On the eve of her 15th birthday, Heelis made her mark for the senior team with a first-half goal in a 3-2 triumph against Maidstone, making it a hat-trick of third-round wins for Jersey following successes for the women’s over-35s and men’s first team a week earlier.
Former England U16 Jamey Henderson (née Herbert) scored twice on her first appearance since returning to the Island.
‘We started a bit nervous and conceded early from a short corner,’ said Jersey coach Alan Morris. ‘We started to come back into it and hit the post on pretty much our first attack. We always looked dangerous on the counter and Izzy [Heelis] scored a great goal, running from 25 yards out and beating a defender. Once we had that starting point we settled and looked dangerous.
‘We managed to score with ten on the field while we had a player green carded, but we started slowly again in the second-half and they equalised. Then Jamey [Henderson] put one in the top corner for the lead.
‘We were nervous in the final minutes but we defended well and denied them any clear opportunity. I think we could’ve quite easily had a few more.’
Heelis’ rounded the keeper to equalise after Maidstone had opened the scoring from a short corner in the first minute, and Jersey took the lead before the break when Henderson deflected home Steph Edge’s goal-bound slap.
The Kent-based hosts drew level after half-time – breaking into the D and smashing low – but Henderson fired home a first-time shot into the top corner for 3-2.
The final ten minutes were frantic as Maidstone chased a third of their own but Jersey held strong to set up a last-16 clash away at East London.
The fourth-round game was due to be played at home on 24 February, but pitch and player unavailability has resulted in a move in date and venue.
Morris said: ‘Maidstone are in the highest league we could’ve drawn and they are doing well, they have 60-70 goals this season, we knew they would be a challenge and I think it’s really positive for us to have overcome it.
‘Obviously having to face East London away is not ideal. East London are in the same league as Maidstone so they will be a challenge, but we know we’ve got the players and the talent to beat them. We are unlikely to make any significant changes to the squad as we have been functioning well, so we are confident.’
Back at home over the weekend, Hautlieu claimed a 5-3 victory over JHC Tigers in the men’s Senior Cup, while in the Minor Cup VC Colts beat JHC Vintage 4-1 and OV Victoriana finished 3-2 up against JHC Lions.
In the women’s Minor Cup, Pastella Jersey Ladies were beaten 3-1 by Rathbones Eagles, with Cian Ridgard bagging a hat-trick for the winning side. Grace Wetherall for the Ladies. Elsewhere, Ollie Vibert also scored three goals in Rathbones Falcons’ 5-0 win against The Potting Shed Quackers 2nds. Matt Webb and Sam Watling were also on target.
Jersey Women: Emily Le Feuvre, Becky Henwood-Darts, Steph Edge, Jess Watling, Gemma Sutton, Ciara McQuaid, Fi Anderson, Natacha Kay, Chrissie Helmholt-Kneisel, Lisanne De Graaf, Izzy Heelis, Jamey Henderson, Lucinda Gouveia, Larissa Perrée.
