Vale of White Horse Under 11s beat the big freeze to play their friendly against Jersey – but were caught cold in the opening exchanges as they slipped to a 4-1 defeat.

The visitors raced into a three-goal lead in the first 13 minutes of Monday’s clash at Oxford Brookes Westminster Institute of Education.

Pieter Stein pounced on a rebound to fire Jersey ahead in the eighth minute after Vale keeper Matt Crowther parried a shot.

Stein was involved again as Jersey doubled their lead a minute later, squaring the ball for Sol Solomon to tap in after his initial shot had been blocked by Crowther.

Jersey skipper Ben Le Rougetel then returned Crow-ther’s goalkick straight back past him from 25 yards to make it 3-0.

Vale gradually got a foothold in the game, and pulled a goal back just before half-time when Calum Sykes bundled home Danny Wallace’s cross at the far post.

But a physically stronger Jersey side re-established their three-goal cushion in the second half when Crowther got a hand to Oscar Le Seelleur’s shot, but was unable to prevent it going into the roof of the net.

Vale are back in County League action against Luton at Luton Regional Sports Centre on Saturday (10.30).