- Jersey’s men and women progress in the England Hockey Masters Trophy.
- Women reach their first final, while the men make the last four.
- Listen to ladies captain Becky Henwood-Darts’ reaction below.
THE Island’s two veteran hockey sides moved a step closer to national cup glory on Saturday with victories in the EH Masters Trophy.
Jersey’s women progressed into their first ever Masters (over-35s) Trophy final thanks to a 2-0 success against City of York, while their male counterparts came from behind to win 4-1 away to Formby; a result which secured a spot in the last-four of their (over-40s) Trophy.
| Jersey | York | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Shots | 2 |
| 10 | On target | 2 |
| 2 | Pen Corners | 4 |
| 0 | Converted | 0 |
| 0 | Greens | 1 |
It was a far from vintage performance from Jersey’s women, but their efforts at Les Quennevais proved enough to send the Islanders marching on to their first ever national final.
Perhaps unnerved by the occasion, the hosts lacked their usual penetration in attack and struggled to break through the City of York defence in the first half. Thankfully however – for the home supporters at least – the visitors were equally as sluggish and fashioned very few meaningful chances throughout the entire match.
Towards the end of what had been a stereotypically scrappy semi-final, it was Jersey who found two unanswered goals to reach the showdown of England Hockey’s Masters (over-35s) Trophy.
Although disappointed with her side’s performance, triumphant skipper Becky Henwood-Darts was elated to be heading for Lee Valley next month.
‘I’m delighted to be through and we’re very much looking forward to the final,’ she said.
‘Clearly, based on today’s performance, we need to get some more training in between now and then but it’s very exciting.’
In an opening period that boasted very few goal scoring opportunities, Jersey came nearest as Ciara McQuaid’s cross brushed past the left upright.
York only looked dangerous on the break, but Tracey Vallois and Kelly Cutting stood strong in the heart of the Islanders’ defence.
The best chance of the half fell to Sarah Heelis, whose strike was well saved, before Chrissie Helmholt-Kneisel was unable to finish the rebound.
The final opportunity of the first 35 minutes fell to York, but their effort from a penalty corner was cleared with ease by keeper Laura Besnard.
There was a noticeable improvement to the hosts’ play in the second period but Besnard had to be quick off her line to smother a York striker on the top of the circle early on.
As Jersey’s confidence grew, they began to create more chances, with Tiff Newbald deflecting a shot just wide of the left post before Heelis drew a save from a penalty corner.
With 15 second half minutes played, the crowd could scarcely believe the Islanders hadn’t taken the lead as Heelis was involved in a goalmouth melee and twice witnessed her attempts frantically cleared off the line.
However, the home side were edging ever closer to finding the back of the net and, with 15 minutes to play, the deadlock was eventually broken. Storming down the left flank, Helmholt-Kneisel drew the last defender before passing to Newbald who, with just the keeper to beat, coolly slotted home at the near post.
Jersey continued to search for goals and Helmholt-Kneisel might have scored moments before Heelis doubled her team’s advantage with a tap-in on the right post following good work from Lisa Grant.
Henwood-Darts added: ‘The first half was difficult. We hung in there and defended well but it was scrappy. We had a good talk at halftime, came out with a slightly different structure and I think it paid dividends.
‘After Tiff scored, we settled into our patterns of play and, in the end, were pleased to get the second goal to make it more comfortable.’
Jersey will now play Bury St Edmunds in the final on 26 April.
Laura Besnard, Becky Henwood-Darts (c), Sarah Heelis, Ciara McQuaid, Kelly Cutting, Zoe Smart, Lucy Aston, Yana Vibert, Tracey Vallois, Chrissie Helmholt-Kneisel, Lisa Grant, Tiffany Newbald. Coach: Bill Aston.
MEANWHILE, Jersey’s men will travel to Henley for the semi-finals of England Hockey’s Masters (over-40s) Trophy next month after their success.
The Islanders started the quarter-final match lacking their usual intensity and precision and, as a result, the first half was quite a cagey affair.
In the absence of Neil Merritt, centre back Andrew Steel made some good interceptions but Simon Watling was regularly forced to cover from right back, which curtailed his offensive play. When Jersey were on the ball, there were good spells with Stuart Ramskill showing his superior fitness, but the final pass didn’t quite come. As the half draw to a close, Formby won a penalty corner and flicked the ball low and hard past keeper Andy Brown to break the deadlock.
The Islanders began the second half with greater intensity and, from their first attack, Watling fired a shot at goal. The hosts’ keeper was only able to parry the ball to a grateful Dom Simpson, who tapped home the equaliser at the far post.
Jersey took the lead soon after when Ramskill drove into the circle and found James Wetherall on the penalty spot. Unable to gather the pass, Wetherall’s touch fell kindly for Simpson to grab his second.
The visitors were now playing with more composure and another foray into Formby’s circle earned a penalty corner, which Ramskill fired at goal. The keeper made a double save from Ramskill but Simpson again collected a rebound and shot at goal. After an illegal stop from an opposition defender – denying Simpson his hat trick – Adrian Heelis dispatched the penalty stroke past the keeper’s left pad.
Still arguing about the stroke decision, Formby were reduced to ten men for dissent but they threw caution to the wind and started playing direct balls to their forward line. Their pace caused Jersey some trouble but last-ditch defending and good keeping from Brown kept the hosts out.
The game was soon safe when Ali Hall shot past the keeper towards goal but the lack of power meant it was a chase between defender and Stuart Gower, with the latter winning the battle to tap home Jersey’s fourth.
Jersey are sponsored by Brewin Dolphin.
Andy Brown, Ed Daubeney, Andrew Steel, Adrian Heelis, Simon Watling, Dominic Simpson, Stephen Ritzema (c), Stuart Ramskill, James Wetherall, Stuart Gower, Ali Hall, Arran Eagar, Richard Gilpin, Richard Veillard.
