Impressive Saugeais hold Raetia on non-FIFA debut

On a difficult pitch in rainy conditions a spirited Saugeais drew 1-1 with Raetia in front of 400 fans in Gilley on Saturday. Before the game the Raetians, who are preparing for the Tynwald Hill Tournament which starts this week, expressed their confidence going into this match but the awkward playing surface and surprising strength of the hosts saw them settle for a draw.

Close...Saugeais fire over from a free-kick.

Led by captain Kevin Bourcard, who recently won promotion to the French 5th-tier with Morteau Montlebon, the Saugettes attacked from the off and after 20 minutes took the lead when striker Fred Lepaitre finished beyond Patric Theus who was winning his 4^th cap. The lead lasted only 10 minutes however as Alsitair Jarvis fired the visitors level when he confidently drove the ball beyond Arnaud Jacquet. Despite being included in numerous squads before it was Jarvis’ 1^st appearance for Raetia and he staked a claim for a starting place this week on the Isle of Man.

The teams tired in the 2^nd period and both sides struggled to dominate, eventually settling for a goal each. FA Raetia secretary Yacine Azzouz highlighted the conditions “they were better than we thought and we couldn’t play our passing game on the pitch”.

In London both Tamil Eelam and Sealand played low-key warm-up matches ahead of the Tynwald. The former comfortably saw off an under-19 UK Tamil league side in a training match in Southall on Friday, the night before the Sealanders won 8-3 against a club side from the London Turkish Community FA league. After going 2-0 down goals from Daniel Williams, brother Jamie and a Nick Albin brace made it 4-3 at the break before strikes from Josh Killen, Ed Stubbs, Luke Wilson and 2^nd for Jamie Williams completed the win.

Match information –

Score: Saugeais 1-1 Raetia

Goals: Fred Lepaitre 20’; Alistair Jarvis 30’.

Saugeais: Jacquet [Fraichot 46’]; Tisserand, Chabod, Marguet, Courlet; Boucard; Mesnier, Faivre-Pierret, Brutillot; Lambert, Lepaitre.

Raetia: Theus; Fontana, Solér, Del Rio, Jeini; Heini Martins, Rodriguez, Kurli, Karamese; Jarvis.