A week of Play Offs, Defeat and Victory.

This last week saw the good and bad happen on my  growing journey of covering Channel Island sport. On Tuesday I drove down to Leatherhead in Surrey with great excitement and anticipation. My beloved Guernsey FC had reached the play offs for the Ryman South league and they were to face Leatherhead. They were the slight underdogs as Leatherhead had beaten them 2-0 in the league fixture and finished above them in the table.

Guernsey FC's Dominic Heaume has an early shot blocked.
Copyright Matt Bunn 

Things did not go well from the outset. Leatherhead took the lead in the first couple of minutes and it was an uphill battle from there. They were a big and powerful side and Guernsey never got into their usual rhythm. By half time Guernsey found themselves trailing by 2-0. A number of players had just come back from injury and this looked to be having an affect. After the break, Leatherhead increased the lead to 3 and the game seemed up.

Guernsey FC's Dominic Heaume shows the anguish of going 3-0 behind
 and his promotion dreams in tatters.
Copyright Matt Bunn.

Their record goalscorer Ross Allen had just taken a knock and at 3-0 he gave the thumbs down and came off. All Guernsey fans knew that that was their chance of promotion gone. With only 25 mins left and their star striker now off the field, what hope was there? Manager Tony Vance brought on Marc McGrath, Ryan Zico Black and Rhys Jordan..........

Star man Ross Allen gives the thumbs down. All hope gone?
Copyright Matt Bunn

With 10 minutes left and Guernsey seemingly more balanced after the substitutions, they hit back through Mark McGrath who latched onto a through ball. Was there time? In the next attack, Rhys Jordan played a through ball and Dave Rihoy was on hand to score a magnificent goal and send the Guernsey fans into unexpected delight and hope. The Leatherhead fans went very quiet.......

Guernsey FC's Dave Rihoy strikes to make it 3-2
Copyright Matt Bunn

With experience and a bit of luck (Guernsey had a third goal ruled out minutes later for offside), Leatherhead saw out the game and the final whistle brought an end to what had been a fascinating encounter. For one, the season was over, for the other a promotion hope was still alive. Leatherhead have since won the Final and have been promoted. Congratulations to them and I wish them luck next season.

Guernsey FC assistant manager Colin Fallaize consoles Jamie Dodd at the final whistle.
Copyright Matt Bunn

My next Channel Island game was to be a new sport for me. I was asked to cover  Team Jets netball. They were playing in a play off with the prize being a place in Premier League 3, a national league. Before that, I had the delights of covering Stoke knock four goals past a hapless Fulham who were relegated on the day.

Fulham's Scott Parker is tackled by Stoke City's Stephen Ireland and Marc Muniesa.
Copyright MattBunn/JMP

Onto Sunday and a return for me to where I studied. The Netball play offs were being held at Loughborough University and it was my first return for 15 years. A lot had changed and I had lost a lot of hair in that period.

I met with the reporter from Jersey Press and he gave me the nod on what it was the paper were after. I was slightly nervous, having never even seen a game of Netball in my life. I was told it was very quick and so it proved to be. The game is made up of four 15 minute quarters and I spent the first one trying to work out patterns of play and thinking how I could get some nice images out it. The sports hall  was quite messy to create a decent clean image and the light was not good but I persevered. 

On the court, Team Jets came out of the blocks at a blistering pace and blew their opponents away. The game was fast and the passing and movement from the Jersey girls was excellent.

Team Jets in action in their play off final at Loughborough
Copyright Matt Bunn

By half time the game was over really, with Team Jets just to powerful and fit for their opponents. I just enjoyed the speed and skill of the game, unlike Just Ahead, the opponents.

Team Jets in action during their 54-43 victory
Copyright Matt Bunn

At the final whistle, the girls celebrated and you could see the relief on their faces. A years hard work and they had achieved what Guernsey FC couldn't, a promotion. I really enjoyed my first Netball game and look forward to covering the girls on their journey next year. As for Guernsey FC, they will regroup and come back stronger, I have no doubts about that and I look forward to documenting it. It was great to finish on a high after such a low last week. Channel Islands sport is in a very healthy state from my experience and long may it continue.

Team Jets celebrate their promotion and make it a happy
 ending to the week for me.
Copyright Matt Bunn