| Jersey | Guernsey | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Shots | 14 |
| 5 | On target | 8 |
| 6 | Corners | 5 |
| 9 | Fouls | 15 |
| 3 | Yellows | 3 |
Jamie Mourant shot the hosts ahead with a fine individual effort in the seventh minute, but Guernsey equalised before the break through Paris Pereira and scored what turned out to be the match-winner with 15 minutes remaining as substitute Kyle Smith headed home after his initial effort came back off the crossbar.
Jersey had two late chances to force extra time as substitute Charlie Petulla shot straight at goalkeeper Josh Addison and Luca Margaroli smacked the ball high over the crossbar from twelve yards, but they were left ruing an ‘off day’.
Jersey manager Jimmy Reilly said: ‘Of course I’m disappointed; we started well and scored a fine goal and we had the best of the opening exchanges at the start of both halves, but credit Guernsey – they were the better team on the day.
‘We never performed; it was disappointing and we have to take that on the chin.
‘Overall we had too many players who did not perform, we have lots of good players but they either froze or had an off day.
‘We threw everything at Guernsey late on in an attempt to force extra time; we had a couple of opportunities but unfortunately we were unable to take them.’
It was a sub-par performance from Jersey but both teams were guilty of poor passing at times, much to the dissatisfaction of a crowd of just under 300.
Jersey goalkeeper James Loughray did well to touch over Danny Hale’s early shot before Mourant put Jersey ahead. After collecting a pass from the right, the midfielder wriggled his way past a couple of opponents and calmly stroked the ball low into the bottom right-hand corner.
Guernsey’s Liam Mahon should have done better with a free header from a corner shortly after, but, after Jersey had seen a penalty appeal waved away by referee Dougie Orr for an apparent handball, man-of-the-match Sam Hall – who was a threat throughout with his direct running – played in Pereira 20 yards from goal, and the latter didn’t disappoint; rolling the ball inside Loughray’s right-hand post.
2014/15: Jersey 1-2 Guernsey
2013/14: Guernsey 0-2 Jersey
2012/13: Jersey 1-1 Guernsey
(Guernsey won 7-6 on penalties)
2011/12: Guernsey 0-2 Jersey
2010/11: Jersey 2-1 Guernsey
2009/10: Guernsey 3-3 Jersey
(Jersey won 5-4 on penalties)
Jersey were on top at the start of the second period but they were unable to break through. Striker Matt Rondel, who was too often isolated and lacked support around him, nodded over from eight yards and had a shot saved by Addison before the ‘keeper reacted well to tip over a ball that flew at him from the boot of a colleague.
Guernsey then started to dominate in midfield. They looked the more likely to score, and so it proved.
Jersey’s defence, who rarely looked troubled with Calvin Weir strong on the ground and Jack Griffin in the air, let Hall’s cross from the right bounce near the penalty spot, and Smith stooped low to nod the ball towards goal.
Loughray reacted well to push the ball up and against his crossbar, only for it to rebound back to Smith, who had the simplest of chances to nod the ball in from close range for Guernsey’s second.
Pereira, again put in by Hall, was then denied by Loughray’s outstretched boot before Jersey’s late flurry came to nothing.
James Loughray
Jordan Preston
Calvin Weir
Jack Griffin
Sam Luce
Jamie Mourant (Luca Margaroli, 89)
Max Thompson,
Cavaghn Miley (Y)
Elliot Poole (Y; Jonny Le Quesne 79)
Zeljko Martinovic (Y; Charlie Petulla, 79)
Matt Rondel
Unused: Euan Van Der Vliet, Steffan Kermin
Josh Addison
Keanu Marsh (Y)
Liam Mahon
Danny Cooley (Chris Phillips, 77)
Joe Alvarez
Danny Hale (Kyle Smith, 57)
Tom de la Mare
Lewis Germain
Ryan Lamb (Corey Delaney, 90)
Paris Pereira (Y)
Sam Hall (Y)
[/breakout]
Guernsey manager Angus Mackay said: We deserved to win the game. We dominated the second half and I was pleased with the goals we scored because they were both good goals.
We were on the back foot for a while after Jerseys goal but once we regrouped we played much better.
Dan Cooley and Liam Mahon were solid in the centre of defence and Chris Phillips when he came on and Josh Addison made a couple of important saves as well.
Im delighted for the players; theyve worked hard preparing and we deserved it.
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