Jersey keeper Andrew Bird pulled off some remarkable saves when he was called into action, including this close range one from a Ross Allen header. (0799473)

Jersey 2, Guernsey 0
GUERNSEY will not be playing in today’s football final after losing 2-0 to old rivals Jersey in yesterday’s semi-finals at Sportika, Sund.

‘I’m proud of the character they’ve shown,’ said a gutted coach Tony Vance afterwards.

‘Everything we’ve thrown at them, they’ve responded. I’m really disappointed that they’ve not got their just reward.’

Goalkeeper Chris Tardif described the mood in the Guernsey camp after the defeat.

‘Obviously we’re disappointed,’ he said.  ‘Everyone has put in so much work. Not only on the pitch but behind the scenes as well.

‘We’ve all worked hard. There’s a good team spirit but we’ve not quite made it.   I think we got caught up in playing the occasion and not the team.’

To be fair to Jersey, they deserved the victory.

They went one up through star striker Ross Crick in the first half with the easiest of headers at a corner as the Guernsey defence went to sleep.

It seemed that Guernsey did not turn up until the last 10 minutes of the match, when for the first time they seriously threatened their opponents’ goal.