The Caesareans were knocked out of the main draw of the 2019 Inter-Island Games on ‘goals scored’ following a 1-0 defeat to hosts Ynys Mon, despite finding the net 12 times in their opening two games.
Having been placed in the competition’s only group of four, Jersey’s 7-0 victory over bottom side Western Isles was omitted from calculations to determine the best-placed runner-up, in accordance with Fifa rules.
As such, their 5-0 win over third-placed Orkney and Tuesday’s 1-0 loss left them with three points, a goal difference of +4 and five goals to their name. Group C runners-up Shetland also ended on three points and +4 from two games, but with seven goals scored.
Confusion reined at full-time while Ynys Mon celebrated topping Group A, before the agonising news filtered through to Martin Cassidy and Co.
The situation was perhaps not helped by a ‘permutations’ Twitter post from tournament organisers before the game stating that Jersey would only fail to progress if their ‘superior goal difference is significantly affected’.
Jersey’s latest failure to reach the semi-finals of a Games tournament is their third in as many attempts, following narrow eliminations at both the 2015 and 2017 NatWest Island Games.
Over 1,100 people turned out to support the home team against a free-scoring Jersey side in Anglesey and were jubilant after Liam Morris’ early cross-goal shot was turned in by the visiting defence.
Jersey – needing a point to progress as group winners – pressed and enjoyed ample possession at Llangefni Town FC, but were unable to break through when it mattered most.
They will meet Hitra in the fifth/sixth play-off on Thursday afternoon.
