FOR his last Muratti before he steps down as manager, Mo Matthews has named an experienced, but still young, squad for the ladies inter-insular on Sunday afternoon.
I have a fair idea of who’ll be in the starting line-up, they’ll be mostly experienced players - in fact, there are not many first-timers in the whole squad,’ said Matthews.
A few weeks ago Matthews’ squad would have included Rozel Rovers’ Jo Jones, last year’s player of the season, but she dropped out after a period of illness meant she was unable to train.
She is also out of the Island until Friday and Matthews said it wasn’t practical to include her this year.
Eve Watson also dropped out after missing a number of training sessions because of her involvement in the Island badminton squad, while Serena Guthrie, who loves her football, suddenly found herself in the netball league-winning Convent A side that is playing in the netball ‘Upton’ at the weekend.
‘I’d named a squad of 20 and suddenly found myself with only 17 players, and I wanted to take 18 to Guernsey.’ So St Peter’s Sarah Williams was called into the squad, as was Leanne Bell, Claire Le Quesne, and Candice Sharples.
‘Sarah had picked up a rib injury in a St Peter game earlier in the season, but I heard she was playing again so I called her up last week.
She’s a speedy winger who was out of the game altogether for a few seasons after a serious leg injury.
But she’s very fit and I’m pleased to see her back in the game.
Leanne is a very good midfielder.
She missed selection last year because she was pregnant, but she’s played a full season with St Clement.
She’s Geordie lady who has played football at a good level in the UK.’ Claire Le Quesne has been away at university and is now back and working in the Island.
her selection follows a good season in defence for Tower while Candice Sharples is in the squad mainly for experience.
‘She’s a smashing, skilful defender for Tower, and very comfortable on the ball.
But she’s only 15 and this year will be mainly to gain experience - though if I have to bring her on she’ll do well,’ Matthews said.
He added that there will be two or three experienced players on the bench, along with some of the newer girls ‘ I’d describe the squad as reasonably young but mostly experienced,’ he said.
Jersey ladies squad: 1 Helen Lagadu (St Peter), 2 Nicki Warren (First Tower), 3 Kerry Sauvage (First Tower), 4 Jemma Daniel (Rozel Rovers), 5 Nina Woods (St John), 6 Leanne Bell (St Clement), 7 Michelle Bichard (First Tower), 8 Becky Darts (St John), 9 Suzanne Rosser (Rozel Rovers), 10 Joanne Fuller (St Peter), 11 Diana Dos Santos (First Tower), 12 Kirstin Buttle-Ulvin (St John), 14 Claire Le Quesne (First Tower), 15 Candice Sharples (First Tower), 16 Lauren Jéhan (First Tower), 17 Sarah Williams (St Peter), 18 Jodie Botterill (First Tower), GK Stephanie Henwood (First Tower).
Article posted on 27th April, 2005 - 12.00am
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