Guernsey retain trophy thanks to team effort

Jersey 1st XI 0, Guernsey 1st XI 1

GUERNSEY flew home with the Phil Stranger Memorial Cup after an at times frustrating, scrappy, untidy but ultimately victorious display in the glorious Les Quennevais sunshine. A fine first-half performance was allowed to slip after the break as 10-man Jersey desperately sought an equaliser

The greens sat back too much, played the ball around without any conviction to go forward and could have gifted Jersey an equaliser. The one redeeming feature of that second half was that the whole team worked ground out the final quarter-hour to deny Jersey.

'In the first half we totally controlled the match. The second half was sloppy at times but overall we were the better side,' said manager Andy Graham.

'We did not do what we should have done in the second half: we just got jittery.

'However, it is the first time in 13 years that we have won in Jersey. They have put in a fantastic season.'

Jersey skipper Paul Marshallsay was 'gutted'.

'Full credit to our guys, we worked hard, probably better with 10 than we would have with 11.

'But I was a bit surprised that Guernsey sat back and tried to defend a 1-0 lead.

'Guernsey started better, with more confidence, but that's a sign of a side that has played together more this season than we have.'

The greens started patiently, probing for any weakness in the home defence. They suspected Garret O'Brien could be beaten at short corners.

The first was a straight strike - Jamie Chambers dragging out to Mark Babbe's stop and Adie Peacegood's drive. That hit the keeper and then the defender on the line on the shin but nothing more was given by the umpire.

The second was slipped left by TJ Ozanne to Alford whose shot was cleared off the line by Matt Banahan.

The third, on eight minutes, was a carbon copy, but this time Alford's slapped shot found a gap under O'Brien and past the covering defender.

Jersey responded badly to going behind: Rob Le Quesne picking up a yellow card for a foul on Chambers.

Rob Newton saw green as the pace stayed high and tempers tight.

Bobby Minty was lucky to get away with nothing more than a talking to after raising his stick past Chambers' face following another clash on halfway.

Guernsey defended their lead in numbers, often leaving Ozanne as the lone striker.

When Adam Kitching had his first chance to run at James Wetherall, the Jersey defender looked worried at the Guernseyman's extreme pace, though Wetherall would go on to be one of the better home players.

Then on 25min. came one of the most petulant acts seen on a Channel Islands hockey pitch.

Richard Finch was being tracked by Damian Wallen and ran straight into a low, fair tackle by Peacegood.

As the Guernsey skipper was knocked backwards Finch helped him on his way with a blatant shove and then followed that up with a kick to Peacegood's back.

The umpire's red card was out of his pocket in a flash and Finch gave the Guernsey contingent in the crowd extra ammunition by ripping off his shirt and storming out of the playing area.

'He can have no complaints,' said Graham.

'Finch could have had a big influence on the game. His team and his captain will be disappointed and I would hope that he was too.

'No one should get a red card like that in a big game; it's the first one I can remember in an inter-insular.'

When play resumed, the flying Kitching was inches away from Alford's cross and Bell followed suit, skidding across the sandy pitch agonisingly close to the ball.

Newton also tested O'Brien's reactions with a reverse-stick shot.

Guernsey had all the possession, impressive energy and should have buried the game before the break. They did not and that left them open to a breakaway equaliser in the second.

Peacegood gave away the ball to Ed Lewis on the 25, but he and Mark Dicker managed to muck up that chance totally with just Jager to beat. Newton, Ozanne and Wallen went close without testing O'Brien and with two minutes left Ali Hall fluffed a great chance from the edge of the D.

'It was an awesome first half for us and a pretty poor second,' said victorious skipper Peacegood.