COMBINATION football is back and for the sizeable crowd at La Rue des Vignes, they were certainly rewarded for braving the early August downpours.
New boys on the block Madeira and hosts St Peter played out a classic to raise the curtain on their campaign in the Charity Cup.
Locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes, a grand total of 28 penalties ensued, with promoted Madeira sealing victory 12-11, including a pair of converted spot-kicks from both goalkeepers.
There were storylines wherever you looked, from the Madeirans鈥 first step into Premiership 1 action, to St Peter who have lost over two-dozen players since last season, including head coach Elliot Powell鈥檚 departure to 澳彩开奖结果 Bulls.
Last season鈥檚 reserve manager Chris Riley has assumed the top job, and he was 鈥渄elighted鈥 with what he saw from a team very much in 鈥渞ebuild mode鈥.
He said: 鈥淲hen we came here six weeks ago, we had eight players at training.
鈥淭o see where we were today and the performance these lads put in 鈥 I鈥檓 delighted.
鈥淲e are going to be pushing to be a top four or top five team as we go through a rebuild, but what I saw today gives me a lot of hope.
鈥淭here is a solid foundation there and hopefully we can go into Wednesday鈥檚 game [against St Lawrence] and get a positive result.鈥
First blood went to the top flight newcomers as the star duo from last campaign combined beautifully.
Henrique Cristovao on the left flank, found Diogo Velosa inside, who took one glance at goal and hammered home from 20 yards into the far bottom-right corner, giving the diving Anthony Harkin little chance in the St Peter net.
For a pre-season affair, the quality was there from both outfits on the slick surface out west.
The hosts pressed and probed with little avail, while the defensive tandem of Peter Vincenti and Jamie Watling for St Peter worked tirelessly to keep Cristovao and Velosa from adding a second.
St Peter grew into the game, with both Watling and Vincenti looking long to exploit the gaps in behind.
They would find the answer with the last kick of the first half.
Nathan De La Haye鈥檚 cross from the right was not dealt with by Madeira鈥檚 number one Ruben Sousa, who was adamant he was fouled.
Gareth Walker remained unmoved and the grateful Rhys Noon hammered home at the back post.
The momentum grabbed by St Peter continued after the break and a moment of magic from former professional Vincenti followed to give the westerners the lead.
His free-kick from just outside the box bended low around the wall to nestle into the near post corner, beyond the outstretched arm of Sousa.
The now 38-year-old was due to step away from club football, but given the personnel issues at the club, he agreed to step back in 鈥 earning himself the tag 鈥淭he Wolf of Rue des Vignes鈥 as Riley aptly put it.
The stalwart was forced off early in the second half with an injury, which the crosskeys will hope is nothing too serious.
Despite the two quick-fire goals either side of the break for the hosts, visiting Madeira looked inspired.
The departed Vincenti gave Decio Alves鈥檚 men hope and they searched for a way back.
Madeira thought they deserved a spot kick 15 minutes from time, when Joao Rodrigues was nudged in the back, but nothing was given and Rodrigues鈥檚 subsequent protests earned him a yellow card and a spell in the sin bin.
Now a man light, hopes of an equaliser looked slim.
But a last-gasp leveller through a familiar source lifted the lid off the Madeiran bench and the ten men left on the pitch.
Cristovao played a lovely one-two with Velosa before firing a left footed shot through hands of Harkin at the near post to send the game to penalties.
Dramatically, both teams missed two apiece within the first five, before a flurry of scored penalties.
The unfortunate man to miss, handing Madeira victory was St Peter captain Tom Ewing.
Madeira boss Alves said: 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the effort from the boys.
鈥淚 think we started the game really strong, but seemed to lose our heads a little bit and there was too much arguing out there and we obviously conceded right at the end of the first half.
鈥淲e needed cool heads, and I think we were much better in the second half after going 2-1 down.
鈥淭here was a lot more control in the second half and we had a good amount of opportunities.
鈥淚f we can be more clinical, then we can win those sorts of games in 90 minutes.
鈥淏ut ultimately, it was a really good first game and I鈥檓 very proud of them.鈥
Elsewhere, there was plenty more Charity Cup action taking place, as the combination sides received an early litmus test of where their team is currently at, entering a fresh campaign.
St Ouen, relegated from the top flight last season, cruised to victory at fellow Premiership 2 outfit Rozel Rovers.
A first-half brace from Elliot Hughes and second-half strikes from Jack Steel and substitute Oliver Carney steered the western side to a comfortable win.
Meanwhile, St Paul鈥檚 also enjoyed a strong 3-0 home outing over Gary Freeman鈥檚 St Brelade 鈥 in another all Premiership 1 encounter.
The youthful side with an average age close to 18, grabbed goals through Conor O鈥橩eeffe, Stanley Dunne and Sonny Cassidy, making the most of a short-handed St Brelade team after James Quinn received two yellow cards in the first period.
Second-flight St John put up a solid fight at home to Grouville, but succumbed to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Dave Fitton鈥檚 men.
Andre Nunes bagged himself a brace, while Callum Barry and former St Brelade midfielder Logan McGee scored one each.
Sam Luce, one of many who departed St Peter at the end of last campaign, scored St John鈥檚 lone goal.
The Charity Cup continues on Wednesday as Grouville play host to defending Premiership 1 champions St Clement, Rozel Rovers visit 澳彩开奖结果 Wanderers, Sporting Academics are home to St Paul鈥檚 and St Peter journey to St Lawrence.
