MARTIN CASSIDY shone a light on goalkeeper Euan Van Der Vliet and star substitute Jake Prince for the roles they played in steering Jersey to a 57th Muratti Vase victory on Saturday.
The Caesareans claimed a third consecutive men’s inter-insular title with a 1-0 triumph over Guernsey at Springfield – earned through Lorne Bickley’s second-half header in front of 1,600 supporters.
Midfielder Joe Kilshaw was awarded the man-of-the-match trophy for his efficient efforts on his senior Muratti debut, but it was the influence of Van Der Vliet and Prince which proved key at both ends of the field.
Van Der Vliet made two crucial stops in the first half, before Prince made an immediate impact off the bench to help create the decisive goal.
‘If it weren’t for Euan it could have gone the other way, and there were some good blocks by the defensive unit as well,’ said Jersey manager Cassidy.
‘Euan kept us in the game in the first half. Guernsey had lots of chances and in the second half we needed a hand. We thought “this is Princey’s moment”, and the boy has given us everything.’
Bickley’s goal arrived after long periods of dominance by both defences, with Jersey struggling to find space to shoot.
‘We knew there would be a period where their defence would be exposed,’ Cassidy added. ‘We had hoped to expose them in the first half but unfortunately that didn’t happen and that was down to them defending well. The challenge for us was to stay at it.
‘There was a bit of euphoria when the goal went in because I was a bit worried about trying to explain how unlucky we were.’
The latest Muratti success adds to the FA Inter-League Cup title claimed by the JFA Combination in 2021 – featuring a large majority of the same players, who ply their trade with Jersey Bulls.
‘This is the second competition we’ve won in the last two years,’ said Cassidy. ‘[But] they hadn’t won a trophy this season, if you think about where they’re all playing, and that was the carrot I gave them before the game. This was their chance to go and get the biggest one of the season and they did it. And it’s great to do it at home.’
Meanwhile, Guernsey manager Tony Vance believes Saturday’s outing represents a wasted opportunity.
‘I don’t think anyone could have denied that we were three goals better than them,’ he said. ‘We had numerous chances and we didn’t take them.
‘We switched off for their one chance in the second half and they’ve nicked a result. You can play outstandingly well, you can be the better team on the day, but it says Jersey on the trophy, and that’s what happened.
‘We played some really good football and Jersey couldn’t touch us. They were predictable but fair play to them, they’ve won the game, and no-one can deny them that.’
