JERSEY’S under-21 side will aim to replicate the heroics of last year when they face Northern Ireland Schoolboys at Springfield this evening to contest the Lynne Nicholson Trophy.
Luke Coutanche’s 25th-minute strike proved enough in the last instalment, a win that marked the first time the Caesareans had lifted the trophy.
Such is the task at hand, Jersey have only beaten Northern Ireland three times during the 39-year history of the fixture.
The visitors were in fine fettle during the curtain-raiser on Monday against Jersey U18s, scoring six unanswered goals in the second half after a goalless opening 45 minutes.
Head coach Paul Renton said: “First half we competed really well. We had a discussion at the break about all the things we did really well and some of the aspects that needed tidying up.
“Second half, first and foremost we have to credit the opposition.
“They were brilliant and it was really difficult for our guys to sustain the level of intensity that Northern Ireland brought.
“But we were our own worst enemies. It was still a contest at 1-0 down, but the second and third goals were entirely self-inflicted.
“After that, the wind went out our sails and we lost all the momentum we had built.
“We used all our substitutes and seemed to get a little disjointed. Northern Ireland were great in their ability to capitalise in our drop-off in quality.”
It was the worst possible start for the hosts, who lost last year’s player-of-the-match Fergus Boyle to injury inside the opening minute.
The full-back was taken straight to accident and emergency, while Jersey attempted to collect themselves.
Collect themselves they did, going toe-to-toe with their opponents for 45 minutes.
Class prevailed though, and when Jack McLaughlin hammered home a rebound on 49 minutes, the floodgates opened.
Next followed two entirely preventable goals in the space of ten minutes.
First a mix-up at the back saw player-of-the-match Casey Smyth coolly round Tiago Duarte and tap home, before the Jersey shotstopper was dispossessed by Jack Hastings for the third.
The Islanders regrouped and stemmed the bleeding until the 88th minute, where the boys in green again asserted dominance.
Three more goals followed in the last seven minutes, two of which in stoppage time before the referee brought the game to a halt.
Perhaps more concerning was the fact Jersey lost another full-back in the shape of Damon Huckerby through an arm injury. He too headed off to the hospital to assess the extent of the damage.
“Losing two top quality players in Fergus and Damon is the main thing,” added Renton.
“It looks like Fergus will be all right, but Damon has fractured his wrist and will miss tonight’s game.
“Regardless of the result, you don’t want to see your players forced off with injuries.”
Of the Jersey side that were well-beaten by Northern Ireland on Monday, five players potentially return this evening hoping to make amends.
Under 18s captain Charlie Brennan is joined by Conor O’Keeffe, Callum Gilroy, Connor Lloyd and possibly Boyle if his injury is not too serious, from Monday’s squad.
In comes Bulls’ reinforcements in the shape of goalkeeper Pierce Roche and Miguel Carvalho.
Leandro Vieira is temporarily back in the Island from CS Marítimo in Madeira.
In total, seven players from last year’s historic victory return for Paul Renton, as the Caesareans hope that lightning strikes twice at Springfield Stadium.
The battle for the 2024 Lynne Nicholson Trophy is set to get under way at 7pm.
Jersey U21s squad to face Northern Ireland U18s tonight: Pierce Roche, Harry Gladdish, Jamie Watling, Charlie Brennan, Barry Beatson, JJ Lloyd, Leandro Vieira, Seaney McColgan, Miguel Carvalho, Harry Scott, Charlie Yates, Connor Lloyd, Callum Gilroy, Conor O’Keeffe, Rai Dos Santos.
Monday: Jersey U18 0–6 Northern Ireland U18
Jersey U18 [4-3-3]: Tiago Duarte (Wanderers), Damon Huckerby (St. Brelade), Fergus Boyle (St. Paul’s), Charlie Brennan (c) (St. Brelade), Tomas Goncalves (Wanderers), Connor Lloyd (Grouville), Leighton Gilroy (St. Paul’s), Stanley Dunne (St. Paul’s), Callum Gilroy (St. Paul’s), Joey O’Toole (St. Paul’s), Conor O’Keeffe (St. Paul’s)
Substitutes: Paul Burton (St. Clement) for Dunne 66, Daniel Andrade (St. Brelade) for O’Keeffe 54, Coen Le Monnier (St. Brelade) for Boyle 3, Charlie Stirling (St. Brelade) for L.Gilroy 70, Leo Lagardare (St. Brelade) for O’Toole 56, Charlton Lawlor (St. Paul’s) (sub GK) for Duarte 59; O’Toole returned for the injured Huckerby 83.
Northern Ireland U18 [4-4-2]: Ryan Kerr, Callan Farley, Jack McLaughlin, Harry Lynch, Logan Graham, James Douglas, Jude Johnson, Oisin Devlin (c), Jack Hastings, Sam McClintock, Casey Smyth.
Substitutes: Jonathan James, Senan Devine, Joshua Gracey, Owen O’Neill, Alfie Gaston, Mikey Harkin, Karter Bond.
