One bridge too far for Ynys Môn – but what an amazing week for Mel McGinness’ side

ISLAND GAMES 2023 MEN’S FOOTBALL FINAL

Jersey 5 (Trotter 6, Hinds 35, Ritzema 42, Bickley 50, Watson 87)
Ynys Môn 2 (van der Vliet OG 2, Gregson 16)

In the end it was not to be as Ynys Môn lost in the men’s football final for a fifth time in six attempts at the hands of a Jersey side which became the first to win the Island Games title four times.

It all started so well for an Anglesey outfit which led 2-1 in the early stages, but trailed 3-2 at the break and then let in two more in the second half.

And Mel McGinness’ side finished up with nine men after second-half dismissals for Sam Jones and Sam Gregson.

Regardless of the outcome at Footes Lane today, it has been a fantastic tournament for Ynys Môn, who brought a largely untried squad to Guernsey, yet won four out of five matches spread across just six days.

And to take home the silver medal is a truly fine feat for the Welsh islanders, coming on the back of the women confounding the critics by finishing fifth in their competition.

Jersey – who lost highly-rated striker Sol Solomon to an injury in the warm up – went behind in bizarre circumstances after just 80 seconds.

A corner from the left floated in and keeper Euan van der Vliet’s punch was caught in the wind, bounced past everyone in the six yard box and spun into the net.

Liam Trotter levelled on six minutes as he broke down the left before slotting home right-footed in the bottom corner.

Anglesey went back in front with a wonderful strike as Liam Morris nodded the ball down on the edge of the box and Gregson took one touch before volleying in from more than 20 yards for his fourth goal of the tournament – and what a goal, an absolute pearl!

The Beans responded with numerous attacks and the pressure paid off on 35 minutes when Carl Jones saved from Lorne Bickley, but Karl Hinds converted the rebound.

Jones did well to deny Bickley, but before the break Trotter and Francis Lekimamati forced a mistake from the Môn defence, the latter squaring to Bickley who set up Toby Ritzema to fire home.

Only a great save by Jones from Bickley denied the Beans a fourth before the interval.

Half-time: Jersey 3-2 Môn

Five minutes into the second half, it was 4-2 to Jersey when Bickley was put through one-on-one and scored in off the post.

It looked grim for Môn on 56 minutes when Sam Jones was sent off for a challenge on Luke Watson.

Against 10 men Jersey took control of the match as a tiring opposition struggled to make any sort of impact against the Channel Islanders.

Watson made sure of a Beans success with a fifth goal on 87 and in added time Gregson was sent off for a second yellow card.

A disappointing end for Môn, but what an amazing week it had been for this highly talented Welsh team.

Ynys Môn

Carl Jones

Dan McGinness (Dion Evans)

Cai Powell-Roberts (Osian Jones 20)

Gari Owen

Tomos Clarke

Jack Smith

Jack Walsh

Sam Gregson

Sam Jones

Liam Morris (Kaine Bentley 65)

Matt Reynolds

UNUSED SUBS

Huw Shaw (GK), Melvin McGinness, Cian Owen, Gerwyn Roberts, Sol Williams.