Select a region
A Muratti win is always something to savour.
And after a bitter recent run, the 2-1 victory in the U21 clash opening up this season is all the more sweater.
“Sometimes I don't enjoy football when a game is like that,” said Guernsey’s coach Jordan Kelly.
“It's chaotic and it's challenging, but for some of these players, they’ve never beaten Jersey, it's the first time, they deserve all the credit they're going to get because it was great performance.”
Pictured: A quiet moment of reflection for Guernsey head coach Jordan Kelly as his side celebrate a 2-1 win in the U21 Muratti.
Jack Griffin opened the scoring for the Sarnians in the first half, before Jersey’s Barry Beatson was sent off for a second bookable offence.
But it was the team in red that had the better of much of the second period, with Rai Dos Santos equaliser soon after the break.
Keene Domaille struck the winner for Guernsey and while they celebrated at the final whistle Jersey’s goalscorer was given his marching orders after an exchange with the referee.
Pictured: Guernsey celebrate their first goal.
Guernsey’s goalkeeper Oli Harrison and his defence were praised by their manager after the game.
“They rode the storm, and they got their luck at the end.”
Coming out for the second half, one man and one goal up, Guernsey were looking to control the game.
“Jersey, to give them credit, changed their shape and they got an advantage for about 20 or 30 minutes. The lads rode a storm, we made a little change and ultimately, thank goodness, we got our reward,” said Kelly.
Guernsey captain Seb Vance said it felt like groundhog day when Jersey equalised.
“We’ve been there before in previous Murattis. But we stuck together really strongly as a team. That was a big emphasis from Jordy and the rest of the management. We pulled through together and we had that confidence that we would.”
It was the first Muratti that he had won.
“It means everything.”
Jersey manager Paul Renton felt his side were the better team, whether that was with 11 players or 10.
They had a couple of efforts cleared off the line, some good saves and another effort rattling the bar.
“It's been a tough three or four weeks with the players. I mean, we lost a couple of players this week, one through injury, one with another football commitment, who would have started.
“But I think it just shows our strength and depth. When you look at the performance today, we were still the better team, and on another day we would have won the game reasonably comfortably.”
Pictured: Paul Renton (right) and his coaching team head down the tunnel at half time contemplating the changes needed to respond to being one goal and one player down.
Renton was disappointed with the decision to book Beatson for a push earlier in the game, something that was applied to other players.
“Most of them in the game had a little push, a little shove. Then he [tge referee], out himself in a really awkward position and he spoilt the game. But look, he’s refereed the game the way he’s seen and I’m not moaning or complaining about it. I don’t agree with it. But at the same time, he’s got a really difficult job.”
After the match there were some clear messages for his players in the changing room.
“I said to them you need to keep 11 player on the pitch for a start and if you give the officials a decision to make in some games those decisions don’t go for you. So that’s the first lesson. The second lesson if you’ve got to take your chances to win the game. But I’ve got to say I’m really pleased with the way we played the second half, 10 men.”
You can listen to Express' Muratti podcast below:
Pictured top: Guernsey captain Seb Vance.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.