Guernsey U21 v Jersey U21 - Friday 13 March, 7.45pm (Victoria Park)
Island manager Dave Merris said his side are looking forward to playing the age-group Muratti, which was originally scheduled for November, even more this time around.
‘I think they were disappointed last time, obviously they’d got themselves up to play that game and then getting told it was cancelled at the last minute was a disappointment, so I think they’re all geared up and ready to go,’ he said.
‘There’s a few of them that this is going to be their last with the U21s due to their age, so I think being at “Viccy Park” as well makes it a little bit more exciting for them and geared up a little bit more.’
Guernsey hope they can win back the Ambassadeur Bowl tonight following Jersey’s victory in November 2024 and Merris said he was expecting a ‘typical’ Muratti.
‘Obviously we know how competitive these fixtures are, we know how organised Jersey are and what they bring, so a usual Muratti, be it U21s, be it seniors, there is always lots of passion, so it’s going to be an interesting one, a good one to play in,’ he said.
‘It’s a huge privilege to be obviously playing at Viccy Park so in front of a supportive crowd, the more people that can get down there and support the better. To make it noisy and hostile that’ll be absolutely fantastic and they’ll be that extra man for us.’
Merris named his squad on Wednesday and it includes players from North, St Martin’s, Sylvans, Rovers and Vale Rec as well as some Guernsey FC regulars. There are two changes from the squad that Merris selected in November with Tyrese Kelly and Regan Penney now named in the 18-man squad.
‘Preparations have been going very well, we got a fair few sessions in, obviously we had a little bit of a a delay due to the postponement last time but we’ve had a good number of sessions in. The lads are looking up for it and it’s been very good at the moment,’ said Merris.
U21 Muratti squads
Guernsey: Max Wall, Regan Penney, Gil Hunter, Jacques Cauvin, Max Johnson, Tom Solway, George Montgomery, Riley Tyrrell, Zac Batiste, George Goubert, Fin Du Port, Mason Prigent, Charlie Robilliard, Fin Patterson, Zach Gilman, Owen Wallbridge, Mason Jones, Tyrese Kelly.
Jersey: Fergus Boyle, Riley Brennan, Ewan Brodie, Stan Dunne, Afonso Freitas, Callum Gilroy, Leighton Gilroy, Harry Gladdish, Tom Goncalves, Damon Huckerby, Connor Lloyd, Harry MacKenzie, Seaney McColgan, Casey Nixon, Joey O’Toole, Alfie Queree, Harry Scott, Will Yates.
