Dominance finally pays off for patient Sarnians

Guernsey 6, Jersey 3

GUERNSEY produced a totally commanding display to win back the trophy that has not been contested seriously for four years. Trailing at the break against the run of play, the home side reappeared for the second half determined to turn their greater possession into goals. A hat-trick from Michelle Gilson, two from Jo Bell and a poacher's strike from Jayne Carter ensured victory.

'The ball didn't run for us in the first half. In the second, we closed them down in the middle and took our chances,' said Claire Giles, who with June Le Poidevin managed the side excellently.

Jersey tired in the second half and were hampered by an injury to Tracy Vallois that left the white-shirted visitors with no substitutes. With Angie de Figueiredo missing from their named squad, Jersey had just 12 in their visiting party.

Giles and Le Poidevin shrewdly rolled their substitutes on and off, keeping as many players as fresh as possible.

It showed. As Guernsey edged ahead and Jersey were forced to chase the game, their team tired while the greens kept possession and kept moving.

Vallois fell onto the backboard and stanchion while vainly diving to try to prevent Guernsey's fourth goal.

After 20min. of treatment lying in the goal, she was taken to hospital in an ambulance, badly winded and at first unable to breathe properly.

Guernsey then added two more goals, the margin of victory reflecting the difference in attacking options between the sides.

The weather at Foote's Lane could not have been less conducive to flowing hockey, yet at times in the second half the Sarnians moved the ball and supported team-mates so well the match could have been played on a billiard-table surface in brilliant sunshine.

The only worry was that at first the succession of short corners the greens earned went begging, a combination of dogged Jersey defending and some ponderous shots at goal keeping Guernsey off the scoreboard.

In their first attack, Jersey took the lead through Sally MacDowall, the striker reaching in front of her marker to tip in a quick free hit from close range.

Guernsey levelled from the spot, the first of two strokes Gilson converted with ease.

Bell and Carter, who ran the opposition defence ragged all afternoon, exchanged passes on a decisive drive through the middle. An illegal stop prevented a goal then, but Gilson found the keeper's top right corner to bring Guernsey level.

However, the home defence fell asleep for a second right at the end of the half and from their second attack of any consequence, Jersey went back ahead. It was MacDowall again who converted, turning home Ann Banahan's right-wing cross from four yards out.

Guernsey had had seven short corners, none finding the net.

They fell 1-3 behind straight after the turn-around. Jersey's Sarah Heelis crashed a shot past Colette Brown's right foot from just inside the D.

Guernsey needed an immediate riposte and got it from Gilson. Finally, a short-corner routine worked, the central-midfield dynamo flicking high past Suzan Loose.

Bell then showed just how dangerous she is. The rangy striker picked up the ball 35 yards out, burst past two tackles and beat the keeper with a shot that a covering defender on the line could not keep out.

As Guernsey suddenly hit top gear, what would have been a fourth goal - and the strike of the game at that - was ruled out. A flying Jackie Davies stole possession on halfway, released Carter on the right and her slip inside to Bell was finished superbly from an acute angle. But the umpire blew for a foul, Bell adjudged to have been backing into her marker.

It didn't matter. Davies again won the ball, drove at pace and fed Bell on the right of the D. Her cross-shot was touched in from a yard out by Carter, Vallois' efforts to keep it out resulting in her injury.

More short corners came and went for the Guernsey attackers, Brown, sweeper Ali Le Tocq and her defence at times reduced to mere spectators.

With two minutes remaining, Gilson competed her treble from the spot and there was time for Bell to make it six, sweeping home after a slick corner routine between Gilson and Jo Robinson gave her all the time she needed to pick her spot.

That was Guernsey's 10th short corner of the half.

'Some of our play today was awesome,' said Giles.

'When you consider that they've hardly played together as a team, it takes a while to click, but when we did, it was great.

'We kept telling them to keep it simple. Win the ball, pass it and move in support.

'They all played so well: Jersey had probably no more than four or five shots all match.'