JERSEY grabbed the honours in the inaugural under-16 Muratti yesterday, a second-half close-range goal by James Murray separating the teams at Blanche Pierre Lane to give them the Nigel Gavey Memorial Trophy.
Jersey coach Keith Le Cornu said: ‘It’s tremendous you can now have the under-16s having a Muratti.
It gives the kids something to strive for and keeps them in football.
‘It was a hard battle and at least both teams tried to play football.
It was how it should be played at that level.’ Le Cornu, sharing management duties with Dave Walsh, believed that on the overall balance Jersey deserved their victory.
‘We sat back after the goal, which is natural.
We got out of jail a bit with the header [by Guernsey’s Matt Loaring] at the end,’ he said.
‘I was told the Muratti was dour last week but I think people will come and watch this and hopefully more people will come and watch youth football.’ Guernsey coach Paul Ockleford said: ‘I thought both sides played good counter-attacking football.
I think we created more chances, but on the day did not make more of the chances.
‘The performance was pleasing again but we missed that final cutting edge.’ Jersey players wore black armbands in memory of JFA stalwart Charles Binet who passed away last week.
Guernsey: Creed, Robinson, Giles (Hooper), Moriarty, Piercy, Roland (Le Cheminant), Loaring, Bougourd, Lamb (Bodie), Hutton (Gauvain), Mahon.
Jersey: Ashley, Riddell, Borg, Poole, Le Cornu, de la Haye, Reid (Quaeck), Weir, Murray, Santos (Tardivel), Walsh (Mourant).
Subs: Osmont, Connelly, Hickling, Bolton.
Officials: D Walsh, K Le Cornu, Steve Proffitt, Simon Moiani and Martyn Le Blancq.
Referee: George Jennings.
Assistants: Kevin Wakeham and Andy Legg.
Article posted on 14th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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