorby raced clear and then waited for his colleagues as he drew goalie Peter Toule before pulling the ball back to Milison, who scored. Assistant referee Bijoux indicated an offside, which was backed by referee Wesson Joubert. It was the beginning of a series of errors by the officials as some crunching tackles also went unpunished.

In the 38th minute, Milison latched on to a through ball but he was held by defender Bernard Cecile. Referee Joubert only blew for a foul without booking the Plaisance player.

On the stroke of half-time, again there was controversy as France Pool burst through past two defenders and had a clear run on goal. Assistant referee Winsley Françoise wrongly flagged for offside against Bertin and Eddie Samedi, even though both were not interfering with play as Pool had continued his run with the ball. Referee Joubert hesitated before agreeing with his assistant. Plaisance were furious with the decision and protested strongly.

To add insult to injury, Anse Reunion played a quick ball to Milison, who rode three crude tackles before rounding Toule to level matters (1-1).

Plaisance made their anger known to the officials at half-time as they had been denied a goal-scoring opportunity.

Plaisance came out eager to collect all three points as they threw everything in attack. However, Anse Reunion had strengthened their defence and relied on counter-attacks.
In the 55th minute, Milison latched on to a long ball but his lob ended on the roof of the net.
Anse Reunion took the lead in the 74th minute from a counter led by Yelvanny Rose, who raced clear and centred to Milison, who miscued his header as far as Dorby. His dipping shot found refuge in the back of Toule’s net to make it 2-1.

Samedi should have levelled matters a minute later as he was fed in the box but he delayed his shot, allowing Sylla to clear the danger.

In the 85th minute, Jean-Paul Aglaé centred to Mougal, who was in an offside position, which was not signalled by assistant referee Bijoux. But as Mougal went for the ball, he was pushed in the back by Dorby. Plaisance’s players claimed a penalty but referee Joubert was not convinced, much to their disgust.

Dorby should have added a second in the 89th minute as Milison raced clear to flash the ball across goal to him but he blazed wide with the goal gaping.

Milison made sure of the points in added time as he got the better of Aglaé from a long goal-kick to bore in on goal and dribble past the injured Toule to shoot into an empty net for a 3-1 score.

Plaisance scored a consolation goal in the dying seconds as Mougal, who was clearly offside, received Randy Labiche’s pass to fire past Rose to round off the score at 2-3.

It was too little, too late, though for Plaisance in a match in which they had fought hard but were beaten in the end. 

Plaisance now look doomed to automatic relegation as they face league champions St Michel in their last match when they will need a victory and at the same time hope Foresters lose so they can at least grab the play-off position.

R. J-L.