With the magnificent prize of a day out for the winner and a parent at Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium next April for the Premiership match against Fulham, competition was keen among the under-14 footballers, the majority of whom play in Jersey’s junior divisions.
A total of 30 youngsters have won through to finals night at Springfield at a junior cup final on a date yet to be finalised.
This year’s new format involved players competing against their own club colleagues and it proved to be a huge success and there was some great banter among the players as they scored, hit the woodwork, missed the target or had kicks saved by the many goalkeepers who attended.
Each shoot-out was the best of five kicks and if players were level, they went into sudden-death kicks.
Peter Vincenti, of SG Hambros, said: ‘The new format of having two members of each club team progressing went very well.
There was a lot of good competition among all the clubs, the attitude and behaviour of the players was excellent and the standard of the penalties taken was again high.
‘I’m sure that everyone who attended, and the hundred or so parents who popped in at various times of the day, thoroughly enjoyed themselves.’ Vincenti thank members of St Peter FC committee and their wives for their assistance on the day and the work put in overall by Paul Crowell.
St Peter FC organiser Crowell said: ‘It was an excellent day and the new system of a club bringing all their players at the same time worked much better.
Clubs showed a lot of interest and it was great to see First Tower and Jersey Wanderers teams in their full kits.
Wanderers invited all their girls as well and it was decided to offer them two places for the finals night as well.
‘St Brelade had a small turn-out but those who took part were very competitive and there was a great spirit among them.’ Players who won through to finals night are: Charlie Petulla, Elliott Poole (First Tower); Michael Neves, Ryan Horton (Grouville); Kieran Brennan, Steven Buchanan (Jersey Scottish); Bradley Stratford, Joseph Bonass, Ryan de Gruchy, William Southall (Jersey Wanderers); Ashilie Cummins, Ciara Giles (Jersey Wanderers Girls); Connor Mallet, Samuel Ward (Rozel Rovers); Clayton Romeril, Connor Davies (St Peter); Joe Mayes, Oliver Reynolds (St Brelade); Ciaran Devereux, Karl Hinds, Kristen Hanby, Scott Johnson (St Clement); Mark Goddard, Richard Streets (St John); Bradley Nicolle, John Le Feuvre (St Ouen); Daniel Tostevin, George Houzé, John Tardivel and Nick Wildman (St Paul’s).
