Alderney 0 – 2 Guernsey
Alderney lined up for the first Muratti Vase Semi-Final since 2019 at Mount Hale on Saturday 23
April 2022. The pandemic prevented the last two years, including the 100th Anniversary of
Alderney’s win from 1920. This was an eagerly anticipated tie, which drew a bumper crowd on a
sunny, but windy day.
Alderney were at full strength, handing debuts to Owen Carre and Jack Williams. Led by Captain
Ross Benfield and player-coach Josh Concanen. Joe Blackham, Josh McCulloch and Jason Atkins
returned to strength the regular side competing in the Priaulx League.
The match started with Alderney playing towards the Braye Beach end with the wind slightly helping. Alderney started the game well, with Dante Walker making good ground on the left-hand side on several occasions, with Guernsey restricted to set pieces, including the long throw-in from Guernsey Captain Jamie Dodd.
Alderney had several chances in the first half, all while the score was at 0-0. Firstly, Benfield volleyed over a Concanen free-kick; secondly, a Blackham cross come shot hitting a Guernsey arm from close range, with referee Paolo Franco turning away appeals for a penalty; thirdly, Atkins had a left footed effort from the edge of the box blocked, before Walker tested Martin in the Guernsey goal from distance with a driven effort bouncing awkwardly in front of the Guernsey stopper.
Guernsey opened the deadlock on 33 minutes with a Dave Rihoy’s wide free kick not being cleared properly and former Bristol City schoolboy Charlton Gauvain volleying in the third ball, giving Carre no chance in the Alderney goal.
The second goal came just before the break, with a Danny Hale wide free kick, being controlled on the chest by Gauvain before being spectacularly overhead kicked into the top corner.
Half-time Alderney 0-2 Guernsey
Alderney came out in the second half playing into the wind and knew they would face a stern test. Nevertheless, with tireless running and pressing, Alderney tried to take the game to Guernsey rather than sitting back and try to keep the score down.
With this pressure Alderney created a couple of moments in the game and on another day, with a bit more luck might have got a
favourable result. John Adamson didn’t quite connect as cleanly as he would have liked with another effort going wide of the Guernsey goal. Player-coach Concanen changed the front three with Williams, Carre and Cork replacing Blackham, Marian State and McCulloch.
Key moments included a strong penalty appeal, with Benfield heading the ball back across goal, with the ball clearly connecting with a raised Guernsey arm, but referee Franco showed no interest. Moments later Franco showed no interest in a Guernsey penalty appeal with Carre coming out at the feet of Hale later in the second half.
Despite the changes there were few clear-cut chances on either side. Despite a valiant effort Alderney lost 2-0, but can be proud of another decent performance, with little between the two teams.
Another good day for the club, with big fundraising efforts and hopefully inspiring a future generation of Ridunian heroes!
Alderney: Dean Carre, John Adamson, Dante Walker, Josh Concanen, Ross Benfield, Jason
Atkins, Richard Moore, Jermaine Parry, Josh McCulloch (Owen Carre), Marian State (Ciaran
Stretton), Joe Blackham (Jack Williams). Unused subs: Andrew Adamson and Tom Cosheril
Guernsey: Jason Martin, Dave Rihoy, Jacob Fallaize, Jamie Dodd, Jake Lowe, Kieran Mahon,
Charlton Guavain, Dom Heaume, Ross Allen, Sam Murray, Danny Hale, Subs: George Mason,
River Marsh, Keene Domaille, Joe Alvarez, Josh Addison.
Man of the Match chosen by the Campania Inn was awarded to Dean Carre