Football:Jersey’s Stars shine brightest

Football:Jersey’s Stars shine brightest

Two goals from big Victoria College striker Dan Tardivel – he might have had more – a penalty from man-of-the-match Michael Weir and a spectacular 30-yarder by Jack Sterling sealed their triumph after Guernsey had taken the lead against the run of play in the 32nd minute.

The only sour note on an otherwise sporting evening was the idiot who slung a stink bomb into the visitors’ dressing room at half time and the equally empty-headed spectator who flung eggs at random from the back of the stand.

It was a result which had manager Howard Taylor purring with delight.

‘I’m very pleased with the lads,’ he said afterwards.

‘When they went 1-0 up we didn’t let our heads go down.

We had a plan and the boys were disciplined enough to stick to it.

Then when we got 2-1 in front we never looked back – they were skilful and determined and there wasn’t a weak link.

‘It’s a brilliant reflection on the state of Jersey schoolboy football and a credit to all the school staff and the Centre of Excellence.’ He was right.

The match brimmed with skill and ambition – and a game Guernsey side and especially their elusive and tenacious winger Matt Lawring contributed to that.

Jersey started as though they were going to run up a cricket score.

Luke McGlone headed against the bar in the sixth minute and then they had a penalty appeal rejected before Weir, who is on schoolboy forms with Southampton, pulled a shot wide of the target and then Sterling shot narrowly over.

Next Tardivel might have scored when he found himself one-on-one with Sarnian keeper Chris Bertram.

Guernsey had hardly threatened so it was a shock when Doug Edwards escaped in the penalty area and slotted the ball past Nick Ashley in goal.

But the Jersey boys stuck to their task and Tardivel equalised in the 40th minute when he found the net from close range after benefiting from a fortunate bounce in the penalty area.

And a minute later the assured and elusive Weir was brought down in the area and calmly slotted home the spot-kick.

After the break Jersey continued to dominate and sub Ricardo Figueira might have made it three when he missed the chance from close range.

In the 59th minute Jersey effectively sealed victory when Tardivel, through on his own after a total mis-kick by Guernsey defender Tom Duarte, found the net for a comfortable second goal.

And three minutes later, in the midst of a rash of substitutions – both sides used all their subs – Sterling hit a speculative 30-yarder into the top corner.

In the closing stages Jersey took their foot off the gas but never looked in any danger of conceding again.

Guernsey manager Chris du Feu was surprised by Jersey’s quality.

‘They were stronger than I expected – it’s the strongest Jersey side I’ve seen for six or seven years,’ he said.

‘We started too slowly and those two goals just before half time were difficult to handle mentally.

I’m disappointed with the result but I’m genuinely proud of my team.’ Jersey: Nick Ashley, Rupert Murray, John Borg, Seb Pool, Luke McGlone, Jay Reid, Chris Mourant, Sam de la Haye, Dan Tardivel, Michael Weir, Jack Sterling.

Subs: Barry Keith, Ricardo Figueira, Joe Baugh, Michael West, Adam Le Cornu.

Guernsey: Chris Bertram, Marcus Pearch.

Ben Youlton, Tom Duarte, Don Giles, Jack Domaille, Matt Lawring, Scott Bougard, Gowain McCarthy, Doug Edwards, Kieran Mahon.

Subs: Greg Rowlands, John Purdy, Geoff Robinson, Josh Galliene, John Taylor.

Referee: Neil Giannoni; assistants: Ray Sutcliffe, Mark Fail; fourth official: Paulo Martins.

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