Jersey hosted their first match of the season with some scaffolding still in place from the refurbishment of the grandstand. They met Sheerwater who had won 2-1 at Crawley Down Gatwick in the Extra Preliminary Round whereas Jersey had been exempt by virtue of finishing in the top six in a Step 4 league last season. Sheerwater had been met eight times in four Combined Counties seasons with Jersey winning seven and drawing the other. Last season they finished 9th with an almost perfectly balanced record of 16-6-16 73-72. This season they lay fourth,unbeaten after four matches, two wins and two draws and having defeated Corinthian-Casuals 7-1 on Tuesday.

Jersey made five changes to the team that drew at Moneyfields on Tuesday. Euan Van der Vliet, back from suspension, replaced Robbie Scott in goal, meaning Jersey had fielded three different goalkeepers in eight days. James Carr, Jamie Watling, Joe Kilshaw and Sammy Henia-Kamau were all elevated from the bench swapping roles with Jay Giles, Harry Curtis and Jack Lumsden plus Jarma Mohamed being suspended, Teenage, reserve goalkeeper Sam Devy completed the bench.

Sheerwater after their convincing last outing made just one change with Rahman Ajibula elevated from the bench to replace Dan Webster. Added to the substitutes were Tyrone Magala-Bryan, Aidan Larkin and Charlie Rose.

Jersey started brightly with a James Sunley shot in the left channel blocked but wererocked by an opening goal for the visitors. Jonny Le Quesne cleared a cross to the edge of the box where Theo White played it back first time, finding Harvey Valter six yards out with Jersey vainly appealing for offside. If Jersey were unfortunate with that, they were lucky three minutes later when Valter put a “free” header over the bar from close in.

Lorne Bickley looked to have equalised after twenty-five minutes when he rose to meet a James Sunley cross only for his header to just miss the right post as time stood still for the spectators. They did not have to wait much longer for the equaliser. Luke Watson played a ball forward which eluded Bickley, but Henia-Kamau seizedon it shimmied past Jake Horn and planted the ball in the right corner.

Miguel Carvalho volleyed over a Carr cross from close in, but Jersey took the lead with a goal for the dubious goals panel. A short corner routine saw Carr find Henia-Kamau centrally placed twenty yards out and he chipped the ball forward towardsthe top left corner. Whether it had the direction or the power to defeat Joe Hill became academic as George Mackie rose highest to give direction and elevation to the chip and lift the ball over his covering ‘keeper. It was generously credited to Henia-Kamau, but it is highly doubtful whether his initial “shot” would have beaten Hill without Mackie’s intervention. I wonder if Joan Baez will sing another protest ballad about the incident?

The third goal demonstrated the strength of Bickley. A long ball forward by Jonny Le Quesne found him up against the two central defenders, but he held off Tom Blampied before going past Tom Gardner and hooking a reverse shot past Hill to give Jersey a somewhat flattering lead at the break.

After the interval Henia-Kamau was denied his hat-trick by an offside flag before newly introduced substitute Aidan Larkin burst forward for Sheerwater but Van der Vliet pushed him wide and Watling was there to mop up the loose ball. Shortly afterwards Jersey put the game to bed when Carr reached the left byline and found Henia-Kamau in the right channel eight yards out to sweep home for his hat-trick.

Substitute Toby Ritzema twice broke down the left flank but failed to finish when well placed as Jersey saw the match out for a comfortable victory after the early reverse.It was a fair reflection overall, but Jersey scored three in a mediocre first half but only one in a much improved performance after the interval.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, James Carr, James Queree(c), Jamie Watling, Luke Watson (wore 16), Sammy Henia-Kamau (wore 21), Joe Kilshaw. Lorne Bickley, James Sunley, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 6. Toby Ritzema (for Bickley 68), 7. Casey Nixon (for Carvalho 57), 13. Sam Devy (sub GK, not used), 14. Jay Giles (for Henia-Kamau 68). 17. Jack Lumsden (for Sunley 74), 23. Harry Curtis (for Le Quesne 74); no seventh substitute

All Red; GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton and Dave Kennedy (Assistants), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)

Sheerwater – Joe Hill, George Mackie, Callum Mackie, Jake Horn (vc), Tom Gardner, Tom Blampied, George Sellick, Rahman Ajibula, Harvey Valter, Theo White, Elliot York (c)
Substitutes – 12. Tyrone Magala-Bryan (for Blampied 84), 14. Kareem Foster (for York 60), 15. George Walker (for Sellick 74), 16. Zac Jervis (for Ajibula 52), 17. Aidan Larkin (for Valter 52), 18. Maxwell Hurst (not used), 19. Charlie Rose (not used)

All Royal Blue with White trim; GK All Grey

T.J.Barbato (Manager), Myles Hook (Assistant), Luke Stone (Coach), Leo Barbato (Kit), Summer Ridpath (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-3; 16; 11-8-20-21; 9
Sheerwater (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-6-5-3; 4; 11-10-8-7; 9

Officials – Sam J. Craker (Wimbledon), Alfie J.D. Howden (Richmond) dug outs, Jamie A. Beal (Caterham) grandstand

Caution(s) – Rahman Ajibula (S) 45+3

Corners – Jersey Bulls (3) 6; Sheerwater (0) 2

Assist(s) – Luke Watson, James Carr, Jonny Le Quesne, James Carr

Player of the Match – Sammy Henia-Kamau

Added Time – 3.10 & 2.55 (6.05)