Despite a strong start and sustained pressure, the home side regrouped and took their chances to secure victory.
Guernsey came out firing and dominated the opening fifteen minutes, pinning Jersey deep in their own half. The early pressure paid off when captain Oscar Lewis struck cleanly from the top of the 'D' for Guernsey from a second short corner, giving his side a deserved lead after four minutes. With Jersey struggling to clear their lines, Guernsey looked in control, but the hosts gradually settled into the game.
Jersey equalised midway through the first half and then took the lead just before halftime, going into the break 2-1 up. Despite continued pressure from Guernsey, the hosts stuck to their game plan and extended their lead in the second half.
Jersey capitalised on their lead and scored a third and fourth goal midway through the second half, but Guernsey refused to back down and found a way back into the contest with a late second goal from Alfred Brock, sparking hopes of a comeback. Guernsey continued to press the Jersey defence but they ultimately held on for the victory.
There were standout performances from Gabriel Bachmann and Alfred Brock, who worked tirelessly in midfield, while Max Rochester was named man of the match after making several crucial saves, including a superb stop from a Jersey penalty flick. The defensive trio of Olly Otty, Matthew Adkins, and Oliver Hern also impressed with a disciplined display at the back.
Speaking after the match, coach Barney Lewis reflected on the team's performance:
"We knew Jersey would be well-organised, and we tried to break them down by keeping up the pressure, but it was difficult to sustain that intensity for the full match. The team didn't give up, despite an impressive display from Jersey, and we showed promise going forward, getting back into the game towards the end, but ultimately the clock ran out for them".
Coach Chris Colclough was equally full of praise for the squad:
"The boys were excellent today and kept going in a tough environment. Every single player gave more than we could have asked for, and they should be incredibly proud of their performance and how well they have developed both individually and as a team this season".
While the result didn't go their way, Guernsey's display showed their quality and determination, promising signs for the future.

Match Report by Barney Lewis, U14 Boys Coach.