JERSEY WANDERERS U16s crowned a great season at a sun-drenched Springfield on Saturday - but they did it the hard way.
Jersey’s champions were mere seconds away from defeat when a penalty converted by Michael Weir in the second period of extra time forced a penalty shootout.
The home side then kept their nerve the better to win the shootout 4-2 - and condemn North to their second Upton defeat in eight days.
And Wanderers’ U18s could give North an unwanted Upton hat-trick if they win the U18 version in Guernsey this coming weekend.
North’s youngsters had twice led, through striker Nigel Hutton on the stroke of half-time and a Matt Loaring solo effort in the first period of extra time.
But goals from Wanderers’ big striker Ciaran Cooper and midfielder Michael Weir’s penalty twice dragged them level.
In the shootout Wanderers converted their first four kicks, but North’s third and fourth attempts both missed the target, Aaron Lamb blasting wide and Scott Bougourd striking a post.
Kieron Mathon and Hutton were on target for North.
Wanderers’ boss John Hannah was delighted with the result and the sporting manner of the match, which was well controlled by referee Russell Barry: ‘But I thought we should have buried it a lot earlier than we did - we were the better side for long periods, but didn’t make the most of our chances.’ Hannah gave special praise to the performance of left-back Ross Jeffs who had been given the far from easy task of keeping quiet Guernsey star Loaring.
The slightly-built youngster never shirked his duties and North’s star winger was not the dominant figure he can be.
‘We asked Ross to put in a disciplined performance and he did just that.’
Article posted on 30th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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