Jersey beat Guernsey in extra time to retain Muratti Vase

Jersey's players mobbed striker Lorne Bickley after his extra-time winner

Lorne Bickley's extra-time goal ensured Jersey retained their Muratti Vase title as they beat Channel Island rivals Guernsey 3-2 at Springfield.

Guernsey FC top-scorer Matt Loaring gave the visitors a 40th-minute lead, but Jersey replied within a minute as Fraser Barlow headed home.

Barlow hit the post two minutes after the break before Luke Campbell headed Jersey ahead soon after and Karl Hinds hit the bar in a frantic start to the second period.

But Will Fazakerley scored a low curling effort from the edge of the box in the third minute of stoppage to stun the home crowd and take the game to extra time.

Bickley reacted quickest to a Josh Addison save to head what proved to be the winner shortly before the end of the first extra period.

The victory means Jersey have won the Muratti - which was postponed due to Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021 - for a fifth successive time, with Guernsey last beating their rivals back in 2017.

Will Fazakerley's stoppage-time goal stunned Springfield

Bickley and Campbell both headed efforts over the Guernsey bar in the opening 10 minutes.

Addison did well to block a dangerous Bickley cross after 25 minutes, while 10 minutes later the Guernsey goalkeeper made two saves in quick succession - first from a powerful effort on the turn from Barlow and then from a low Bickley drive.

But it was Guernsey who took the lead through Loaring from close range after Charlton Gauvain's floated free-kick.

But the lead lasted less than a minute as Barlow powerfully headed Jersey level from inside the six-yard box from Bickley's cross after some good play in the penalty area.

Guernsey almost went ahead a minute before the break when Sam Murray headed just wide of the Jersey post from a corner, while shortly after the break Barlow turned Jonny Le Quesne's cross against the upright and into the grateful arms of Addison.

But just two minutes later Jersey were ahead as Campbell headed in after good work by James Carr and Jay Giles out wide to score in a second successive Muratti.

Hinds' looping effort struck the bar just a few minutes later while Addison did superbly to stop Barlow after he was through on goal with 26 minutes left.

Owen Wallbridge forced a superb save from Jersey goalkeeper Euan van der Vliet with two minutes to go before Fazakerley's stunning strike to force an additional 30 minutes.

Miguel Carvalho had two efforts in quick succession in extra time before Bickley - Jersey Bulls' top scorer this season - struck.

A free-kick from the left was headed towards goal by Luke Watson and Bickley pounced after Addison had saved.

Hinds hit the frame of the goal for the second time in the game in the final minute of extra time as Jersey held on for a dramatic win.

Jersey manager Elliot Powell told BBC Radio Jersey:

"It was nerve-wracking, but I'm delighted to get over the line.

"You feel pressure leading your island, of course you do, but you also feel immense pride, immense privilege.

"We were disappointed (to concede late on), but you've only got yourselves to blame when you don't kill the game off.

"They showed great character, great resilience to get over the line.

"It would have been a different story if we'd not come out on the right side, but thankfully for us we've got the Vase at home tonight."

Guernsey joint-manager Ryan-Zico Black told BBC Radio Guernsey:

"Obviously it's disappointing to lose, but I'm really proud of the players and the squad - they gave it everything and that's all we can ask for really. You win some, you lose some.

"At half time I just said that we needed to be busier in midfield, we needed to get on the ball more and have more have more possession.

"It was tempting to change things in terms of formation, but we wanted to give them a little bit longer, and then second half unfortunately players getting injured, we had to make changes, and then we just thought 'we'll just go for it' and the lads got back in the game, which was great.

"But it wasn't to be in extra time."