Under-16 striker Brett Pitman, a substitute, netted the winner in the 61st minute but victory came at a cost as two Jersey players required hospital treatment.The half-time interval was more like a scene from the TV’s Casualty as an ambulance departed with Jersey’s Richard Russell inside with a dislocated thumb together with two opponents who both landed heavily on a bone-hard and dangerous playing surface resulting in knee and ankle injuries.After the match Jersey midfielder Greg Fernandes also visited hospital with a suspected broken toe that was later diagnosed as severely bruised.Pitman, Jersey’s youngest player ever in the competition at 15, took two attempts to beat goalkeeper Jason Carter after Ryan Durand played the ball into his path after getting behind Dorset’s defence.
Carter blocked Pitman’s shot but the ball went on to hit the post and Pitman followed up to powerfully head Jersey into the lead from six yards.It was a strike Jersey richly deserved as they were finally matching Dorset’s physical challenge together with getting to grips with the pace of the game despite the extremely poor playing surface at Hamworthy United Football Club’s ground.Jersey manager Jon Welsh said: ‘Our defence got better and better as the game went on and I’m delighted we won as it gives us all another game at the level.’It’s a big plus for everyone as we are striving hard to give the players better games to help them with their development.
The surface was very much a leveller and we had to work hard to grind out the result.
There were not many chances either way and winning has come off the back of a very good display defensively.’Dorset put the early pressure on Jersey and eight minutes in they had the first of two goals disallowed, both for offside, giving Jersey a wake-up call.Durand, who ran his heart out throughout, had a great opportunity to put Jersey ahead, but after collecting Fernandes’ pass and taking the ball around the goalkeeper he rolled his acute angle shot narrowly wide.Durand’s pace kept Dorset’s defenders on their toes but it was Jersey who nearly went behind as White nodded wide after Jersey’s defence failed to pick him up.On the stroke of half time Pitman’s acrobatic overhead kick was spilled by Carter but as Durand nipped in to poke home the rebound Carter gathered at the second attempt.Peter Vincenti curled a free kick just wide of Dorset’s goal after the restart before Pitman gave the visitors the lead.As Dorset pushed more players forward in search of an equaliser they were repeatedly denied by excellent defending from captain Nathan Jegou and fellow central defender Tom Poole, the latter who also made numerous important tackles.Jersey tried to keep the ball when they won it and full backs Neal Crowell and Danny Hughes both supported excellently with their tackling and distribution of the ball.Vincenti was denied doubling Jersey’s advantage when his crisp shot pinged back into play off a crossbar, with eight minutes remaining, while goalkeeper Frazer Siddall played his part well as soon after he made a challenge outside his penalty area to help preserve Jersey’s lead.Jersey now host Suffolk or Hertfordshire in the next round, the date still to be arranged.Jersey: Frazer Siddall; Danny Hughes, Nathan Jegou, Tom Poole, Neal Crowell; Jordan Lisle (Bradley Russell 87), Peter Vincenti, Greg Fernandes (Jamie Allan 87), Luke Watson; Richard Russell (Brett Pitman 31), Ryan Durand.
