FA Inter-League Cup: Jersey FA Combination into quarter finals with extra time win
Jersey were forced to battle hard to secure a spot in the last eight of the FA Inter-League Cup, winning 2-1 in extra time away against the Amateur Football Combination.
Arthur Illingworth's late header from a Sol Solomon cross cancelled out Cameron McGovern's perfectly hit opener to send the game into an additional thirty minutes.
Jersey forward Karl Hinds was shown red just two minutes into extra-time, but Martin Cassidy's side continued to push for a winner. It came when substitute Jake Prince was bundled over in the box with seven minutes to go. Luke Campbell stepped up to fire in the spot kick and send his side through to the quarter-finals.
After an even first ten minutes Jersey went on to have the bulk of the possession. Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half, with Amateur's Ryan Bright's strike bouncing back off the upright and Kieran Lester's effort at the other end hitting the bar.
Euan Van der Vliet was twice called upon in quick succession for excellent saves before right-back McGovern smashed in the opener with just over 15 minutes left on the clock.
Teenager Luke Shirley and Illingworth both came on, with the latter pulling Jersey level soon after his introduction. Solomon's cross from the left was curling in towards the far post and took the faintest flick off Illingworth's head on its way in.
Seconds later it looked like Jersey had completed a quick-fire turnaround when Campbell ran from deep to fire in, but the flag was up for offside and the celebrations were short-lived. Solomon nearly won it late on in a frantic finale, but his stoppage time free-kick whistled just over the bar.
Hinds was shown red for a flailing arm just two minutes into the added 30 minutes, but Jersey were still creating chances. Campbell's header from a corner went just wide and Prince's low strike was well-saved by the legs of Amateur goalkeeper Henry Warne.
With a penalty shootout looming, the visitors were handed a golden opportunity to win it. Prince was pushed to ground in the box and Campbell hammered home the resultant spot kick to give his side the victory.
The quarter-final draw is yet to be confirmed but the fixture must be played before the end of February 2020. The eventual competition winners will go on to represent England in the Uefa Regions’ Cup, an international tournament for amateur players from across Europe. Jersey last achieved that feat when they lifted the FA Inter-League Cup in 2012 and then travelled to San Marino under the guise of the Three Lions the following year.
Jersey FA Combination: Euan Van der Vliet, Joe Kilshaw, Jack Cannon, James Queree, Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, Harry Cardwell, Adam Trotter, Kieran Lester, Karl Hinds, Sol Solomon
Subs: Luke Shirley (for Cardwell, 82), Jake Prince (for Lester, 57), Arthur Illingworth (for Kilshaw, 76), Luke Duncan.
Attendance at Gander Green Lane, Sutton: 70