LD Team Trip to Harrogate

Despite only winning a few games on the recent trip to the Harrogate VIII Annual Disabilities Football Tournament, I feel that the Jersey squad made a great effort and we are making definite progress.The tournament was well run and is obviously popular with a record 60 teams taking part, which included teams from Guernsey, Scotland and as far as Holland. As you know, we fielded three 5 a-side teams in the Intermediate, Novice and Lower Novice sections, and in the morning each took part in two assessment games to ensure they would compete against teams of a similar ability. Unfortunately in the second of the Jersey C’s assessment game, Ryan Jones tripped and dislocated his left knee and was taken to hospital to have it put back into place and strapped up. Ryan was incredible throughout this ordeal and did not complain of his misfortune at any time. He has si!

 nce been checked out in Jersey and I understand all is as well as it could be. Having won both of their assessment games, the Jersey A team, coached by Mickey Porter, were selected for the top Intermediate group of five teams and played on a pitch very large for 5 a-side. Although they only drew one game and lost three, there was little between any of the teams and their largest defeat of 2-0 by the eventual group winners was only because of two defensive mistakes. By the end of their games all the players were dead on their feet and Brian Duffy was voted best Jersey A player for his overall contribution in all the games. Phil Watson coached the young Jersey B team and they found themselves in a group of much older and physically larger players. They narrowly lost their first game 1-0 and then lost their second game 2-0 against the eventual group winners, but a good team performance in their third game earned a draw against a very physical Skelton A team. Some excellent saves from Shane Crocker in their final group game helped the team to another draw and also earned him the best Jersey B player award.The Jersey C team was run by Pat Blong and because of Ryan’s injury, Paddy O’Connor kindly agreed to move from the B team to make up the numbers. Despite having the majority of the play, they were robbed of their first two games by the opposition’s tactics of leaving a player ‘goal hanging’. The third game against Portsmouth C was also a close match in which Warwick Miller scored after a fine run. Portsmouth levelled and a crucial save by Kevin Tucker in the last seconds of the game earned the draw. A brace of goals each from Simon Routier and Paddy O’Connor saw the team win their next match, but with tired legs they were defeated 3-0 in their final game against Warrington C who won the group. Warwick Miller’s tireless work rate in all the games earned him the award of the best C team player.Considering the opposing teams had more experience and reserve players, I believe the Jersey squad achieved a great deal and every player gave it their all. We certainly wish to return next year.