St Brelade FC 2 (4)
McAdam 13, Lester 55
Penalties: O’Connell, Lester, Andrade, Gibson Madeira FC 2 (2)
Cristovao 3, Sousa 59
Penalties: Rosario, Cristovao, Gomes (saved), Barroca (saved)
Score after extra-time: 2-2
Player of the match: Josh Jehan (St Brelade)
Attendance: 308
St Brelade won the 101st edition of the Jersey FA Le Riche trophy after beating Madeira FC on penalties to etch their name onto the famous cup for the first time since 1966.
After suffering a heart-breaking defeat to St Peter in the final last season, St Brelade thwarted Madeira’s bid to become the first Portuguese community-based club to be added to the list of winners, with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory after extra-time couldn’t separate the two.
It was a close match, highlighted by fine goalkeeping at both ends. St Brelade goalkeeper, Josh Jehan, was the eventual hero when he saved two of the Madeiran attempts in the shoot-out. His opposite number, Claudio Sousa, also performed magnificently and it was his saves that helped his team to take the match the distance. But the St Brelade penalties were all too good for him, despite diving the right way on all four occasions.
Madeira, who will make a welcome addition to the top division next season, were the quicker out of the blocks and created three opportunities in the opening five minutes. Their speedy front men, Henrique Cristovao and Diogo Velosa, were a constant problem for the defenders in red and they combined for the former to give Madeira an early lead after just three minutes.
St Brelade looked to equalise in the 11th minute, when a clever Logan McGhee chip gave Kieran Lester a golden opportunity, but somehow Sousa produced a stunning save to deflect it over the bar.
However, just two minutes later they were level. A 30-yard Declan O’Connell free-kick towards the back post was put back into the danger area by a Madeira defender, where Kris McAdam beat the stranded Sousa from 10 yards out.
A Madeiran overhead attempt skimmed the crossbar shortly after the half-hour and, as the break approached, Velosa rattled the St Brelade bar with a thunderous strike from 20 yards out.
After heading into half-time level at 1-1, the Madeira defence shot themselves in the foot again 10 minutes into the restart with a mix-up which let star frontman Lester walk the ball in to grab the lead.
This only lasted four minutes, however. Jehan parried a shot from the left away and it was hooked back in with a bicycle kick, a feature of the Madeiran play, and Joao Sousa was first to it and restored parity.
Madeira continued to create openings. An excellent move ended with Velosa shooting wide, a Josh Gordinho shot was somehow pushed on to the bar and over by the outstanding Jehan and Cristovao shot narrowly wide from 20 yards.
However, in added time, young substitute Will Yates presented his team-mate McGhee with the chance to win it for St Brelade, but Sousa saved his side by pushing it away and sending the scintillating final into extra-time.
St Brelade had the better of it early in extra-time, but apart from another double save by Sousa from McGhee, and then Lester, they failed to find a way through.
The drama reached fever pitch when, with just 15 minutes left, the Madeira captain, Carlos Silva, was dismissed after collecting his second caution. Full-time came, the teams unable to be separated after 120 minutes of high-quality football.
The drama of the shoot-out ensued. Up stepped St Brelade’s captain Jack O’Connell, to take on the responsibility of the final’s first penalty, which he duly converted, before Pedro Rosario held his nerve to level it at 1-1.
Lester and Cristovao both scored their respective side’s second penalties, but it was round three where St Brelade’s gained the upper hand.
Rafael Andrade kept St Brelade’s ahead, before Jehan pulled off a magnificent piece of athleticism to save Madeira’s third from Andrew Gomes.
Jack Gibson netted to give St Brelade’s a 4-2 advantage and, knowing a save would seal a St Brelade’s victory, Jehan cemented his name in St Brelade FC folklore with his second astonishing save, this time keeping Bruno Barroca’s effort out and sparking wild scenes of celebration.
The no doubt disappointed Madeira side showed their class by forming a guard of honour for the victors as they went up to collect the trophy.
St Brelade Squad: Josh Jehan, Rafael Andrade, Ed Jeffries, Declan O’Connell (c), Kris McAdam, Kieran Queree, Bradley Stratford, Mikey Weir, Kieran Lester, Logan McGhee, Connor Maher. Rolling substitutes: Will Yates, Joe Tilstone, Jake Huckerby, Dan Andrade, Jack Gibson.
Madeira FC Squad: Claudio Sousa, Joao Sousa, Nelson Vieira, Andrew Gomes, Pedro Rosario, Victor Jardim, Henrique Cristovao, Carlos Silva (c), Diogo Velosa, Bruno Barroca, Rui Vieira. Rolling substitutes: Jose Freitas, Manuel Baltasar, Josh Gordinho, Antonio Vidinha, Ivan Freitas.
