The 21-year-old Highlands College student scored two good goals in the Island’s 3-0 friendly win against the Essex and Suffolk Border League at Springfield on Saturday, a result and performance that delighted Jersey team manager Jimmy Reilly.
‘Saturday is the best we’ve played since I’ve been involved,’ said Reilly.
‘The shape of team was good; there is a lot more structure to our play and the boys did really well.
‘I’ve always said that if we can get time working with the players then we will benefit from that and now we are together at least once a week, we’re looking good because of all the hard work that is being done.
‘Zeljko did really well; he showed what he could do and I’m pleased for him because he has been working hard.
‘I’ve said it before that he is a potential match-winner and he’s definitely a player for the future.
‘He took his goals really well and he could have had a hat-trick.
‘Unfortunately he had to come off because he struggled with a shoulder injury. Hopefully that will clear up for him quickly.’
Jersey’s build-up towards the Muratti and the Island Games is gaining momentum.
In conjunction with the recent opening of the new 3G surface at Springfield, Reilly’s squad are getting together on a regular basis and last Wednesday they played JTC Jersey Wanderers and at 6 o’clock tonight they face Jersey Scottish.
Reilly added: ‘It’s good preparation and if there are things that need to be sorted, because we are together regularly now we can do it almost immediately. Previously it could have been anything up to three months before we got together as a group again.
‘Essex gave us a good game physically and we looked hard to break down which I was very pleased about.’
Trinity: Callum Lane; Sonny Tealing, Dylan Martins-Vieira, Charlie Batty, Kevin Vieira, Hayden De Sousa, Lewis Millward, Calum Barry, Matti Davy, Ben Goncalves, Finley Howard. Subs: Ewan Davies, Stefan Tavares, Adam McLachlan, Ross Limbrick.
St Ouen: Jake Lloyd-Jones; Zak Clinton, Anthony Moffitt, Marco De Castro, Michael Olim, Casey Newton, Charles Stewart, Sam Le Riche, Joao Oliviera, Jack Guille, Josh Silva. Subs: Goerge Le Riche, Tristan Norbury.
Jack Boyle and Daryl Wilson are not expected to feature tonight due to injuries.
Meanwhile, at Springfield last night, Trinity lifted the Alex Scott Trophy after winning the under-16 Division II knock-out cup final 2-1 against St Ouen.
The Western parish club’s hopes of completing a league and cup double were dashed by a brace of goals from Trinity’s Ben Goncalves, the winner a dozen minutes from the end after Josh Silva had levelled the scores at one-all.
Goncalves opened the scoring from ten yards after St Ouen’s defence failed to clear the ball before Silva equalised on the stroke of half time by lifting the ball over the goalkeeper from 15 yards.
Goncalves struck the ball through the advancing keeper’s legs, from ten yards after breaking clear, for his and Trinity’s second goal.
