THE gap between the regular Jersey football players and those on the fringes is closing, according to Island manager Martin Cassidy, after a mixed squad thrashed Alderney on Saturday
Debutant Harrison Moon scored two, while Francis Lekimamati, also winning his first senior Muratti cap, scored another in a 6-1 win.
The returning Karl Hinds and Jack Cannon were the other Jersey scorers at The Arsenal, as Jersey set up another final against Guernsey and maintained Alderney’s record of just one win, now in 118 years.
‘What they have shown me is that there is not a big gap in quality in Jersey football,’ said Cassidy.
‘I have taken this squad and they have listened to everything I asked of them, they played football the right way, with confidence and I am really happy to see the performance that they all put in.
‘I said for them to make it difficult for me. Show me why you are as good as who you may have replaced. Nobody has a given right to be in the squad and the boys have now given me a headache when I go to pick the next one.’
A man on the other end of the cap spectrum is Jack Cannon, who equalled Jersey’s all-time record for Muratti appearances.
Cannon, who won his 23rd cap off the bench, said: ‘It has been emotional. My partner and I had our second daughter a week-and-a-half ago, so the last few weeks have been crazy. This record has been on my mind for a long time so to finally reach it, and equal the record is an honour.
‘It was great to see some of the lads make their first Muratti appearance today too, it has been 17 years since mine. They all did really well.
‘In an ideal world I would love to be in the squad for the Muratti, potentially reach the outright record and then go out on an Island Games, but we will see what Cass has planned for me.’
