Red Salmon springs late, late winner to end thriller
DRAMA and lots of it.
The 500-plus crowd at The Track were treated to an inter-island classic yesterday afternoon which neither side deserved to lose, but which went the way of the visitors with Damien Salmon’s late extra-time strike.
For the second successive weekend the old stand was fairly well populated, the crowd bolstered by the presence of the Caesarean juniors and parents who had sailed over for the Ravenscroft Minis Fun Tournament over the fence at Victoria Avenue.
Guernsey’s catchy all white strip with green decoration looked a picture in the lunchtime sunshine, but whether they could play was the big question. Yes they could.
Jersey started the stronger and looked to have the edge physically.
Veteran ref Geoff Ogier was in charge and soon intervening as an early flare up saw Harvey Lihou and Jersey’s Star Trophy captain Sean de la Haye squaring up.
The visitors won a succession of early free kicks which brought about some testing deliveries into the box and from early on the speedy Damien Salmon looked a threat down the Marais side.
For a long while Guernsey could not get anywhere near Tyler Quinn’s goal at the eastern end but out of the blue 11 minutes in Oscar Leadbeater whipped in a high cross, Quinn fumbled and Ben Straker bravely dipped his head to nod it home.
De la Haye very nearly levelled five minutes later, his slightly deflected slot gazing the outside of the post and from the corner James Sunley’s firm header was blocked on the line.
Sunley’s dribbling was a danger to the home defence, as was Salmon who reacted angrily to being caught by Callum Cherry’s late challenge, indicative of the home team’s growing confidence and refusal to be out muscled.
It was intriguing stuff but when Salmon was fouled on the edge of the box, the free-kick was beautifully swung inside the near post by dos Santos: 1-1.
A minute later Alex Scott restored the home lead as he cooly rounded Quinn and slotted into an empty net with 26min. gone.
Cherry picked up a booking for a blatant trip and there was then the bizarre sight of the young home fans being ushered away from directly behind the goal, for giving Quinn some unnecessary verbals.
Simon Arnold then drew a good save out of Quinn after the winger was put clear by Leadbeater down the left, but on 41min. winger Elliott Friend nipped in and levelled as Guernsey strongly claimed handball.
It had been an entertaining first half and it was about to get even more so.
The second period was just two minutes old when Jersey got a third, winning a free kick at which Guernsey dozed and centre back Sammy Sutcliffe stole in to score from close range.
Guernsey coach Stewart Moyles reacted by introducing Ben Stevens for Straker, but Guernsey were still reeling from falling behind when in a moment of deja vu Sutcliffe nipped in again to score.
Guernsey still had half an hour to save the situation, but the bounce had gone out of their game, as well as defensive concentration.
And it would have been worse but for a linesman’s flag.
Defender Dos Santos launched a 50-yard free kick goalwards and a flapping Jimmy Hibbs let it in.
To the whites relief, the flag was up for offside.
Stevens saw his shot bobble just wide as the home team finally stirred again but it wasn’t until 15 minutes left that a superbly worked short corner resulted in a visiting defender inadvertently converting Ben Acey’s driven ball into his own from two yards out.
Game on again.
With eight minutes left Guernsey levelled.
Acey pierced the Reds defence with a fine pass and Keene Domaille finished with the aplomb he is already renowned for.
Into extra time the nearest anyone came to breaking the deadlock was home centre back Jake Elmy who volleyed over at a corner, soon followed by Callan Loveridge’s deflected effort going for a corner from which Leadbeater flashed a header just wide.
But a minute later in dramatic scenes Salmon nipped in to score the ninth and decisive goal of a quite superb game reffed excellently by the local official.
