The promoted Jersey women opened their league programme at the higher level with a difficult away assignment against Sutton United U23s who finished third season with a 13-2-3 70-26 record. Last week they opened their league season with a 5-0 victory at Walton & Hersham to put them in pole position in the nascent table.

Their ground is the training ground for Sutton United and is in the St. Helier (yes, really) estate which was named in 1928 in honour of Lady St. Helier who was aLondon County Councillor 1910-27. She was married to Francis Jeune, a judge in London with Jersey heritage who took the title 1st Baron St. Helier upon his ennoblement in 1905, a few months before his death. His wife, Susan, became a dame in her own right twenty years later. The St. Helier hospital was built in the area in 1938 and John Major, the future Prime Minister, was born there in 1943.

Jersey made three changes to the team that lost at Bognor Regis in the Women’s F.A. Cup last week. Chantelle Renouard, Lauren Queree and Sophie Thornton replacing Tayah Vasse, Danielle Bradshaw and Coco Leonard. Taylor Smythe came in as a substitute with Alena Clyde-Smith and Rachael McCartan dropping out.

Teams stayed ends, Jersey kicked off attacking the road (South-West) end 2.04.00

A scrappy first half saw little goalmouth action but soon after the break Sutton captain and last week’s hat-trick scorer opened the host’s account. A Cerys Cook free kick was flicked on by Hanna Hevesy to Morris who looked suspiciously offside. No flag was raised so Sutton had the lead.

Five minutes later Sutton’s player of the match, Neriyah Anderson-Bailey, added a second with a powerful shot from the edge of the box after a corner was only partially cleared.

Sutton clinched the win when substitute Maya Anderson ran on to a Hevesy through ball mid way through the half to give them a three goal margin.

Roisin Flynn almost reduced the arrears with quarter of an hour remaining when she rattled a post with a long range shot. Jersey then had their best period of the match,but it was too little too late and despite a flurry of corners they failed to register a consolation.

Sutton United – 1. Fatima Soltani, 7. Louise Dunne, 19. Neriyah Anderson-Bailey, 24. Emily Skazlic, 26. Abbie Davies, 27. Cerys Cook, 29. Lexie Durrant, 32. Rachel Marlow (c), 33. Bonnie Quaintance, 41. Hanna Hevesy, 99. Gloria Okandjuu.

Substitutes – 31. Sophie Jamieson (for Marlow 83), 35. Emma Parker (for Okandju 69, 42. Louise Sollis (not used), 77. Maya Anderson (for Cook 57), only four substitutes.

Amber & Brown quartered shirts/Amber/Amber; GK Pink/Purple design

Ian Bowerman (Manager), Simon Fuller and Ben White (Coaches), Rachel Kempson(Medical)

Jersey Bulls – Chantelle Renouard, Tiffany Sundby, Natasha Keen (wore 14), Aine Ruth (wore 12), Lauren Queree (wore 16), Poppy Benest, Roisin Flynn, Holly Sundby (c), Sophie Thornton (wore 18), Lauren Le Garignon, Sam Silva-Pinto
Substitutes – 15. Evie Smilek (for Silva-Pinto 71), 17. Taylor Smythe (for Thornton 71). Thornton returned for injured Smilek 87. (only two substitutes)

Kit – All Red; GK All Yellow

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

Formations (R to L)
Sutton United (4-3-3) 1; 7-19-24-33; 29-26-99; 41-32-27
Jersey Bulls (4-4-2) 1; 2-18-6-16; 12-10-11-7; 14-8

Officials – Adam Hanrahan (Woking), club assistants as “lines”

Caution(s) – none

Corners – Sutton United (3) 5; Jersey Bulls (4) 9

Assist(s) – none

Player of the Match – Poppy Benest

Added Time – 1.20 & 8.35 (9.55) (Sutton GK injured in second half)