JERSEY’S Primary Schools’ football team lost for the first time on tour to the South of England yesterday – a 1-0 defeat in Oxford by Vale of White Horse.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for coach Mark De Luca’s side as they played well yet missed a catalogue of chances.De Luca said: ‘The management and the players themselves are all very disappointed.

We had lots of possession but unfortunately we ran up a lot of blind alleys.

Five minutes into the second half Vale scored and it was a real blow, because it was one of the very few chances that they created.’Full credit to their striker, though, because he chased the ball before tucking it away at the third attempt.

He hit the post with his first effort and from the rebound our goalkeeper made a good block but there was nothing we could do about the second rebound.

We worked really hard throughout but our shooting was way off target.’Jersey’s one-hour warm-up was increased to 90 minutes because of a breakdown to a car bringing the kit to the game.

However, they took control early on and had three clear openings but failed to capitalise.

It was going to be one of those games.An otherwise excellent Jersey defence of Toby Goar, Daniel Wilkes, Johnny Ward and Jake Baker were caught napping with a speculative flick over the top and Vale capitalised through their excellent centre-forward.

Jersey were unable to draw level despite having most of the possession and some excellent corners from Joe Parkinson.Shots on target, following excellent build-up play, were few and far between and in the end it was a disappointing result, considering Jersey’s game control.They have now won, drawn and lost on tour.

Their final game was against Poole and East Dorset this afternoon and they return to the Island tonight.De Luca took the squad to watch South-ampton’s first team training this morning, where they met Graeme Le Saux.

‘Our squad have all been brilliant, both on and off the pitch, and their behaviour has been superb,’ added De Luca.Primary Schools: Aidan McGuire (De La Salle), Richard Sinel (FCJ), Kamen Nafka (Grouville), Blake Derbyshire (St Luke), Toby Goar (St Michael), Johnny Ward (St Peter), Scott Johnson (Rouge Bouillon), William Falle (Victoria College Preparatory), Harrison Jukes, Jake Baker, Jamie Bowkett (all St Saviour), Daniel Wilkes (St Martin), Jo Parkinson (St Lawrence), Kurtis Guthrie (Plat Douet) and Clayton Romeril (First Tower).