Pressure is not quite enough

Guernsey 1st XI 1, Jersey 1st XI 3

Guernsey came close, but could not break down a resilient Jersey defence. For 20min. in the second half, the greens had the visitors pinned back. They won a succession of short corners and forced the visitors into countless last-gasp blocks and clearances, but could not find the net.

Two first-half goals were added to straight after the break and Guernsey looked dead. That they came back owed much to a fine team spirit. Everyone raised her game and the forward play deserved more rewards.

As it was, they had only Amanda de Jersey's goal to show for their play and Jersey's midfield play-maker Becky Herbert came within the width of a post to adding a late fourth for the red-and-whites.

That would have been harsh on the home side after their second-half efforts.

The problem lay in a slow start to the first half when too many passes failed to reach their targets and Guernsey seemed lacklustre.

Sheelagh Herbert, playing for the first time at senior island level with her two daughters, stamped her authority on the game.

Jersey raced into a lead on 5min. A long ball from the right wing eluded the home defenders and Chrissie Hufford tapped in at the back post.

That lead was doubled on 13min. Becky Herbert - the most skilful player on the pitch - broke left to right into the 25. She made space in the D and when her shot was stopped by Emma Atkinson, Nina Woods fired home the rebound. Herbert was determined to add a third with her reverse stick, three efforts testing the Guernsey keeper.

But Guernsey showed more strongly as the half closed, a succession of short-corners forcing Jersey back.

If they had found the net, the match would have been different. What they did not want was to concede a third straight after the turn-around. Hufford was allowed to drive into the left edge of the D past three defenders and shoot low past Atkinson.

Then came the Guernsey domination. Helen Wills set up Kath Hyman only for her reverse effort to slip past the post.

Short corners followed, with Jersey throwing themselves into desperate blocks. Keeper Jenny Pryce even managed to save one effort and then back-heel the ball clear across her goalline.

De Jersey slapped in from close range following one short corner, but Chantelle de la Mare was twice denied by fortuitous saves by Pryce as Jersey rode their luck.

As the clock ran down, Jersey came back, but there was no more scoring.