JERSEY Men’s hockey have secured their spot in the England Hockey Men’s Tier 2 Trophy final for the first time in dramatic style after coming from a goal down to beat Tunbridge Wells 2-1 away from home on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts snatched the lead against the run of play in the first half, but player/coach Robbie Forrest levelled up in the second half before captain Tom Millar, competing in this competition 20 years after first making his debut, inked his name in the history books with the winner five minutes from time.
“It’s unbelievable,” said the skipper. “To know we’ve reached the final is an amazing feeling – the buzz in the changing room after the final whistle was incredible.”
Jersey travelled to Tunbridge to face their third semi-final in the past seven years, with memories of heartbreak in the previous two in the back of their mind. What followed was described as “a real battle”, by Forrest.
“Credit to Tunbridge, they were a really good side,” said Forrest, still in his first year as player/coach. “They took the game to us and it was an even battle throughout, but we managed to get over the line and that’s incredible satisfying.
“I thought we played really well, it was an excellent performance from us especially away from home against a tough opposition. I thought Ben Heelis and Barney Aston were particularly outstanding.”
The game started in even fashion, however Jersey could lay claim to dominating the opening exchanges. However, they would find themselves a goal down against the run of play through the home side’s first effort on goal.
This Jersey side are no strangers to a comeback though, after overturning a deficit against Woking to reach the last four.
It was Forrest himself who levelled the tie. In goalscoring form after scoring the opener in their 2-0 inter insular win over Guernsey, the 23 year old was in the right place at the right time to nudge home at the far post from Pete Millar’s fierce strike.
As the second half commenced, the momentum seemed to swing back towards the hosts, particularly after Forrest was forced off the field with cramp heading into the final quarter.
However, big players step up in big moments, and it almost seemed written that it would be the captain to deliver the killer blow.
This time it was Jamie Bolton-Grange who fired across the D who found Millar perfectly positioned and, with the touch of an opening batter nudging one off his hip to the fine leg boundary, he guided the waist-high effort passed the Tunbridge keeper to send his side into the final.
“It was just a case of being in the right place at the right time,” Millar added with traditional modesty and composure. “It’s always nice to contribute with a goal, but yesterday’s performance was a real team effort. Everyone worked so hard for each other. We were brilliant defensively and always looked dangerous going forward.
“This Jersey team has developed a knack of scoring in key moments and getting over the line in these tight matches and that’s been the foundation of our run in the competition this season. Now we’ve qualified, we need to make sure we go on and lift the trophy.”
Forrest, audibly delighted with his side’s efforts, continued: “Everyone’s just incredibly excited for the final now. We deserve to be there and there’s a really good feeling in the group right now.
“To get to this stage in my first year as coach is something I’m personally incredibly proud of. We just need one more game now to go our way and we’ll have achieved something really historic for Jersey hockey.”
Jersey are scheduled to meet Sheffield University Bankers Men’s 1s in the final, with the date looking to be around May 2-4, but still to be determined at the time of writing.
Jersey squad: Tom Millar (c), Tyler McGlinchey (GK), Joel Dudley, Peter Millar, Tom Sibley, Barney Aston, Jamie Watling, Simon Hurry, Alex Anthoine, Tom Bolton, Ben Heelis, Ed Hodgson, Jamie Bolton-Grange, Alex Spencer
Player/coach: Robbie Forrest
Manager: Richard Gilpin
