Jersey welcomed last season’s Combined Counties North champions Ashford Town who had slipped to that level for the first time in over twenty years. Their record of 25-6-7 89-40 quickly saw them restored to a more familiar level.

Like Jersey they were knocked out of the F.A. Trophy in the Preliminary Round (2-3 at Merstham) so both sides had a free weekend before this game.

This was Ashford’s first away match in the league after beating Binfield 4-0 andlosing to Cobham 2-3, so they sat 10th in the nascent table.

Jersey made three changes to the team that defeated Sheerwater 4-1 in the F.A. Cup last week. Jarma Mohammed, back from suspension, replaced Joe Kilshaw with Toby Ritzema and Jack Lumsden ousting Miguel Carvalho and Luke Watson respectively. All three displaced players were on the bench where Darryl Mvalo was added, with Jay Giles and Casey Nixon missing out. Euan Van der Vliet was making his 200th Bulls appearance.

For Ashford Reuben Collins displaced Elliott Pooley and Yahaya Kamara was promoted from the bench to the starting line up in place of Luke Decabo. Both Pooley and Decabo were substitutes and were joined by Aiden Payne-James with Sebastian Karczewski and Jaiden Celestine-Charles the two players to miss out.

What started as a straightforward match changed dramatically after Jersey were reduced to nine players before half time. The second half was a back to the walls defensive display that ensured that the three points were won.

James Carr was cautioned for a lunging challenge but within a minute Jersey were ahead. An excellent move down the left flank between James Sunley, Jack Lumsden and Sammy Henia-Kamau saw the latter reach the byline and stand up a free header at the far post for Toby Ritzema to power in from close range.

Within ten minutes Ritzema had another after he finished off a Lorne Bickley flicked on header from a long ball forward from James Queree. It was almost three soon afterwards when the roles were reversed, but Bickley was thwarted by ’keeper Liam Allen and his follow up from a narrow angle was blocked by Collins.

A comfortable win looked to be on the cards, but Carr was dismissed for a second caution when he body checked Arif Bala who was breaking down the right flank.Henia-Kamau was immediately sacrificed as Harry Curtis was brought on to maintain a strong back four.

A second dismissal followed shortly afterwards. An Ashford long throw was cleared beyond the box where Kamara and James Sunley converged on it from opposite directions. Neither pulled out but Kamara was there fractionally earlier with the referee, who was not afraid to firmly apply the laws, dismissing Sunley who caught Kamara high on the shin.

Ashford made a couple of interval substitutions. Bailey Lamb replaced the injured Kamara and striker Aiden Payne-James took the place of captain Luke Elliott. Alexander Paine took over the Ashford armband. Almost immediately Bickley used his strength to break down the left, but his finishing shot did not trouble Allen. Thereafter Ashford were almost continually camped in the Jersey half but made little headway against the massed ranks.

The ball fell kindly for striker Jack Arnold after 53 minutes but Van der Vliet made an excellent save from his close in shot. Ashford otherwise threw in too many crosses which were confidently dealt with by the strong home central defence. At other times they took too many touches which allowed Jersey to re-group.

When they did move the ball quicker, they were rewarded with a goal. Payne-Jamesin the left channel passed first time to Bala who swept it on to Arnold who skipped past Jonny Le Quesne and gave Van der Vliet little chance.

Arnold brought a fine save out of Van der Vliet on 87 minutes. Unleashing a rising powerful shot from twenty yards the ‘keeper pushed it away for a corner as dived to his right. Ashford’s last throw of the dice came in the final “normal” minute when substitute Jamie Hanlon lofted a free kick from the right to the far post which Paine headed powerfully but at a height that enabled Van der Vliet to push it over the barfor another corner.

Ashford eventually got themselves on the disciplinary “score card” when their youngest player Oliver Rowan unwisely clashed with Jersey’s oldest, Luke Watson,in a match that was not the “bloodbath” that the “crime sheet” might imply.
Jersey were happy to have survived the second half battering from Ashford whilst the visitors rued not making their numerical advantage count. It made for an entertaining afternoon with the referee booed off by the home support at the end of each half.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, James Carr, James Queree (c), Jamie Watling, Toby Ritzema, Jack Lumsden (wore 17), Jarma Mohamed (wore 20), Lorne Bickley, James Sunley, Sammy Henia-Kamau (wore 21)
Substitutes – 8. Joe Kilshaw (for Bickley 81), 11. Miguel Carvalho (for Ritzema 64), 15. Darryl Mvalo (not used), 16. Luke Watson (for Lumsden 61), 23. Harry Curtis (for Henia-Kamau 37)

All Red; GK All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton and Dave Kennedy (Assistants), Andy Dewhurst (Coach), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)

Ashford Town – Liam Allen, George Lock, Oliver Rowan, Yahaya Kamara, LukeElliott (c), Reuben Collins, Arif Bala, Ben Mulley, Jack Arnold, Alexander Paine (vc),Zidan Akers
Substitutes – 12. Jamie Hanlon (for Akers 58), 14. Bailey Lamb (for Kamara 46), 15. Elliott Pooley (not used), 16. Aiden Payne-James (for Elliott 46), 17. Luke Decabo(not used)

Royal Blue & White stripes/Royal Blue/Royal Blue; GK All Pink

Luke Morgan-Tuffs (Manager), Ben Murray (Assistant), Charlie Bailey (Coach), Steve Honey (GK Coach), Aaron Melin (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-3; 20; 6-17-10-21; 9
Ashford Town (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-6-5-3; 4; 7-8-10-11; 9

Officials – Ryan W. Calver (Crawley), Thomas D. “Tom” Murray (Crawley) dug outs, Patrick J.M. “Paddy” O’Reilly (Crawley) grandstand

Caution(s) – James Carr (JB) 19, James Carr (JB) 36 & off, James Sunley (JB) straight red 40, Euan Van der Vliet (JB) dissent 58, Elliot Powell (JB manager), dissent 59, Harry Curtis (JB) 74, Andy Dewhurst (JB coach) straight red, delay of game 76, Jamie Watling (JB) 89, Oliver Rowan (AT) 90+3

Corners – Jersey Bulls (2) 3; Ashford Town (1) 6

Assist(s) – Sammy Henia-Kamau, Lorne Bickley

Player of the Match – Toby Ritzema

Added Time – 3.15 & 3.45 (7.00)