Football:Good start to summer campaign

Football:Good start to summer campaign

England LD, World Cup holders and boasting a host of semi-professionals, had started in impressive fashion and Dave Matthews’ boys looked likely to be in for a hard night, writes Ron Felton.

But Jersey were up for the challenge and their passing and movement on a superb surface caught the eye throughout, with the pace of strikers Ross Crick and Craig Leitch a constant threat.

Organised as part of the the JFA’s Centenary celebrations, the match was no lukewarm friendly and there were meaty challenges throughout, particularly from England.

Certainly, the onlooking Jersey Disabled Football squad were fired up for their task against Guernsey tomorrow afternoon! That those lads provided a sizeable chunk of the crowd, around 120, was disappointing – but nobody could quibble about the standard of play.

England’s early pressure had yielded few chances and Jersey came closest to scoring on 25 minutes when captain Chris Andrews sprinted through the centre of the field and clear of the high line of defenders to force a slightly fortuitous save out of the alert Harry Hunter.

Jersey were only denied for six more minutes however, and again it was defending high up the pitch that undid England; James Hayward’s accurate early ball enabling Crick to chase through alone, compose himself, round Hunter and slot home.

Leitch soon joined his partner on the scoresheet after a superb turn, on receiving a low cross from Jon Fitzmaurice, gave him time to pick his spot – 2-0.

Andrews virtually wrapped up the victory minutes after the break, when powered through on the left to lash a low shot home past substitute ‘keeper Liam McVicar’s near post.

Jersey went four-up when Crick finished well from close range after neat passing through the middle with Leitch.

England were struggling to get any change out of a solid Jersey rearguard in which Stuart André and Craig Northedge impressed, and they needed two penalty awards before scoring a consolation; the first kick horribly missed by Ronnie Watson but the second comfortably tucked past Jersey substitute Casey Hickling by Grant Smith.

Jersey: Jimmy Styles (Casey Hickling 69); James Hayward, Craig Northedge, Stuart André, Kevan Crowell (Sam Dewhurst 65); Chris Carter, Dave Brodie (Russell Le Fevre 88), Chris Andrews, Jon Fitzmaurice; Ross Crick, Craig Leitch.

England LD: Harry Hunter, Danny Lineker, Ricky Alexander, Dean Chandler, David Young, Grant Smith, Scott Curley, Ronnie Watson, Dean Earle, James Morris,, George Ley, Liam McVicar, Chris Kemsley, Daniel Cole, Junior Bilal.

Match officials: Mark Ives; Nigel Hammond, Andy Norman; Neil Giannoni.

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