JERSEY’S under-18s defeated a St Ouen XI 3-2 at St Ouen last night in their final match before playing in the FA County Youth Cup.

Following a goal-less first half David Kenyon lobbed the U18s into the lead from an acute angle only for the Saints to draw level when Adam Speight put the ball in his own net under pressure from Shane Carré.

Craig Russell restored Jersey’s advantage after racing on to a pass and then taking the ball around the goalkeeper.

Johnny Lee made it 3-1 with a good strike from 20 yards and the crossbar then denied Celtic triallist Jack Boyle a brilliant goal after he flicked the ball up before striking it goalwards from 25 yards.

Rob Sanford notched St Ouen’s second, a penalty kick given following a handball offence.

Jersey manager Dave Walsh, who will trim his 20-player squad to 16 for the County match after this weekend’s Lloyds TSB Junior League programme, said: ‘We are a new team and it was a fantastic test for us.

St Ouen are not a bad side and they gave us a physical game which was what we were looking for.

‘There are only six players remaining from last year’s squad so there has been plenty to work on.

The players are learning; we’re trying to get them into good habits and things are taking shape.’ Jersey face Surrey at Springfield on Sunday 23 October, kick-off 1 pm.

Walsh will choose his final squad from the following: Greg Forster, Max Jouan, Ben Bechelet, Joel Speight, Adam Speight, Jack McKenna, Aaron Maynard, Anthony Norman, Kieron Norman, Jack Boyle, Tom Wherry, Danny Flynn, Jamie Cullen, Dane Sutton, Ryan Le Cornu, Craig Russell, David Kenyon, Stuart Daynes, Sean Doran and Johnny Lee.