2023 Island Games: Guernsey's men and women are knocked out in group stages

It is the third consecutive Island Games football tournament that the hosts have not made the semi-finals after Gotland failed to progress in 2017 and Jersey finished second in their group in 2015

Guernsey's footballers have been knocked out of their home Island Games.

The men, who were among the favourites to win gold as they did when the games were last played in Guernsey in 2003, were beaten 2-1 by the Isle of Wight in their decisive group match.

The loss means they finish second in their group and will not progress on to the semi-finals.

Earlier Guernsey's women were thrashed 6-0 by the Western Isles to inflict a second successive loss on the Sarnians.

Scrimshaw goals knock Guernsey men out

Having had a superior goal difference going into the game Guernsey only needed a draw to progress

Guernsey's men knew they needed just a draw with the Isle of Wight to progress to the semi-finals.

But in front of around 3,000 fans at the Track they were beaten by the English side and will have to make do with the play-offs for the minor placings.

Isle of Wight started strongly and their former Bournemouth, Yeovil Town and Eastleigh striker Jake Scrimshaw gave them the lead after 16 minutes as he rounded Guernsey's ex-Exeter City goalkeeper James Hamon and slotted home.

Having had a number of chances Guernsey found themselves 2-0 down on the stroke of half time when Scrimshaw converted a penalty.

Guernsey should have been 3-0 behind six minutes into the second period when Joe Alvarez gave away a second spot kick, but Scrimshaw's shot from 12 yards hit the bar and went out for a goal kick.

On the hour Guernsey pulled a goal back as their top striker Ross Allen converted from the penalty spot after Keanu Marsh was brought down in the box.

Despite late pressure Guernsey could not fashion an equaliser and missed out on making the semi-finals for the first time since 1999.

It is the third consecutive Island Games football tournament that the hosts have not made the semi-finals after Gotland failed to progress in 2017 and Jersey finished second in their group in 2015.

Isle of Wight will go on to face Guernsey's big rivals Jersey in Thursday's semi final at The Track at 18:30 BST.

'Ultimately we failed' - Vance

Tony Vance also manages Guernsey's club side Guernsey FC

"We needed to relax a little bit in the first half and we made some difficult decisions because we were forced on it and we didn't really focus our minds and let that rule some decision making," Guernsey manager Tony Vance told BBC Channel Islands.

"The first goal, for me, was offside and that was disappointing, and that probably frustrated the lads.

"We felt we'd score against them, but the second one probably was a killer blow for us and gave us an uphill task, but in the second half anyone who was here today will see we had an absolute go.

"I'm proud of the effort they put in to try and get us to what we needed to do, but it wasn't enough and ultimately we failed," he added.

Western Isles end Guernsey hopes

Guernsey were playing their first Island Games football match in eight years

Guernsey's women knew they needed a big win if they were to have a chance of progressing having lost 3-2 to Ynys Mon on Monday, but they were outclassed by Western Isles at the Corbet Field.

Jessica Macleod gave the Scottish side the lead after 17 minutes before Sinead Macleod struck twice in quick succession to make it 3-0 at the break.

Two goals in three second-half minutes ended any hopes of a Guernsey comeback as Kyla McMurdo and Shauna McPhail found the back of the Guernsey net.

McPhail hit a spectacular sixth as Western Isles won the group as the Sarnians ended the tournament with two losses from their two games.

• Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - follow your team and sign up for notifications in the BBC Sport app to make sure you never miss a moment