Despite a battling performance in wet and slippery conditions at Bemerton Heath Harlequins FC, Jersey under-18s paid the price for two errors despite playing the more controlled and attractive football throughout.
Jersey got off to the worst possible start with Wiltshire capitalising upon a mistake by goalkeeper Max Jouan.
Although Jersey recovered to create a string of chances, they were unable to capitalise and they were punished further just before half time when they left a player unmarked from a corner and he nodded home Wiltshire’s second goal.
But to their credit, the Jersey youngsters dug in and worked their way back into the game again with David Kenyon reducing the deficit with a crisp drive 19 minutes after the resumption.
Jersey pressed hard again but another lapse in concentration resulted in a third goal, conceded six minutes later, and despite another good effort they were unable to capitalise further despite some surging runs from midfielders Michael Weir and Jack Boyle.
Jouan made another good save with his feet late on and in the closing minute he was faced with a penalty kick, following a foul by substitute Luke McGlone, only to watch Nathan Hallett’s chance of a hat-trick go astray as he blazed the ball over a crossbar.
Jersey coach Dave Kennedy said: ‘It’s a hard defeat to take, we played the better football but if you give away sloppy goals and don’t take your chances when they come along you can’t expect to win games.
Opportunity ‘Our boys battled bravely and they’ve missed a fantastic opportunity to have become the first Island side to have reached a national final.
‘History was in the making but now it’s gone.
It’s so frustrating.
I’m told it’s been for the same reason as in previous seasons when Jersey’s under-18 teams have done well, they finally miss out because they’ve not been competitive enough when it needs to be counted.
‘That’s something we can not coach, that comes about when you play physical opposition on a regular basis and unfortunately we do not do that.’ Kennedy was spot on with his assumption, Wiltshire were second best in talent and ability but they were physically stronger and prepared to get stuck in, whereas Jersey were too nice on occasions allowing themselves to be dominated too easily at times.
Ease Just six minutes had elapsed when Harry Etheridge fired the hosts ahead when Jouan dropped a wet ball he would probably have taken with ease nine times out of ten.
Jersey’s back line struggled to play together as a unit for the first 20 minutes or so but gradually they pulled together.
When they did Weir and Boyle got to grips in midfield helping Jersey to create some good opportunities.
Jason De Andrade was showing up really well on Jersey’s right and Ollie Thompson and David Kenyon both had good efforts just off target while a Weir effort bounced on the top of a crossbar.
A great ball across the face of Wiltshire’s six-yard area looked set for a goal but Marcus Carlow’s sliding effort was easily blocked by goalkeeper Scott Armstrong.
A driving run by Weir opened up an opportunity for the former Southampton Academy player but instead of shooting he passed the ball wide and with it went another opportunity.
De Andrade then drove in a forceful shot which Armstrong parried and with the goal unattended there wasn’t a Jersey player in sight to tuck home the rebound.
Jouan atoned for his early error with a brilliant low save to his right and minutes later he was picking the ball out of his net for the second time when slack marking left Hallett with a free header.
Kenyon’s goal gave Jersey hope but soon after Hallett smashed home his second and Wiltshire’s third, after Etheridge got behind the left side of Jersey’s defence, the writing was on the wall and Jersey’s chance of a first final, against Oxfordshire, ended.
Jersey: Max Jouan; Sam Habin, Pierce Cummins (captain), Luke Campbell, Jordan McBride; Jason De Andrade, Jack Boyle, Michael Weir, Marcus Carlow; David Kenyon, Ollie Thompson.
Subs used: Luke McGlone, Declan Sowney, Jamie Cullen.
