Capita Junior Muratti (U18)Jersey 3 – 4 GuernseyA crowd approaching 1,000 at Springfield saw Guernsey win a hugely entertaining match, which looked as if it was heading for extra-time after Guernsey equalised with just five minutes to go. But it was to get even better for the visitors. | "Enjoyable now we’ve won it, but not so enjoyable during the game!" | | Paul Ockleford, winning Guernsey coach |
The Sarnians were ahead inside the first five minutes, through an exquisite 15-yard diagonal chip from Matt Loaring. Jersey relied almost instantly, as Michael Weir found the top corner from 35 yards out. Then midway through the half, Jersey’s Jack Boyle missed a penalty after Marcus Carlow was brought down. Late replacement Guernsey ‘keeper William Woodford saved low down. Boyle made amends just before the interval as his shot, well outside the penalty area bounced in front of Woodford and this time into the net. Jersey’s 2-1 lead was cancelled out just three minutes into the second half. The home side always looked uncomfortable at corners, and the defence left Tom Strawbridge free to head on to the far post where Matt Loaring headed in off the crossbar for his and Guernsey’s second. On 81 minutes, Jersey defender Luke Campbell rammed in what many thought would have been the winner from close range after the ball endlessly bounced around the Guernsey box. But a stunning revival from what was an under strength Guernsey side snatched the trophy away from Jersey.  | | Man-of-the-match Matt Loering |
Matt Loaring completed his hat-trick in style, slamming in a 25-yard curler which zipped into the top corner with vjust five minutes to go. But even then, the visitors weren’t finished. Four minutes of stoppage time had been played when Alex Le Prevost slammed in a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom corner to break the hearts of the Jersey youngsters. The final whistle went just 80 seconds later, with Guernsey winning what was a fourth successive away win of this series, and Matt Loaring securing the man-of-the-match award. Jersey’s lead in the series is now cut to 40-33, with six being shared. Winning coach Paul Ockleford gave BBC Jersey this reaction, immediately after the game. “Enjoyable now we’ve won it, but not so enjoyable during the game! I always thought that free-kicks would be the deciding factor, and it was today. We had some good individual performances and a great team performance, so I’m pleased.” How on earth did Jersey’s coach Dave Walsh feel after seeing victory taken away at the death? ”It’s one of those games that was a tight affair, and they got the breaks when they needed them, and scoring right at the end, there was no way we could come back from that – that’s football.”  | | Guernsey celebrate their last-gasp win |
This Junior Muratti would have gone to a replay if necessary, despite everyone earlier expecting that it had been agreed that penalties would decide. Apparantly, that earlier decision from the Alderney inter-insular competitions meeting was null and void. However Jersey Football Association President Ricky Weir told BBC Jersey that everything will be in place for the Senior Muratti on Sunday, 06 May in Guernsey. | 
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