Kieran Lester and young Thomas Harris both bagged hattricks, with Hinds and Watson also netting as Parishes of Jersey blew Chagos Islands away, to end what was a mixed weekend for James Scott’s men in Yorkshire at the Heritage Cup.

Scott said ‘We were disappointed to lose the game yesterday; we didn’t take our chances and it came back to bite us. Today I was really pleased with how we responded.’

Michael Weir delivered a corner to the back post, captain Luke Campbell headed back across goal and there was Lester to poke in the opener as the clock hit the 5th minute. Parishes were then handed a second as a Chagos defender sold his goalkeeper short, and Hinds calmly slotted the ball home.

Adriano Lewis then found Steven Leelah who tucked the ball past Daniel Birrell, much to the delight to of the largely Yorkshire crowd, their team having beaten Parishes on Saturday afternoon with a last gasp winner, largely against the run of play.

Leelah then completed the comeback, scoring in the 23rd minute after Birrell could only parry Hansley Sagaie’s shot, to give the attacker his second of the game.
Zeljko Martinovic went through one on one, but Chagos keeper Ivan Antalika produced a save, the ball then fell to Lester who composed himself before reclaiming Parishes lead, in what had been a hectic first half hour.

Lester bagged his hattrick before the break after dodging three wild tackles going on to smartly place the ball into the corner of Antalika’s goal, giving Parishes a two-goal cushion.

Chagos Islands were reduced to 10 men moments into the second half when Desire Sambouag was sent off for a second yellow card.  Young winger Harris then powered the ball into the net after a smart corner routine involving substitutes Jay Giles and Adam Trotter for Parishes’ fifth.

Both Watson, for the second time this weekend, and Harris were only denied goals in quick succession due to the offside flag. Nonetheless, Harris got his brace moments later with a fine half volley from the edge of the box, as the teenager continued to shine. The youngster, who was playing his first competitive game for a senior Jersey side along with full back James Carr, was involved again as he picked out Hinds with a sublime pass, but the striker couldn’t direct his effort on target, with Trotter testing the very much unprotected Antalika moments later.

On playing the youngsters Scott said ‘For one of them to score a hattrick and one of them to play really well, we couldn’t have asked for anything more and they should be proud of themselves’.

Harris completed his hattrick in fine fashion. The seventeen-year-old picked the ball up on the halfway line, sold a defender with a step over and had a shot which flew into the net from twenty yards out.  Watson then set up Harris again, but Antalika, who was great in spells but comedic in others, was there to save it, however he could only direct it to Hinds who tapped in for his second of the game.

Watson ended the scoring with a neat header at the back post, a goal which he deserved after his weekend’s performance, being named Parishes’ player of the tournament.

This was a great way to bounce back from a disappointing result on Saturday, with the Parishes players finding their scoring boots to end what has been, looking at performances and Sunday’s result, a very positive weekend for James Scott and his players.

On the future Scott stated ‘We are determined to keep going and we shall see what happens in the future. The goal is to compete in a large CONIFA tournament, be that the World Cup or the Euros.’

 Parishes of Jersey: Dan Birrell, Harry Curtis, James Carr, Luke Campbell (captain) (Johnny Sellers 75), Connor O’Shea (Mark Logue 45), Luke Watson, Thomas Harris, Michael Weir, Zeljko Martinovic (Adam Trotter 45), Kieran Lester (Jay Giles 45), Karl Hinds.

Unused subs: Euan Van De Vliet

Chagos Islands: Ivan Antalika, Dylan Tiatous, Franzi Lamb, Murphy Oxide (captain), Brian Flore, Desire Sambouag, Deeveeyen Sooprayen, Hansley Sagaie, Samuel Rabot, Louis Casimir, Steven Leelah.

Subs: Norman Rabot, Vincent Volfrin, Ariano Louis, Andrew Heroseau

Attendance: 70 (due to ground restrictions)

Player of the Heritage Cup: Luke Watson

Venue: Harrogate Town AFC

Photo: Adi Topley https://www.atopphoto.com/