In excellent conditions at the Track, Jersey got off the worst possible start, conceding a goal in the fourth minute and then, completely against the run of play, Guernsey netted again three minutes before their break with only their second effort on target.
It was certainly tough luck on Jersey at the break as after a scrappy first ten minutes they battled back to have Guernsey on the back foot and they created several good chances with Kyle Hampshire also striking the crossbar.
Straight after the resumption Guernsey should have put the game out of Jersey’s reach, but they squandered three good chances in the opening 15 minutes and although Jersey battled bravely they were unable to prise open Guernsey’s defence until six minutes from time when Luke Watson nodded home from close range following a short corner routine.
Jersey’s frustration showed late on with Watson cautioned for pushing the ball into an opponent’s face while in the dying minutes Craig Russell was sent off after a comment made to the referee who failed to award him a free kick when he was clearly fouled.
Jersey also had legitimate claims for a penalty turned down in the 56th minute when goalkeeper Scott Rowe clearly caught Hampshire late with a sliding tackle after Hampshire had slid the ball across goal.
Jersey manager Dave Kennedy said: ‘The penalty decision was one of many decisions when I thought the referee sided with the opposition, but I’m not going to say that had too much of a bearing on the result.
‘We played some fabulous football in the first half, I was really pleased with the way we were knocking it about but we could not capitalise on our chances.
‘However, I’ve got to say Guernsey’s front two were exceptional, they always looked as if they were going to cause us a few problems.
‘A bit of naivety cost us the two goals.
We did not deal with the ball coming into the back end of the penalty area, something we had worked on in training.
‘That was disappointing.
And then you go in 2-0 down at half time and that was really, really disappointing because we were playing well and creating chances.
‘We chased the game after that and full credit to Guernsey for keeping us out.
‘On another day we could well have been coming home with trophy, but it’s a story of missing chances at one end and giving away easy chances at the other.’ Guernsey manager Steve Ogier said: ‘I thought we won the game on the back of grit and determination, we did not do well first half on the ball and it could not have got any worse in the second half.
‘All credit to Jersey, they played the better football, we just could not get hold of the ball and when we did we gave it away.
‘After the break we did much better and early on we created some excellent chances and we should have put the game to bed.
‘I’m really pleased we won but disappointed in our performance, especially on the ball.
‘We sacrificed a little bit of quality in the centre of midfield and played Alex Le Prevost in defence.
Guernsey: Scott Rowe; Ross Elliott, Naro Zimmerman, Alex Le Prevost, Tom Strawbridge; Mark Ramsden (Aaron Ferbrache, 81), Charles Pinsard, Ben Coulter, Glynn Dyer; Craig Young, Ross Allen.
Jersey: Max Jouan; Neal Crowell, Sam Dewhurst (Ollie Thompson, 78), Richard Parker, Jack Cannon; Jay Reid, Jack Boyle, Luke Watson, Danny Flynn (Tom Wherry, 55); Craig Russell, Kyle Hampshire (Ben Ahier, 58).
Officials: Ian Le Prevost (G), Andy Cox (J), Brent Blondel (G), Neil Lunn (G).
