What a week for Guernsey football, Winning the NLS Cup final last Saturday, Tony Vance led his side to a defiant win in the Kleinwort Benson Muratti Vase Final. After a five year wait, the Muratti Vase is finally back in the hands of the Guernsey Football Association.
Before the game, Vance had said that it would be an open game, unfortunatly that never materialised. However, the Guernsey defense excelled with magnificent performances from skipper Sam Cochrane and his central defensive partner, Tom Strawbridge.
Guernsey dominated the first half and should have been 'comfortably ahead' according to Cochrane.
Right from the very first whistle Guernsey looked up for the game and could have been aheaed within half a minute when the lively Dave Rihoy fired over the bar when he should have done better with his half-volley.
Just 7 minutes later, it was Rihoy again who had the opportunity to grab the lead when he raced on to a through ball from Matt Drillot. But unfortunatly for the 'Green Army' he fired over once again.
Guernsey continued their early pressure and efforts from distance by Dominic Heaume, Alex Le Prevost, Drillot, and left winger Glyn Dyer.
A flowing move from Vance's side resulted in Jersey goalkeeper Jimmy Styles making a comfortable save from the lively Glyn Dyer.
After laying siege to the Jersey goal for the whole of the first half, the breakthrough finally came from a mistake by centre-half Luke Watson, his back-pass came up inches short of his keeper and the pacey Dave Rihoy nipped in to round Styles. The keeper hauled him down. A certain penalty, the only debate to have is whether the keeper should have been dismissed. Referee Jarnail Singh decided that it was worthy only of a yellow card.
Ross Allen stepped up to take the spot-kick, with his father Craig present. Allen was the coolest of customers and slotted the penalty to the keepers bottom left. Styles had dived the other way. Allen was left to celebrate with the Guernsey fans behind the goal.
The Sarnians took there 1-0 lead in to the half time break.
After the interval Jersey came out refreshed and reinvigorated.
Luke Watson, who was keen to make up for his error, played a lovely one-two with Crick before being denied by a fine save from the faultless Tom Le Tissier.
This seemed to lift Jersey but the Guernsey back 4, all of whom were sensational on the day, continued to repel the repetitive waves of red attacks.
Watson had another good opportunity to score from a header but he could only head over the bar from 8-yards out. Crick again found space in the Guernsey box, but his shot from a narrow angle was comfortably held by the calm goalkeeper Le Tissier.
Ross Allen had a rare second half chance for Guernsey, but he could only send his left foot effort wide under pressure from Stuart Andre.
Tony Vance made 3 late second half substitutions in an attempt to freshen up his tiring side. replacing Alex Le Prevost with Bels' forward Craig Young. He also introduced target man Simon Tostevin to replace goalscorer Ross Allen. Usual skipper Matt Warren returned to action in a green shirt with 3 minutes left in the game. His calming influence had effect on his teammates as they continued to repel Jersey's attacks.
The only half chance left in the game fell to Watson deep in to injury time, when he sliced a volley wide. With this came the realisation that Guernsey had finally regained the Muratti Vase.
Dominic Heaume was deservedly awarded the man of the match accolade for his tidy performance in midfield. Dominating the possesion in the first half. He was understandebly delighted 'It was awsome being part of that today, we could not have asked for a better end to the week that we have had.'
Tony Vance put the victory down to the momentum that his side have been building ever since the Island Games bronze medal match last summer. 'To be fair, that has happened ever since the 5-0 over the Isle of Man in the bronze medal match at the Island Games.'
Guernsey
Le Tissier, Bourgaize, McKenzie, Strawbridge, Cochrane (Captain), Heaume, Le Prevost (Young 71), Drillot (Warren 87), Dyer, Rihoy, Allen (Tostevin 78)
Goal: Allen
Jersey
Styles, Scott, Devlin, Andre, Cannon, Le Roux, (D Watson 78), Le Feuvre (Savory 58), L Watson, Lucas, Andrews, Crick (Aitken 73)
Man of the Match: Dominic Heaume