Guernsey hosted the Royal Navy U23’s at The Track as part of the visiting teams preparations for their Inter Services Championship. Guernsey’s starting eleven was made up of U21 players with the exception of Sam Hale who was added to the squad at the request of senior island manager, Chris Tardif. The U21 bench was full of youth with all of the 8 substitutes still eligible to play U18 football with the exception of substitute goalkeeper Reece Le Brun. Guernsey’s Aidan McKay suffered a knee injury in the warm up meaning that his place was taken by Miles Hardill, Guernsey started with the following eleven:

Lorcan Smith

Tyler McKane (c)

Sam Hale

Louis Falla

Ben Le Tocq

Ben Bullock

Miles Hardill

Harry Henderson

Louis Graham

James Ravenscroft

Jack Medhurst

Louis Graham had a header well saved after 7 minutes from a left wing corner and Guernsey went close again from the resulting corner with Sam Hales header going just wide of the post. Guernsey then created another opportunity from a right wing cross delivered by captain Tyler McKane, Louis Graham again testing the opposition goalkeeper with a decent header. The Navy then had a great chance to score when Garside found himsel clear through on goal with just Guernsey Goalkeeper Lorcan Smith to beat, however, Smith came out on top, smothering the shot well and gathering the loose ball before the onrushing striker was looking to finish the rebound. The Navy then took the lead after 29 minutes when Garside again was played clean through on goal, this time he finished well low into the bottom left corner to put the Navy 1-0 ahead and this is how it stayed until the half time interval.

After the interval the game started slowly with Guernsey making a change after 60 minutes with Thiago Rodriguez replacing Jack Medhurst up front, soon after this Guernsey created a chance from a Ben Bullock corner mishandled by the Navy Goalkeeper but Sam Hale couldn’t convert the loose ball. Guernsey then created another chance but Rodriguez sent his shot high and wide from the edge of the box. Guernsey then introduced Niall Hainsworth from the bench with James Ravenscroft making way as Guernsey were pushing for the equaliser. Tyler McKane then made way as Guernsey went three at the back looking to equalise with Jake Lowe coming into the midfield allowing Ben Bullock to join Rodriguez in attack. Louis Graham then found himself in a good position on the left after 83 minutes but chose to shoot when a cross may have been the better option with Rodriguez in a good position in the centre. Guernsey applied a lot of pressure in the closing stages but were unable to find an equaliser or create any chances of note, final score 0-1.

Subs not used:

Frazer Magniins

Will Gray

Reece Le Brun

Chris Mahy