This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mollet

Guernsey U16s 0, Jersey U16s 1

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. The game was somewhat soured by a potentially serious knee injury to Guernsey’s outstanding central defender Greg Roland.

He was stretchered off the pitch in the second half then taken away in an ambulance with his right leg in a splint with suspected medial ligament damage.

In was ironic that while he was down writhing in pain near the half-way line that Jersey grabbed the solitary goal.

The ball was swept out to the right to substitute Chris Mourant and Murray slid in his cross at the back post.

‘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,’ said Guernsey coach Paul Ockleford.

‘The performance was pleasing again but we missed that final cutting edge. There is nothing worse than seeing disappointed Guernsey people.’

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.’

He 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 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.’

Earlier it had taken Guernsey 17 minutes to apply their first worthwhile effort on target.

Skipper Scott Bougourd released Grimsby triallist and dangerman Loaring down the right. He skinned his full-back and fed the ball to Nigel Hutton who wasted a great chance by shooting straight at Nick Ashley.

Jersey had posed the greater threat and looked the more accomplished side up to then with man-of-the-match Michael Weir running the greens ragged.

Hutton had another chance on the half-hour after another peach of a ball from Bougourd, but again shot straight at Ashley.

The striker was denied again by the keeper with the best chance of the half on 34 minutes after a sweeping move involving Loaring and Aaron Lamb.

At the other end a flowing Jersey move was snuffed out by a superb last gasp challenge from Rory Moriarty.

From the resultant corner Jersey had the ball in the net but a header at the far post was ruled out after referee George Jennings spotted an infringement.

Tom Creed then clambered down low to his right to push a Murray effort away for a corner and keep the game goalless.

In the second period a Fabio Santos shot skimmed the post as the rain fell heavily. Shortly after Jersey grabbed the winner.

As the game wore on and Guernsey poured bodies forward for an equaliser, the inspirational Loaring tried to weave his magic but to no avail.

He waltzed past a few defenders after latching on to a Bougourd pass but as he attempted to dink the ball over Ashley, the keeper blocked it and smothered the danger.

Loaring should have headed Bougourd’s free kick home with minutes left but somehow nodded over from only a few yards out and with it went Guernsey’s last chance of forcing extra-time.

GFA president Dave Nussbaumer said afterwards: ‘There will be one gentleman smiling down with us with one eye on the Manchester United game and one eye on this game.’

He was, of course, referring to Nigel Gavey, whose beloved West Ham secured Premiership safety soon after with victory at Old Trafford.

His widow Julie was presented to the teams before the match and presented the trophies after the game. Jersey’ players wore black armbands in memory of JFA stalwart Charles Binet.

Teams:

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).

Referee: George Jennings.

Assistants: Kevin Wakeham and Andy Legg.

Article posted on 14th May, 2007 - 12.00am