Muratti 2023: Eve Watson stars as Jersey's women win again

Jersey celebrated a tenth consecutive Women's Muratti triumph, with Eve Watson's double helping them to a 4-1 win over rivals Guernsey.

First-half goals from youngster Ella Docherty and midfielder Watson set Chad Morris' side on their way to victory at Footes Lane.

Striker Hannah Campbell extended the lead soon after the break, before the hosts hit back through Calleigh Hedley's excellent left-footed effort. Watson's second completed a deserved win though for the visitors.

"It was amazing to win on Guernsey soil," Campbell told thegantry.je. "It was a tough game but we had a plan and I thought we were all over them by the end of the game. Everybody is mates outside of football so there's a good feel in the squad and it's a good crowd, I'm happy to be part of it."

The visitors were nearly in front as early as the second minute, but Tiff Sundby saw her header from Leah Morris' corner hit the post and bounce clear.

Guernsey racked up a series of corners, but two goals in quick succession at the other end put the game firmly within the visitors' grasp. First, Docherty's effort from the edge of the box found its way in, and then just a few minutes later Watson's low effort from a similar spot ended up in the same corner of the net.

Watson turned provider on 53 minutes, feeding the ball into Campbell who just beat Guernsey skipper Joelle Priaulx to the ball and then calmly slotted home.

Guernsey's first Women's Muratti goal since 2014 was to follow, as Hedley's strike from outside the box flew over Soraya da Conceicao to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Watson was to have the final say though. With 15 minutes left on the clock and having been moved up front, she beat the offside trap, nicked the ball away from the onrushing goalkeeper Emma Queripel, and stroked it into the empty net to round off the win.

Both sides now turn their attentions to the Island Games, which Guernsey host this summer.

Read the report from the men's Muratti Vase final

Guernsey: Emma Queripel, Scarlett Kenneally, Scarlett Gallagher, Aimee Ogier, Joelle Priaulx (c), Steph Batiste, Elise Le Lacheur, Candice Bougourd, Calleigh Hedley, Donna Gallienne, Adrienne Leech. Substitutes: Lynsey Stanton, Amy Dallamore, Codie Le Flem, Olivia Smith, Ioana Maftei.

Jersey: Soraya da Conceicao, Tiff Sundby, Danny Da Silva, Libby Barnett (c), Sofia Rodrigues, Leah Morris, Holly Muirhead, Eve Watson, Ella Docherty, Macey Wyse, Hannah Campbell. Substitutes: Ana Malta, Poppy Benest, Olivia Labesse, Roisin Flynn, Lauren Quemard.