Impressive Guernsey beat Jersey to win Muratti Vase

Guernsey skipper Ross Allen celebrated winning a record fourth Muratti Player of the Match award

Ross Allen scored twice as Guernsey beat 10-man Jersey 3-1 to win the Muratti Vase for the first time in eight years.

The victory in the first men's inter-island game at Victoria Park was consolation for Guernsey's players, many of whom were part of the Guernsey FC side relegated from the Isthmian League last month.

The win, in front of 3,090 fans, was Guernsey's first in the annual fixture since 2017 when veteran forward Allen was on the scoresheet as his side beat Jersey 2-1 at Footes Lane.

It completed a clean sweep of wins after Guernsey's women came from a goal down to beat Jersey 2-1 earlier in the day - the first time the island have won both matches in the same year since 2001.

Charlton Gauvain added to his eight goals for Guernsey FC this season with the second goal for the island side

New Jersey boss Jack Cannon was missing a number of Jersey Bulls' star players - Lorne Bickley, James Queree, Euan van der Vliet and Miguel Carvalho were all unavailable.

But despite that they started strongly as Luke Campbell and Jonny le Quesne went close early in the first three minutes, but it was the hosts who blew their opponents away with two goals in as many minutes.

First 38-year-old Allen - the scourge of Jersey for so many years - lobbed Piers Roche in the eighth minute after breaking through.

Two minutes later Charlton Gauvain doubled the advantage as he arrowed in from the edge of the box for one of the finest starts in Muratti history.

Allen almost made it 3-0 two minutes later, but his effort at the far post from Jacques Cauvain's cross was deflected into the side netting.

Jersey's Francis Lekimamati had a header saved two minutes before Hinds made it 2-1 - the Jersey Bulls striker headed into the top corner from Kieran Lester's 26th-minute cross from the left.

But just as Jersey looked as though they might get back into it Guernsey FC's record goalscorer Allen struck again as he caught Roche off his line from the edge of the box having picked up a cross-field ball from Brandon Wallace.

Both sides had good efforts to score in a frantic end to the first period - Lester, Lekimamati and Adam Trotter going close for the visitors while Sam Murray and Brandon Wallace had decent efforts for the Greens.

Ross Allen superbly chipped Piers Roche for Guernsey's third goal

Allen had two good chances to increase the lead in the opening minutes of the second half as Guernsey tried to make the game safe.

Jersey Bulls top scorer Joe Kilshaw forced an excellent save from Josh Addison after an hour while Gauvain had a strike beaten away by Roche six minutes later.

Guernsey substitute Callum le Lacheur went close with 15 minutes to go and a minute later was fouled by Jersey skipper Luke Campbell, earning the veteran centre-back his second yellow card and an early exit.

The sending-off ended any hopes Jersey had of getting back into the game - Matt Loaring grazed the Jersey bar in the dying moments of stoppage time as their opponents' impressive eight-year unbeaten record came to an end.

Guernsey manager Dave Merris told BBC Radio Guernsey:

"Words can't explain how today is. It's just unbelievable.

"The lads that played, every single one of them, were absolutely outstanding - I'm immensely proud of them.

"The work they put in, not today but over the past few weeks training-wise, is just outstanding they deserve everything they've got.

"We've got to enjoy and build on today but there's a lot of hard work to do to continue this on to next year and keep going."

Guernsey captain Ross Allen told BBC Radio Guernsey:

"I've been dreaming of just playing games down here, but to play a Muratti Vase final in front of a crowd like this on a day like this, and to come away with the trophy, we couldn't ask for more.

"We felt that we had the confidence to go and do the job.

"We took it to them early and shocked them a little bit, and credit to everyone involved because we put in a really good performance.

"The first goal set the tempo and we were fantastic after that and really deserved our win."

Jersey manager Jack Cannon told BBC Radio Jersey:

"I'm happy with our efforts and I thought we played well in spells.

"I think we suffered in transition from having possession and chances and then the turnover and we were punished

"Ross Allen is an established Muratti striker and top finisher and he's punished us.

"I'm disappointed now that everything's settled that some people didn't want to play and others were away, but it can't be helped.

"There were some opportunities for young lads to get involved and they're going to have to carry the can and move forward.

"In terms of Channel Islands there's some top players that have missed out today."