Experience 'key' for Guernsey women ahead of 2023 Island Games
Guernsey's women must play more games in the next 13 months to have the best chance of doing themselves justice in the home Island Games next summer, coach Richard Sutton said after seeing his squad exceed expectations for much of the first Women’s Muratti for six years on Sunday.
Guernsey have not played a full 11-a-side match since spring 2020, with the local league, launched in December, tending to be games of nine-a-side, and eventually that lack of game experience told. They held Jersey for the first half but also lost goalkeeper Emma Queripel to a serious-looking knee injury during that period and went on to concede five times in the second half.
‘At half-time we’re in the game,’ said Sutton. ‘We lost our keeper, we run out of steam a bit towards the end, but it wasn’t a 5-0 game. It was a closer game than that and I thought we had the best chance of the first half and quite a lot of chances in the second half.
‘We’ve got to play more games, build experience. Give us 12 months and we’ll be there.’
Sutton was assistant coach for Guernsey when the Muratti was last played in 2016 and has stuck with the squad ever since.
He has committed to seeing the group through to the Island Games. ‘I said I’d see it through to the Games and we’re still waiting for that, so let’s bring on next year.’
Listen to in-depth reaction to both senior Muratti games on the latest Guernsey Press Football Podcast:
He particularly praised teenagers Sydney Schreimaier and Scarlett Kenneally, and veteran captain Katie Watson, who left play injured in the first half and then sustained a nasty foot injury almost on the final whistle. ‘She gave absolutely everything until she had no legs left whatsoever.’
Jersey coach Chad Morris said his team’s game plan had worked.
‘I’m made up for the girls after a long wait to finally get the Muratti on and to get the win,’ he said.
‘We thought first half we dominated possession, got into the wide areas, we just didn’t have final ball and runners into the box. They committed to that second half and got the reward. With the amount of possession we had, eventually it was going to come.
‘I thought Guernsey were well organised, and what we said before the game is what you’re always going to get from Guernsey is 100% effort, so the very least we’d have to do is match their effort, and then hopefully our quality would show and help us win the game.’
Jersey winger Roisin Flynn, who scored twice, was named player of the match.
Match report in Tuesday's Guernsey Press
