Football:Battling Jersey denied by ‘keeper

Football:Battling Jersey denied by ‘keeper

Trailing 2-1 at the break Jersey threw all they had at Gloucester, but Sam Crabtree, the scorer of Jersey’s first-half goal, and Eliott Poole were both denied by Foran.

The match, watched by 250 at the FB Fields, was the grand finale to the annual Jersey Primary Schools Football Festival, both teams having won their groups with 100 per cent records.

Jersey’s under-11s had started strongly, against opponents who had yet to concede a Festival goal, with Bradley Startford, John Tardivel and Sam Crabtree all going close in the first ten minutes.

Jersey broke through when Gloucester ‘keeper Luke Foran hit an attempted clearance against Crabtree, who then gathered the rebound to score.

But the Island lads found Goucester tough opponents and Niall Wellington equalised on 19 minutes after some hesitancy in the Jersey defence.

And it was a superb strike that put Gloucester ahead two minutes before the break, Ben Wasley hitting a brilliant half-volley high past Jersey ‘keeper Ryan Le Couteur.

Le Couteur, however, was rarely troubled in the second half as Jersey asked all the questions.

But that vital breakthrough never came, despite all the substitutes being used.

But this week has been a great triumph for the Island lads, and easily one of Jersey’s best-ever performances in the nationally-renowned festival, once again organised by Pat Cullinane.

Proud Jersey manager Mark De Luca, who along with Tony Hoyland coached the side this week, said after the final whistle: ‘This has been a great squad effort – we’re a team of 18.

All the lads really enjoyed the week.

Tony and I have been telling them all week that they would come out of this better players – and they have.’

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