JERSEY netball coach Linda Andrews was delighted by her A-team’s 55-44 win against Leicestershire at Fort Regent on Saturday.

The result means that in England Counties Netball League Division IV Moore Stephens Jersey are in second place, seven points behind leaders Sussex.

.Three teams will go down at the end of the season but, all being well, with two teams left to play, Jersey will finish in the top half of the division – if not higher.’I was really pleased,’ Andrews said.

‘There were no weak links in the team and all of the players played their part.’We’ve been working very hard on not making errors, and although we kept making tactical changes, everyone had a solid game.’In many ways each of the four quarters saw a new approach to the match.In the first, Jackie Norman as goal-attack played largely outside the final third, providing goal-shooter Zoe Hotton with the ball as often as she could beneath the net, where the tall St Clement’s player was most effective as Jersey, trailing 1-0 in the first minute, eased into a 24-15 lead after the first 15 minutes.The second quarter was similar to the first with Hotton keeping tight to the posts and Norman keeping tight to the edges.

At the end of the session Jersey were 34-21 in the lead.In the third quarter where, for five minutes of the game, Leicester scored four times, virtually unopposed, there were major changes before the home side took control yet again with centre Mary Blampied asserting her dominance in mid-field aided by Jenna Bushell and Sharon West at the back, the two players gaining composure against an older Leicestershire team the longer the game went on.So, even allowing for that Leicestershire rally, with 15 minutes remaining Jersey were 46-34 in the lead.They never looked liked losing their lead in the final quarter, as Hayley Miller slotted in to wing defence and continually won good ball against a team who looked workmanlike in patches but could never match the Jersey team for their athleticism and fitness.Jersey deservedly won this county encounter, not least because of their all-round court play which saw them time and time again rob the Leicestershire girls and then, through close passing and quick interplay, saw them feed their two shooters where Norman only once went wrong – 28 shots, 27 goals – and where Hotton proved the perfect foil with a slightly lower net-rate of 12 shots missed, but 28 scored.’At this level you don’t have time to settle into how you want to play the game,’ said Andrews, afterwards.

‘You have to be quick enough to react to play from the very first minute.’Their coach actually said he was surprised how well we’ve coped at this level, considering we’ve only just moved up to this division.

After this we need someone else to beat Sussex and, if they do that, we could still finish second or third.’At times I was amazed by some of the play; for example Jackie Norman’s brilliant reverse pass in the second quarter and, in the third, when Holly (Oakes) intercepted and passed to Sharon (West) who in turn fed the ball to Mary (Blampied) who fed to Jackie (Norman) who scored.’The Leicestershire coach was taken by Holly Oakes, by Mary Blampied – who read the game so well, changing from goal defence to centre at half-time – and by the experienced head of Jackie Norman.’I'm just pleased for the way we drove through the court, from the middle, and for everyone in the team.

They had a really solid game.

I’d also like to mention Shelby Wright’s captaincy.

She grew in stature during the game as did Carol McKeon, who was also superb the longer the game went on.’Leicestershire’s assistant coach Katy Bond was also pleased for Jersey but: ‘a little disappointed’ by the way her team had performed.

Although close to the bottom of the division, they had taken one of the county favourites, Suffolk, close last week in only losing to them by eight points, and she said of Jersey: ‘We’re a little disappointed.

All of our A-players came over here and although we knew nothing of Jersey, we hoped we could win.

They played a much slicker game, although we weren’t helped by travelling from Stansted and having gale force winds buffetting the plane before we arrived here.’For our side goal shooter Lucy Murphy, goal attack Rebecca Tunstall and wing defence Miri Mc Knight played well.’But we have no excuses.

They were a better side, although we’re obviously disappointed.’Teams: Jersey: Sharon West, Holly Oakes (gk), Mary Blampied, Sharon West (gd), Jenna Bushell, Hayley Miller (wd), Carol McKeon, Mary Blampied (c), Shelby Wright, Carol McKeon (wa/c), Jackie Norman (ga), Zoe Hotton (gs).

Leicestershire: Lucy Murphy, Hayley Peel (gs), Rebecca Tunstall, Christine Sweeney, Helen Walker (ga), Donna Elliott, Emma Foggerty (wa), Hayley Bond (c), Georgia Kielson, Kath Thurman (wd), Mel Crozeall, Kate Smallridge (gd), Caroline Moore, Laura Connelly (gk).Other results: Jersey B-team 49, Leicestershire B-team 28.