A 3-1 victory at Les Quennevais, after extra time, was sealed with goals from Freddy Mendes, Artur Calaca and Carlos Ferreira but the victors’ night was marred as Manny Fernandes and Antonio Costa were sent off by referee Gary Poole – Fernandes after collecting two cautions in a minute shortly before half time and Costa red-carded in the 115th minute when he fouled a Wanderers forward to deny him a goal-scoring opportunity.
Portuguese joint-manager Sergio Carolo said: ‘We have to accept referees’ decisions but I thought our first sending off last night was a really bad decision.
‘The ref was conned by a player who was play-acting and we went down to ten.
‘It was not fair and I and the team were very unhappy about it.
We also had a player who will not being going to work today because of an ankle injury, again the referee did nothing about the tackle which we all thought was really bad.
‘We won and we deserved it.
Our attitude was unreal being a player short, we played brilliantly and the second dismissal we had no complaints with as he was last man.’ Portuguese official Nelio De Freitas said: ‘We have an FA suspension hanging over us and last night’s offences were all in the context of the game.
We have had just one caution in eight first and second-team matches so we getting things right.
‘None of the offences last night were verbal which has previously been our problem.
However it does not look good have two sent off so we must continue to learn from our mistakes.’ Wanderers manager Daryn Noble said: ‘Portuguese’s victory was deserved, from our point of view it was a nightmare, many of our players did not turn up and we were beaten by a better side on the night.
‘I think their first player being sent off spurred them on; they were hungrier than us, they created more than us and their victory was thoroughly deserved.
We didn’t pass the ball well enough and although we equalised and I thought we could go on and win we then lacked concentration and were punished for doing so.
‘We’ll be looking to bounce back right away, we play Jersey Nomads in Division II on Saturday and that will be another tough match for us.’ Freddie Mendes nodded Portuguese ahead after a flowing move ended with Marcio Rodrigues’ shot being parried by goalkeeper Max Jouan.
Ollie Thompson equalised early in the second half following a good strike from 25 yards.
Portuguese took the lead in extra time with a speculative shot by Artur Calaca, from ten yards inside Wanderers’ half, and they sealed victory when substitute Carlos Ferreira beat three players following a run from the half-way line – Wanderers ‘keeper Jouan was caught up field following a corner kick – to roll the ball into an unguarded net.
Portuguese play either Beeches Old Boys or St Martin/SCF in the Willis Cup final at Springfield on Tuesday 12 December.
Portuguese Club: Marcio Caldeira; Antonio Costa, Artur Calaca, Bruno Vieira, Bruno Sousa, Marcio Rodrigues, Antonio Antunes, Freddie Mendes, Carlos Carolo, Manny Fernandes.
Subs used: José-Manuel Vieira, Carlos Ferreira, Kevin Gouveia.
Jersey Wanderers: Max Jouan; Conrad Proud, Neal Crowell, Neil Spacie; José Costa, Jon A’Court, Liam Sutton, Chris Andrews, Darren A’Court; Ollie Thompson, Dave Ibbotson.
Subs used: Pierce Cummins, Helio De Freitas, Sam Habin.
Officials: Garry Poole, Russell Barry, Dougie Orr.
