Allen Reid put the visitors ahead on 20 minutes, but Luc Le Mière’s header squared the game at 1-1 ten minutes before half time.
Jersey’s prospects took a tumble, literally, on the hour mark, however, when ‘keeper Casey Hickling was adjudged by referee Dave Goldsmith to have brought down Reid in the box – a decision that left even Northern Ireland coach Andy McMorran shaking his head and openly admitting that there had been no contact.
David Armstrong converted the penalty to give his side the lead, and victory.
‘It was a good game,’ said Matthews, ‘but we were conned out of a draw and they had the luck of the Irish because that was never a penalty.
‘We competed well for the first 20 minutes and showed great character to bounce back from a goal down.
‘The thing that impressed me most was that there were no long balls, even when we were chasing the game, and both sides played good football.’ Playing international football is a great experience for the cream of Jersey’s young footballers and Matthews is in no doubt that the experience can only improve his players.
‘There’s a lot our lads can learn from the game,’ he said, ‘because sometimes you can’t afford to have that third touch.
‘I think it was an excellent game,’ he said.
‘Both teams can play – but I felt we did enough to win.’ Ramsey was, nevertheless, in agreement with Matthews about the disputed penalty.
‘I was very surprised it was given,’ he said.
‘But for our first competitive match together, I was pleased with the way we played and the initiative we showed up front.’ Both sides began brightly, passing with precision and pressing quickly, although there was little created in the first 20 minutes.
It was Northern Ireland who broke the deadlock, however, when out of nothing Reid picked up a half cleared ball and fired in a low shot that squirmed past Casey Hickling in the Jersey goal.
Jersey’s first real chance led to their equaliser on 35 minutes, when Steven Wilkinson whipped in a free-kick and Le Miere headed in unchallenged from six yards.
Armstrong’s mazy run on the hour sucked in two defenders before he poked the ball to Reid.
Reid nudged the ball past the on-rushing Hickling and tumbled in a manner that would have done a Chinese gymnast proud.
To be fair to referee Goldsmith, he was on the blind side of the challenge, although everyone in the stand had a clear view of Reid’s antics.
‘The way I saw it the ‘keeper came out and didn’t make contact with the ball but caught the player,’ he said.
‘I didn’t think it was a penalty,’ said Northern Ireland midfielder Rabbie Weir who has had trials with Rangers, Fulham and Sunderland.
‘But I’d give him a 9.9 for that effort!’ Armstrong and Scott McCordick, who played up front for the visitors, held the ball up well and burst down the flanks to create space for the likes of central midfielder pairing Weir – who saw one audacious effort from 45 yards flick the top of the crossbar – and Aidan Watson to exploit.
Watson was a supercharged terrier on the night and even his bleached blond, red striped head was not always enough to alert the Jersey lads of his imminent approach as he came haring (no pun intended) towards them.
Both teams deserve immense credit for their performances.
