Two-goal Veron gives boss a winning start

Guernsey U21s 2, Jersey U21s 1

STEVE OGIER won a Muratti at his first attempt as head coach yesterday. A Jon Veron goal 10 minutes from time secured the Ambassadeur Bowl for the Guernsey under-21s at Foote's Lane after Luc Le Miere had equalised the North striker's opener before half-time.

The home side had been the much brighter side in the first half and should have been leading at the interval, although after the break Jersey responded well, edging both territory and possession. However, Steve Gibson and his excellent back four stood firm.

From the first whistle Guernsey were far more threatening than the visitors with Le Miere having to clear a Dave Rihoy strike off the line.

Unfortunately, Rihoy's brother Marc, who had started on the right wing, only lasted seven more minutes as an ugly collision with Shaun Irving accounted for the Vale Rec man. Irving managed to carry on for longer but did not see out the half.

With Dave switching flanks after the introduction of Ross Yeates, the North man helped set up the opening goal on 17min.

His ball into the box found Jamie Ferbrache who miscued his first shot but he managed to poke the ball through to Veron who finished emphatically into the roof of the net.

Dominic Heaume came close to doubling the lead soon after, but his header from Rihoy's corner went the wrong side of the post.

Guernsey were made to pay for not turning their pressure into more goals when Le Miere headed home Chris Carter's superb left-wing cross as the half drew to a close.

Jersey were much livelier in the second half and in the first 15 minutes Gibson had to save bravely at the feet of Le Miere, while Simon Geall and Steve Concanen both making vital last ditch challenges.

The green-and-whites survived though and after an even period, Veron settled the match in the 80th minute as he ran at the Jersey defence before hitting a skimming shot from 20 yards that got past Jimmy Styles.

'In the first 20 minutes to half an hour we were very bright, we got a goal and with a little bit more luck we could have had two or three,' said Ogier.

'But fair play to Jersey, they kept going and came in at 1-1 and our lads were quite down.

'It could have gone either way in the second half, Jersey went quite direct and we managed to keep them out, then Jon Veron popped up and the rest is history.'

Jersey manager Dave Matthews thought it was a pretty typical Muratti contest.

'Guernsey had much the better of the first half. They had the wind and they had us pushed back, but we held it well and came into the game in the last 10 minutes of that half. It was a good time to score then,' he said.

'I thought we then dominated the second half, Jimmy Styles only had a couple of saves to make, but if you do not put the ball in the net, you don't win.'