Jersey earn bragging rights in top matches

There was double disappointment for Guernsey as the two first-team trophies were won by the visitors, both by the odd goal in extremely tight and hard-fought matches, with Jersey retaining the women’s spoils 3-2 before their men regained the inter-insular bragging rights with a 2-1 victory in dramatic fashion.

The showpiece game was locked at 1-1 going into the final three minutes, with Tom Cashin having equalised Sam Watling’s first-half opener, but Jersey edged ahead when Tom Sibley scored at a short-corner.

There was still enough time for Guernsey to force a short of their own, but visiting goalkeeper Piers Brandie made an excellent save to deny Matt Stokes and Jersey could celebrate.

‘The last three or four games have been draws, even going back five, eight years, they have always been tight and they’ve often been decided with last-minute goals,’ said Reds captain Tom Millar.

‘We’ve been on the wrong side of it several times, I know how that feels, so I feel sorry for Guernsey who actually played very well today, and we rode our luck at times but we got the goal at the crucial moment and held on well.’

For Guernsey men’s coach Andy Good, there was a familiarity to the script from his point of view.

‘It was very tight, both teams put a lot into it, it was really hot, pretty energy-sapping for the players and just one of those things – again at the last minute we conceded a corner and they scored from it,’ he said.

‘They seem to do it against us year in and year out, they do it every single time, and it’s just disappointing that we don’t deal with it.’

In contrast, Guernsey women’s coach Bex Hubbard was more upbeat about her side’s encouraging performance in a see-saw game against the holders, who play at a higher level than the Sarnians in national competition.

Guernsey took the lead through Tash Symes before Natacha Kay and Izzy Heelis gave the Reds a half-time advantage.

Katherine Bushell pulled the Greens level again, but Heelis’ second goal proved decisive.

‘A little bit disappointing, but if we look at where we were 12 months ago when Jersey really made us look not a great team, we’ve come so far and we competed,’ Hubbard said.

‘In fact, I think could have won that – we had quite a few opportunities to score some goals at the end, so really proud of them.’

Jersey women’s coach Simon Watling also praised the home side.

‘Guernsey did well to break us down and make it really difficult for us, but I really enjoyed it, a really good game, went through all the emotions, which is what you expect in a game like this.’

Jersey completed a clean sweep in the three women’s matches, while Guernsey had the consolation of winning the men’s seconds and thirds.

• Match reports in Monday's Guernsey Press.