This Is Guernsey

By Andy Bradshaw

Coach Clive Bateman and defender Adam Tardivel swamp Jamie Le Cheminant, whose work created the decisive goal at Springfield. (Picture by David Ferguson, 0574203)

Jersey Wanderers 0, Sylvans 1
SYLVANS’ amazing ‘Junior Upton’ record shows no sign of waning.

In defeating Jersey Wanderers in the clash for the Portsmouth Trophy, the westerners made it four wins and a draw in five appearances in the annual showdown between the under-18 league champions.

For the second time in consecutive years, this time at Springfield,  it was an unfortunate own goal that sealed Wanderers’ fate. Jamie Le Cheminant’s trickery turned his marker inside the penalty area and his clipped ball across goal hit the far post.

The back-pedalling Wanderers goalkeeper Max Jouan turned to see where the ball had gone and it rebounded off the post and into his chest before deflecting over the goal line.

Jouan will be credited with the own goal, but there was nothing he could do as the ball came at him so quickly.

Wanderers manager Daryn Noble immediately made a couple of substitutions as he chased the game, but despite a flurry in the closing five minutes they could not break down Sylvans’ resolute defence in which goalkeeper Ashley Williams’ handling was impressive.

Noble said: ‘We had a couple of good chances [in the] first half but we dropped off the pace until towards the end and then it was not to be as they blocked our shots.

‘Yes, we did lack a bit of spark while their goalkeeper played well too. It’s been a long season and some of the players looked tired; especially those who have been playing the local tournament of late.

‘Unfortunately, a few of our more influential players did not perform and the goal that beat us was really lucky for them and unlucky for us.’

Sylvans manager Clive Bateman, twice a Junior Upton winner as a player in 1992 and 1993, was naturally delighted.

‘We were slow and sluggish in the first half when more often than not we took the wrong option with the ball.

‘It was fairly even, too, so I decided to tweak a few things at half time to improve it.

‘We were a lot quicker after the break and we had two or three good chances to score in the first 10 minutes.

‘It was a lucky goal and when they come along, you take them. But overall I thought we created the better chances, so we just about deserved to win.

‘Ashley [Williams] had a point to prove after not making the island under-18 team and I think he achieved that as his handling was excellent today. Brady Lesbirel marshalled the defence well, too, while Jamie Le Cheminant’s work-rate playing at right midfield really impressed me.’

The match was often scrappy as both teams looked anxious and each gave the ball away far too often.

Wanderers started well with Alex Gee impressing on their left while the diminutive Barry Keith was tricky in attack but often he tried to take on one player too many.

Jouan made a good clearance as the speedy Wayne Bishop raced on to a long ball, a tactic Sylvans used throughout.

Le Cheminant went close with a curling free kick while Keith robbed a defender only to fire a rising shot over a crossbar.

Shortly before half-time there was a succession of chances at each end.

Wanderers’ Ciaran Cooper was denied by an excellent tackle from Lesbirel and Keith fired wide when clear after a fine first-time lay-off from Kyle Riddell.

At the other end, Josh Gallienne shot wide when well placed, while Le Prevost ghosted past his marker only to be denied by Jouan on his right-hand upright.

Gee got behind Sylvans’ defence in the 44th minute and sending in a cross, Williams did brilliantly to palm the ball away with Wanderers’ players breathing down his neck.

Early in the second half Gallienne shot across goal after impressive play from Mathew Chilcott, while Keith put in a cross from Wanderers’ right only for Mark Gauvain to get his head to the ball to take it away from Cooper, who was unmarked behind him.

After Jouan produced a double save from Le Prevost, Cooper nodded Wanderers’ best chance over the crossbar from six yards.

For Sylvans, Bishop twice screwed efforts wide when well placed, while late on Wanderers were three times denied as Sylvans defended in numbers.