Stuart Andre's contribution to Jersey football over the past two decades was celebrated with a JFA "Match of Recognition", as the stalwart centre back skippered the island side in a 5-0 loss against Exeter City. 

A crowd of more than 350 turned up in scorching heat at Springfield for what may have been the 35-year-old's last appearance in a Jersey shirt more than 17 years on from his first Muratti cap.

The friendly, which came at the end of the Grecians' short training camp in the island, was set up as part of an ever-growing link between the Jersey Football Association and Exeter City.

"It's a very nice touch and I've had some very nice messages this week, so it's much appreciated and thanks to the JFA for organising it," said Andre, who played the first 52 minutes of the game.

"I think we gave away a few sloppy goals and a team like that is going to punish you. You want to play against these better players, you want to test yourselves, and it's great to be playing against them. I think the more fixtures, the better."

Chris Pringle from the FA and Jean-Luc Desbois from the Jersey FA presented Andre with an engraved silver salver ahead of kick off (below).

The visitors, backed by an impressive travelling support, enjoyed a lot of the possession and went ahead midway through the half thanks to Ryan Bowman's lofted effort over the head of an onrushing Euan Van der Vliet. Pierce Sweeney's strike, in off the post, doubled the advantage as Jersey were largely limited to long-range efforts from the likes of Sol Solomon and Karl Hinds. Ryan Bowman's second, rounding Van der Vliet to slot home, made it 3-0 to City at the break.

Andre received a brilliant reception from the crowd as he was withdrawn early in the second-half to be replaced by Harry Curtis. Soon after, Lee Holmes fired in a superb free-kick before Ben Seymour scrambled in Exeter's fifth from close range.

The match rounds off a busy period for the island side, after the Inter-Island Games in Ynys Mon, the Muratti fixtures, the Southern Counties Cup Competition final and the Jacksons International Trophy. Martin Cassidy's team are next expected to be in action in October against Somerset in the Inter League Cup.

Photos with thanks to Adrian Topley

Line-ups

Jersey: Euan Van Der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, Jay Giles, Jack Cannon, Stuart Andre (c), Kamen Nafkha, Zeljko Martinovic, Adam Trotter, Karl Hinds, Ruben Mendes-Pestana, Sol Solomon.

Subs: Danny Birrell, Harry Curtis, James Carr, Luke Shirley, Joe Kilshaw, Fraser Barlow, Jake Prince (all used)

Exeter City: (First half) Ward, Sweeney (Dean, 30), A. Martin, Parkes, Hartridge, Collins, Taylor (Kite, 30), Jay, Williams, Bowman, L. Martin (Sparkes, 30)

Subs not used: Warren, Key, Law

Attendance: 367

Referee: Steven Hughes (England)

Assistants: Luke Nerac, Neil Giannoni, Mark Le Cornu (all Jersey)