On the last day of the English cricket season Jersey women travelled to Fleet, currently lying fourth with a 1-2-0 10-6 record. They had started with a 2-2 draw at Oxted before a 5-1 home win against Milford & Witley who were promoted alongside Jersey last season. Last Sunday they drew 3-3 at Croydon. Fleet had been in the same division as Jersey last season but had finished 8th. They then went on to top the bottom half mini league, a seemingly strange route to promotion. 

Jersey made three changes to the squad that had played at Oxted last week. Sam Silva-Pinto and Coco Leonard returned and were joined by Grace Clarke who was now eligible having turned 16 this week and she went straight into the starting line up. Hannah Lynam, Aine Ruth and Taylor Smythe, the latter who broke her ankle at Oxted last week, made way for them. 

Fleet made three changes to their starting team. Amelia Kipling, a substitute last week, Gabriella Rockenbach and Leah Abraham replaced Kerry Ragg and Jessica Rosser who were both on the bench. They were joined there by Chloe Gibney and Belle Jennings who were both absent last week. Gibney has been due to start but had to swap roles with Harriet Williamson after injuring herself in the warm up. Grace Curcher, who started, and Jocelyn Elleby, a goal scoring substitute, were absent from the team that drew at Croydon last week. 

Teams changed ends and Jersey kicked off attacking the West (Park) end 2.03.00 

 

Grace Clarke made an immediate impact. Playing the ball inside a defender for Roisin Flynn to run on to and square the ball for captain Holly Sundby to open the scoring in the 13th minute at the second attempt after her first shot was blocked.  

 

The narrow lead was held on to until four minutes remained, thirteen with added time, when an unfortunate own goal by Natasha Keen gave Fleet an equaliser. 

 

It ended all square to give Jersey their first point and after two earlier defeats, in cup and league, and a belief that they can hold their own at this level. 

Fleet Town – Amelia Kipling, Gabriella Rockenbach, Eve Hayter, Mahiya Sandeep, Charlotte Traxler, Erin Ragg, Leah Abraham, Amy Littlewood (c), Evie Wiltshire (wore 14), Sophie Allan, Harriet Williamson
Substitutes (rolling) – 9. Chloe Gibney (for Williamson 28), 12. Jessica Rosser (for Sandeep 39), 15. Belle Jennings (for E. Ragg 39), 21 (also wore 1). Kerry Ragg (sub GK) (for Kipling 46) (only four substitutes)
Returned – Williamson (for Rosser 54), Sandeep (for Wiltshire 54). E. Ragg (for Jennings 69), Wiltshire (for Abraham 72) 

 

Light Blue with Dark Blue shoulders and sleeves/Dark Blue/Dark Blue; GK All Purple 

Louis Freuillet (Manager), Jessica Rosser (Assistant Player/Manager), John Stone (GK Coach) 

Jersey Bulls – Tayah Vasse (wore 13), Tiffany Sundby, Natasha Keen (wore 14), Grace Clarke, Danielle Bradshaw, Lauren Le Garignon, Roisin Flynn, Holly Sundby (c), Amy Guthrie, Lauren Queree (wore 16), Sam Silva-Pinto
Substitutes – 3. Evie Smilek (for Guthrie 78), 15. Coco Leonard (for Silva-Pinto 77), 18. Sophie Thornton (not used) (only three substitutes)
 

All Red; GK All Yellow

Chad Morris (Manager), Harry Walker (Assistant and Medical) 

Formations (R to L)
Fleet Town (4-4-2) 1; 5-2-4-3; 7-8-6-10;14-11
Jersey Bulls (4-4-2) 13; 16-2-5-14; 4-8-3-7; 9-11 

Officials – Matt Leary (Farnham), club assistants as “lines”  

Caution(s) – None

Corners – Fleet Town (4) 7; Jersey Bulls (3) 6

Assist(s) – Roisin Flynn

Player of the Match – Grace Clarke (on debut)

Added Time – 3.10 & 8.50 (12.00) (two lengthy injury breaks in the second half)