Jersey hosted Eastbourne whom they had defeated by the only goal of the game in a scrappy match in early December. Eastbourne had spent the season in the lower half the table and were currently 16th (12-7-16 46-70) but without ever seriously being in danger of relegation. They had had a tough run of fixtures since the New Year but had beaten Deal and Margate and most recently drawn with Faversham and beaten Sittingbourne. The latter last Saturday was a hard fought match settled by two penalties which also saw nine cautions and two dismissals.

Jersey welcomed back captain James Queree, Francis Lekimamati and Adam Trotter to their squad with unused substitute Max Corbett making way. Queree replaced Harry Curtis in the starting line up with Curtis joining Lekimamati and Trotter on the bench. Eastbourne who had seven different players in their squad last week to the one that met Jersey previously made five changes due to suspensions and injuries. Sam Parker, Sonny Walsh and James Waters were elevated from the bench to replace Aaron Capon, sent off last week, Alfie Rogers and Luke Emberson. They had a completely changed bench to replace the promoted trio plus Billie Clark and Jimmy Holman. Edward Ratcliffe and Adam Davidson, the latter looking to add to his 476 previous appearances, came into the squad.

Eastbourne started well and had two half chances. Firstly, Euan Van der Vliet came a long way out of this penalty area but failed to intercept a ball to Ollie Davies. Davies rolled the ball goalwards with Sonny Walsh attempting to reach it to apply the finish. Fortunately, it rolled just wide shepherded there by James Queree who also managed to keep Walsh at bay. Secondly James Waters looped a header over the bar from a Jack Murphy cross when well placed. Just before the mid-point of the half Rai Dos Santos turned in the box and had skipper Chris Winterton scrambling to tip his chip over the bar. Shortly afterwards Dos Santos was clattered by J.J. Walker, on loan from Hastings United, and he was duly cautioned. Dos Santos continued as a threat and pulled a good save out of Winterton with the rebound being volleyed wide by Toby Ritzema. On the half hour there was three minute delay when the "carpet" by Winterton's penalty spot separated. Lorne Bickley put a header over before Van der Vliet made a save in added time as the interval arrived goalless.

Just as he had in the previous home match Dos Santos scored thirty-four seconds after the resumption. Set up by a well weighted through ball from Miguel Carvalho he was able to pick his spot, and he chose the bottom right corner. James Waters was cautioned as Eastbourne's regular use of the elbow was spotted and a minute later so was Walker which resulted in him receiving his marching orders. Worse was to follow for the visitors when Elliot Jenks jumped into Luke Campbell with little pretence at attempting to head the ball and he joined Walker back in the changing rooms. The already cautioned Waters was also shortly substituted, presumably to avoid another possible dismissal. Eastbourne resorted to two banks of four, hoping to snatch a breakaway equaliser.

Jersey on the other hand looked for a way to break down the massed defence and make sure of the points. At the mid-point of the half Carvalho broke through the right channel and rattled the crossbar just before he was the first Jersey player to be substituted. Winterton pulled off another good save from Dos Santos before a superb through ball from Ritzema down the left channel beat the offside "trap" to set up newly introduced Trotter (who else Agatha Christie fans!) for the second goal. Winterton continued to thwart Jersey's attempts to add to their total, defying Bickley, Trotter and substitutes James Carr, and Fraser Barlow in the final quarter of an hour. In so doing he prevented Jersey overtaking Faversham as they now have identical points and goal differences, with Faversham staying ahead by virtue of goals scored.