A REPEAT of Tuesday’s Charity Cup final between Jersey Wanderers and Grouville FC ended in a 1-1 draw at JTC Park, meanwhile St Peter FC got off to a flying start with a 4-0 win against a thin St Paul’s squad
Game of the Day
Jersey Wanderers FC
Nixon 68′
Grouville FC
Veloso 35′
HT Score: 0-1
JEP Player of the Match: Casey Nixon
Grouville were out for revenge away from home at Jersey Wanderers following their 3-2 loss on Tuesday evening, as the two sides with the title in their sights played out a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the Premiership 1 season.
The blues looked to have more control than Tuesday’s Charity Cup final outing, and a smaller pitch meant for a scrappier game. The first clear cut chance fell to Wanderer, Arthur Illingworth, his effort miraculously pushed onto the crossbar by Grouville keeper Luke Duncan.
Grouville took the lead in the first half, as they did on Tuesday night towards the end of the half, as Diogo Velosa latched onto the ball following a defensive mishap from the Wanderers backline.
Velosa kept his composure to slide it past Wanderers’ goalkeeper, Robbie Scott, and give his side the lead headed into the break.
The second half saw Wanderers gain a foothold in the fixture with Wanderers’ Casey Nixon posing a threat once again. Nixon was brought down in the box to award the red and whites a penalty.
Illingworth stepped up successfully from the spot in Tuesday’s final, but could not convert on this occasion, his dinked effort sailing over the bar.
Despite a missed opportunity, Nixon levelled the playing field with what was an incredible solo goal. Nixon danced his way past an obscene amount of Grouville defenders, eventually rounding the keeper and rolling it into an empty net.
The goal of the season contender was not the final action of the second half, with Wanderers came close as captain Josh Coutanche rattled the inside of the post but Grouville stood firm to see out the draw.
Premiership 1 action resumed at St Peter, where the reds dominated a thin St Paul’s side to a 4-0 victory. Goals from James Frudd, Luke Lister, Ethan Hutcheson and Kevin Camacho helped the Crosskeys on their way to their first win of the season.
Championship 1 action also resumed today with St Ouen Reserves taking an early lead in the standings. St Ouen beat Jersey Wanderers Reserves 6-1 in a commanding performance, helped by hat-tricks from Dom Pougeolle and ex-Rangers FC player, Jamie Burrows. Jack Browning scored the consolation for Wanderers.
Grouville Reserves scored a late winner against St Peter Reserves to win 3-2. St Peter led 2-1 at half time through early goals from both Ryan Marcinko and Jay Bertalli.
However, a red card for the reds’ Fergus Fox, saw Grouville grow into the game. Reece Sarre and Joe Catton scored either side of half time with Harry Field’s winner coming in the 77th minute.
St Clement Reserves came from behind against St Brelade Reserves to secure a first point on the board. A 1-1 draw in this clash sees all four teams sit second in the table on one point.
Alex Kilpatrick’s early goal for the Fish was countered by St Clements’ Josh Griffiths.
