THE reserves of Premiership Sunderland turned on the style at Springfield Stadium last night to defeat a hard-working Jersey side by five goals to nil.
Unfortunately for the hosts, and the crowd of around 850, the game was over by the 18th minute as they trailed 3-0 with two of the goals conceded being penalty kicks after fouls by defender Ray Grant. In his defence Grant could do little about the first as he ran into an attacker blocking him off as he looked to play the ball and then later he tripped Jamie Chandler again while trying to clear the ball away from his feet.
Jersey created a few chances in the opening 25 minutes but after that either their final ball let them down or they were muscled out by the strength of the opposition. Stuart André made numerous good interceptions in the heart of Jersey’s defence while goalkeeper’s Craig Fletcher and Andrew Bird, who went off with a groin injury, both pulled off a couple of good saves as Sunderland’s slick passing open Jersey up on many occasions.
Jersey manager Dave Kennedy said: ‘We got to be very proud of our players because of the way they applied themselves. Sunderland were tough and probably the best opposition some of our players will ever come up against in their careers and they should be proud because I thought they were magnificent at times.’
• Picture: Jersey’s Jack Boyle finds space in the Sunderland midfield. Picture by Tony Pike (00595047)
