Ogier's boys fail to live up to billing

Guernsey 0, Jersey 4

PETER VINCENTI junior was proved wrong. Jersey's under-21 captain and Ambassadeur Bowl man of the match said after yesterday's Muratti: 'Going into the game, we thought it would be very tight - Murattis usually are'.

But it was far from it.

The opening 10 minutes, in which Guernsey looked the brighter side, was the falsest of false dawns. Once the brutally efficient Jersey had settled into the game, there was only going to be one winner.

Seldom has a Muratti seemingly provoked so little passion and desire in any team. Quite simply, the home side were not at the races.

Admittedly, for much of the first half, neither side created anything of note in a dull opening period although there was a sign of things to come on 17min. when Vincenti headed over from a dangerous Scott Walsh free kick into the box.

The Caesareans broke the deadlock in similar fashion on 40min.

Luc Le Miere had been brought down needlessly 30 yards from goal when cutting in from the flank.

Walsh trotted over, curled in another tempting left-footed cross and this time the imposing Jersey skipper made no mistake with his far post header.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Jersey all but made the game safe.

Darren Martin and Sam Cochrane played themselves into trouble in the right back area, the ball fell to Vincenti who tried his luck from long-range and Le Miere was on hand to force in the rebound after Rhys Gower had spilled.

After a roasting from their manager during the interval, Guernsey came out having switched to three at the back.

Early in the half Ollie McKenzie had a decent shout for a penalty turned down - referee Andy Priaulx perhaps feeling that the Northerner had made too much of Jack Cannon's challenge - but the action was soon down the other end of the field once more.

JP Martyn hit the post when one-on-one with Gower with Guernsey looking for offside and Walsh somehow managed to screw his follow-up shot wide.

The woodwork was shaken by both Martyn and Walsh again before the former extended the lead on the hour when he got the final touch on a corner which was whipped in right under the bar.

Four minutes later the game was wrapped up.

Guernsey gave away another free kick in a dangerous area, Le Miere delivered an inviting ball and Martyn gratefully accepted the golden opportunity.

It was not until 19min. from time that Casey Hickling was forced into his first, and only, real save when Ollie McKenzie tried his luck from long-range.

The rest of the game was played out in low-key fashion before Vincenti came close to rounding things off in majestic style with a dipping volley that Gower tipped onto the bar.

'It was a fully deserved Jersey win,' said Steve Ogier.

'We knew they were a big side, we said let's not give away free kicks in dangerous areas but we did just that and you cannot give a guy like Peter that much space.

'After the first 10 minutes, Jersey controlled the game for the remaining 80.'

Perhaps more disturbing for Ogier was that, Dave Rihoy apart, his best player on the day is not one of those in his senior squad, namely Steve Concanen.

'We had a gameplan to play against three at the back but we never got the ball into those areas,' said the Guernsey manager.

'We had guys out there who are normally composed players, and they can certainly play a bit, but today it just did not happen.'

The Jersey captain added that going into the break with a two-goal cushion was a major plus for his side.

'Everyone was a bit nervous until you get that first goal and to score the second on the stroke of half-time was a great time to get a goal,' Vincenti said.