“THE boys played extremely well and deserved the win,” was the assessment of coach Bill Aston after Jersey Under-16s progressed to the fourth round of England Hockey’s Tier 2 Championships with a 2-1 win over Epsom Maroon.
The Caesareans will next face a tough Havant side on 4 February in their quest for championship honours and Aston knows that his side will have to be a lot more clinical in front of goal to give themselves the best chance.
They had to come from behind with strikes from Ben Heelis and Rory Baines at the City of London Freemen’s School after a goalless first half, but the Caesareans missed a number of opportunities early on.
“We could have had a considerably less tense afternoon had we finished our early chances,” admitted Aston. “But, having gone behind, we showed calmness and great character to turn it round and get the win.”
The Island side started brightly and created some gilt-edged chances only to be thwarted by excellent ‘keeping, in the Epsom goal. Baines and Ed Hodgson’s dangerous pace in the midfield was a constant menace to home side, while Sydney Smith, Barney Aston and Heelis dominated the middle of the park. Harry Cutting ensured any Epsom threats were stopped from coming through the middle.
The hosts did begin to work out Jersey’s press and started to create some chances of their own.
But by keeping pressure on their wide men, the Caesareans’ wing-back pair of Beau Johnstone-Scott and Herbie Buchholz kept the opposition attacks at bay and ensured Will Wilson in goal had a relatively quiet start to the game.
The second half started with both teams playing to get the breakthrough and both defences managing to repel the other, until Epsom broke into the Jersey area and won a penalty corner, which was converted with a powerful drag flick.
Jersey’s response, however, was exceptional. The interplay from Harry Newbald and Hugo Gomersall in the midfield and the use of space behind the Epsom defence saw a chance for Jersey denied again by good goalkeeping.
However, the Islanders finally levelled the match through a brilliant piece of individual skill and an extremely composed finish of the highest quality from Heelis.
This was followed shortly after by another break. The pace of Baines was too much for the Epsom defence and this time the finishing matched the build up, as Baines slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.
The final seven minutes saw wave after wave of Epsom attacks and they were awarded another short corner on the stroke of the final whistle. But, thankfully, Jersey’s defence were once again up to the task and could celebrate a job well done.
Jersey U16s squad: Barney Aston (c), Beau Johnstone-Scott, Ben Heelis, Ed Hodgson, Harry Cutting, Harry Newbald, Herbie Buchholz, Hugo Gomersall, Jake Le Boutillier, Louis Bell, Oliver Ferguson, Riley Johnstone-Scott, Rory Baines, Sydney Smith, Will Wilson (GK)
