Andy Alford goes down in the D as the Caesarean combination of keeper Jason Weber and Matt Hutton try to clear the danger. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0748711)

Guernsey 2, Jersey 5
COMPLACENCY is a killer.

With Guernsey men’s hockey on a high having reached the semi-finals of the HA Trophy under the leadership of new player-coach Ben Allberry, they were expected to cruise past Jersey on Saturday.

After all, the Reds had been knocked out of the national HA in the quarter-finals.

Guernsey simply needed to turn up to win and that was the feeling among the large home support at Foote’s Lane and, perhaps, among the island team themselves given their performance.

Here, they were given a sharp reminder of the fact that no one in sport deserves a victory. You have to work for it.

‘Disappointing result. It was one of those games,’ said a clearly distraught Allberry afterwards.

‘We just didn’t get started and we didn’t play like we can. We always knew it was going to be a battle, but I think we underestimated them.

‘After the run we’ve been on, it’s a shame.’