Seniors inseparable on a super Saturday
THEY made up for lost time on the pitch but it is as you were in the trophy cabinets after a super Saturday of inter-insular hockey action at Footes Lane.
There was nothing to separate Guernsey and Jersey in two enthralling senior matches with the hosts retaining the men’s silverware after a thrilling 4-4 draw while the Sarnians were unable to regain the women’s trophy as the Reds came from behind to draw 1-1 after Becky McAlliser had put the hosts ahead.
‘We really dug in. I thought we really earned that draw,’ said Guernsey Women’s captain Lucy Waldrom.
‘We had a great goal in the first half we took advantage of and everybody just did not stop working.’
Waldrom added that it was ‘brilliant’ to be able to return to inter-insular action after two-and-a-half years.
‘We’ve got a really good crowd supporting us, it’s lovely to have Jersey over and it’s just a really good day out,’ she said.
That sentiment was echoed by Guernsey Men’s captain Zak Damarell,
‘Great to be back playing it with an amazing crowd down here as well. We’ve missed it for the last two-and-a-half years.’
Damarell scored two goals and was player of the match on an afternoon when Josh Kendal gave Guernsey the lead as they dominated the first half-hour, only for Jersey to score twice just before half-time to go 2-1 up.
Guernsey equalised through Damarell and then led twice in the second half with Steve Eulenkamp also on the scoresheet, but a Pete Millar goal two minutes from time earned Jersey a draw.
‘Obviously disappointed we didn’t win the game but ultimately happy to retain the trophy,’ Damarell said.
‘I think we created enough chances to win the game, we gave away quite a few “shorts”, but it was a good game.’
His opposite number Tom Millar felt his team had played well in patches.
‘But little mistakes here and there every time we got back into the game allowed Guernsey to stretch ahead again. And when you’re chasing a game 3-2 down and 4-3 down, and you need to win to get the trophy back, it’s extremely hard.
‘For Guernsey in that situation, they can keep playing the ball and just try and knock it around, which they did quite effectively.’
Jersey won both the under-16 matches played.
More in Monday's Guernsey Press.
