Guernsey 1, Jersey 3 (after extra time)
JERSEY yesterday continued their domination of the Women’s Muratti. A flurry of three goals in the opening 12 minutes of extra-time gave the red-and-whites a deserved victory at Foote’s Lane against a brave Guernsey outfit.
The hosts worked their socks off over the 120 minutes after the original 90 had ended goalless in a severe case of deja vu of the previous day’s men’s final.
But, unlike the visitors, they failed to test Jersey’s assured goalkeeper Helen Lagadu until it was too late.
Playing with the benefit of the elements in the first half, it was no surprise that Jersey put their opponents under pressure for the majority of the opening period, but Guernsey stood firm.
Steve Ogier’s side actually produced the first noteworthy goal-mouth action as Natalie Grainger flicked Rochelle Vaudin’s dangerous corner goal-wards only for the outstanding Michelle Bichard to clear off the line.
Jersey’s reply was immediate and Lauren Saunders had to produce an excellent tip-over when Louise Vandervliet’s long-range effort took a wicked deflection and seemed to be looping over the Guernsey goalkeeper.
Vandervliet and Sarah Gavey followed that with further shots that went wide while Lisa Sylvester, one of the home side’s stars on the day, made a superb challenge on Suzanne Rosser inside the penalty area with the Jersey striker about to pull the trigger.
To turn around level was a fine achievement for the green-and-whites and buoyed by that, they came out for the second half with renewed vigour.
Just seconds after the restart Vaudin’s cross from the right was missed by a couple of Jersey defenders but Katie Robert just could not quite curl her shot inside the post.
On the hour-mark, Lagadu was called into serious action for the first time, racing from her goal to make a brilliant block from Guernsey captain Corinna Le Noury, who had run on to Sylvester’s long ball forward.
Down the other end, Saunders was soon making another good save of her own, flinging herself to the right to push away Rosser’s effort following Becky Darts’ run down the left.
Bichard then proved to be Vaudin’s nemesis as she timed her tackle to perfection in the box after Grainger’s inch-perfect pass.
There were further chances at each end with Vandervliet and Guernsey sub Cath Hennessey shooting just wide but it was almost inevitable that extra-time would be needed.
As so often happens in situations where 90 minutes have failed to bring a goal, the deadlock was broken just a minute into the extra period.
It was an unfortunate one for Guernsey to concede because Saunders and a defender both attempted to deal with a ball into the box, the ball was squeezed in between them and fell kindly to unmarked substitute Kathryn Porter, who had the simple task of side-footing into an empty net.
Nine minutes later, Jersey’s inspirational captain Nina Driscoll doubled the lead with a right-foot curler from more than 25 yards, which gave Saunders no chance.
To rub salt into the wounds, the killer blow came moments later.
Sylvester made her one error of the game as she tried to shepherd the ball from danger only to be robbed by Lisa McLaughlin.
The Jersey substitute then drove into the box and Darts was on hand to rifle home the third with pinpoint precision.
It had been a harsh 15-minute period for Guernsey, particularly with Robert being stretchered off with a nasty ankle injury at the end of it, and when Le Noury and Grainger saw efforts drift wide soon after the final turnaround, they knew the match had been lost.
They continued to plug away, though, and got the reward they deserved three minutes from time.
Vaudin, who was named player of the match, had her free kick pushed onto the crossbar by Lagadu, but Grainger headed the rebound back towards goal and skipper Le Noury nodded it home.
Had Vicky Rang’s 25-yard piledriver gone into the net rather than just wide a minute later, it would have made for a grandstand finish.
But it was just not to be Guernsey’s day.
Article posted on 8th May, 2007 - 12.00am
Loading ...
Most Commented: