LEAGUE leaders flexed their muscles and promotion races continue to take shape despite a number of weather-related postponements. The weekend action kicked off with a Flag & Whistle Friday night Premiership 1 fixture between league leaders Jersey Wanderers and St Peter.
Jersey Wanderers continued their flawless form with a convincing 5-1 win over their western rivals. Playing their third game in six days, Wanderers move 14 points clear at the summit of Jersey’s top division.
Darryl Mvalo and Hugo Pereira scored either side of a 40-minute Jack Hardisty hat-trick as Wanderers raced into a comfortable 5-0 lead. Youngster Rory Baines, who looked lively for St Peter throughout, got his reward with a consolation goal in the closing stages.
St Clement, who have two games in hand on Wanderers, had this weekend’s fixture against Madeira postponed.
Premiership 2 saw Sporting Academics continue their ruthless form with an 8-2 demolition of Sports Club of Jersey at IJB Field on Saturday afternoon.
Diogo Franca scored yet another hat-trick as he levels his teammate Jamie Savory as the leading goalscorers in the division on 14 goals each. Philip Quinn and James Walsh each scored twice in the first half which took the fixture out of Sports Club’s hands. Connor Campbell also netted from the bench.
Sporting Academics are now three points clear ahead of Rozel Rovers, who have a game in hand, as their fixture against Trinity was postponed due to the weather. This fixture has been rescheduled for Thursday evening at Les Quennevais.
Elsewhere in Premiership 2, St John came out on top on home soil in a seven-goal thriller against St Lawrence. St John led at half time through Daniel Stevens and Scott Simpson, with Jared Carpenter replying for the visitors.
Carpenter doubled his tally before Joseph Hogden fired St Lawrence into the lead as the side looked set for their first win of the season. However, Christian De Oliveira netted a speedy brace to turn the tie on its head for St John’s second win of the campaign.
St Ouen’s Reserves secured an important 3-0 win against Grouville Reserves as they go four points ahead of Jersey Wanderers Reserves in Championship 1.
Andre Marques opened the scoring as Ben Cesar netted twice as a substitute. Despite being reduced to ten men, as Sebastian Antrobus was dismissed in the closing stages, St Ouen’s were able to hold out for all three points.
Championship 2 had the busiest schedule this weekend, notably St Ouen C team continued to apply pressure on St Paul’s Reserves with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Rozel Reserves.
Shane Carre proved why he is the league’s top marksman with another goal to his name. Callum McDougall and James Dunn added to the St Ouen’s goals that cancelled out Pedro Da Assuncao’s goal for Rozel.
St John Reserves also etched three points onto the board as they sit comfortably in third place. St John beat Trinity Reserves 4-2 in an exciting contest at Les Quennevais. Julius Sumerauer and Darren Rostron equalled Liam Irwin’s double to head into half-time level.
St John eventually came out on top as Thomas Mollet added St John’s third and Sumerauer closed out the contest with his second.
Grouville C and First Tower United played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. A last-minute Thomas Jones goal for First Tower ensured the points were shared. Rafael Oliveira scored Tower’s other, whilst Kyle Gordinho scored both goals for Grouville.
Cup action returned as a Championship 1 and 2 battle took place in the JFA Bowl “Willis Trophy”. Championship 2 leaders St Paul’s Reserves visited Championship 1 side St Brelade Reserves in what turned out to be a classic. Both sides boasting strong sides showing clear intent to progress in the competition.
William Howe opened the scoring for St Paul’s after just four minutes. Ryan Le Cornu scored a brace in the second half to give St Brelade a lead, only to be shut out by Ethan Hutcheson in the closing stages of the 90.
Extra time ensued and the sides exchanged goals late on through Alex Kilpatrick for the hosts and Barry Beatson Jnr for St Paul’s, ending the tie 3-3 and setting the stage for a penalty shootout.
St Brelade’s goalkeeper, Shaun Cassin, stood up to the occasion and made two important stops in the shootout to help his team progress through the second round of the cup.
In Women’s football, both scheduled fixtures this weekend were unable to go ahead. A win was handed to Rozel Rovers as an ‘Away Walkover’ as St Peter were unable to field a team. This means that Rozel progress in the Sylvia Spinola Memorial Cup.
Due to the Jersey Bulls Women completing their record-breaking win on Sunday, squads were stretched across the Island, Jersey Wanderers cup fixture against Sports Club of Jersey has been postponed.
