THE Island’s primary school football XI beat their Guernsey counterparts 5-0 in a competitive and entertaining game at Grainville yesterday.
From the start the Jersey side were first to the ball.
Aggressive in midfield, they allowed the Guernsey XI very little time to settle and in the first two minutes went ahead when a through-ball into the penalty area was thumped in by Joe Parkinson.Seven minutes later Jersey were 2-0 ahead, this time when a cross from the right caught Guernsey ‘keeper Jordan Lucas in no-man’s land, allowing Blake Derbyshire to steer the ball home.Despite the heroics of Lucas, who made a tremendous double save to keep Jersey at bay, the home side were swamping the Guernsey team, rarely allowing them out of their own half.In the second half another through-ball from the left saw Curtis Guthrie tuck the ball away to make it 3-0.The next goal came from a corner as Derbyshire rose above a static defence to head powerfully in, and Guernsey were effectively out of the contest.
An own goal with five minutes remaining by Stuart Roussel, again under pressure from Guthrie, sealed a fine victory by the home side.Jersey manager Mark de Luca said: ‘The result wasn’t as important as the way we played.
We’ve been working towards this game since last September.
I’ve been really pleased by the attitude of the players.
This should stand us in good stead for the Easter soccer festival in two weeks.’Guernsey manager Joe Bailey was philosophical in defeat: ‘We beat Gosport and Fareham 3-2 when Jersey had lost to them, and I really believed we’d win,’ he said.
‘But we weren’t quick enough to the ball.
Jersey crossed the ball better than we did, and were physically bigger in attack, which makes a difference.
I thought their central forwards were both very good.’I still expect to see Glenn Le Tissier and Matthew Renouf in the Star Trophy side in a few years’ time.’Jersey: Aidan Macguire (Will Falle), John Ward, Toby Goar, Jake Baker, Daniel Wilkes, Joe Parkinson (Jamie Bowkett), Kamen Nafkha, Harrison Jukes, Scott Johnson (Richard Sinel), Curtis Guthrie, Blake Derbyshire.
Article posted on 29th March, 2004 - 12.00am
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