Time together is at a premium for Vance

Not only has the Guernsey FC boss, back in the island manager role for the first time since 2011, got to consider tactics and selection, he is also openly wondering about how to find the time to get his squad together in the run-up to the game.

Guernsey FC’s season has finished, but local football still has a number of top-level games to play, with seven fixtures outstanding in the Priaulx League at the start of this week, a Stranger Cup final, and the inter-island cups and the Guernsey FA Cup still at the semi-final stage.

‘There is an element of frustration about the time we have to work with the players,’ said Vance after Saturday’s victory over Alderney, where two Charlton Gauvain goals secured a 2-0 victory.

‘There are so many games between now and then it’s ridiculous. We need to get together somehow, I might even look at a trial game to get people together and get some slots in the diary.’

Vance said his focus had solely been on Alderney up until Saturday, but now he has wider selection and tactical decisions to make.

He accepted that recent Muratti finals had been dour, even verging on dire, affairs.

‘Certainly the last two or three Murattis I’ve seen, both teams have largely cancelled each other out, there is so much at stake.

‘It poses the question of what to do – do you be brave and give it a go, or sit back and play it cagey?

‘There is so much at stake and so many opinions when ultimately it’s just about the result – that’s what this is all about. It’s nice to play well but ultimately it’s about beating Jersey.’

The side for Alderney was picked to do a job on the day, Vance said, but ‘some people took the opportunity to put their foot in the door for the final’.

He said that deciding how to approach the game would play a big part in final selection.

One player believed to be in with a chance of collecting a first cap is midfielder Tom Jackson.

The former Wimbledon youngster, whose father is local, has lived in the island and played for Guernsey FC since the turn of the year, is understood to be eligible, and could appear in Saturday’s U21 Muratti match up.

Vance would be keen to retain his services for GFC but is uncertain about the player’s plans.

‘Ultimately he’s looking to play at a high level, but since he was released by Wimbledon he hasn’t played consistently, so I think we’ve been good for him.’