Abbey Rangers of Addlestone hosted Jersey as they sought to gain a play-off place. Lying sixth with a record of 18-3-13 54-50 they not only needed to win themselves but hoped that their rivals, with games in hand, faltered. The Abbey Rangers season had been something of a “curate’s egg” – some good, some bad. They had started the season slowly, going out of the F.A. Cup after a replay to Colliers Wood United, and only gaining one point from their first three league games. Having got August out of the way they went on a twelve match unbeaten run in the league, winning ten of them, albeit losing three cup ties during the period. December saw the end of the unbeaten league run and they then lost nine of their next fourteen league games. However, they have won three of their last five. No doubt they were ruing losing Charlie Postance, their prolific scorer last season, who is now used as an “impact” substitute by league winners Farnham Town.

Jersey made two changes from Tuesday’s win at Horley. Jay Giles coming in for Fergus Boyle and Luke Watson replacing Ruben Mendes. Boyle and Mendes were on the bench along with Ben Le Rougetel, Francis Lekimamati and Will Byers. It was a sunny (14C) afternoon but with a very strong wind blowing from the clubhouse end and some drizzle in the air as Abbey Rangers kicked-off attacking the North end with the wind behind them on a dry bumpy pitch.

Jack Carrod threaded an early cross along the Jersey 18 yard line but two Abbey attackers left it for each other. Play was generally in midfield until an Abbey clearance was returned first time by Luke Campbell. It fell well for Lorne Bickley but he did excellently in advancing to 25 yards and arrowing a shot into the bottom left corner. Jonny Le Quesne put a cross shot wide before Luke Watson doubled the lead when from six yards he nodded home a Giles free kick as Abbey switched off.Before the break Le Quesne set up Bickley again but he found the sprawling ‘keeper when a deft chip would have brought success. A repeat of the second goal almost followed but Watson this time glanced Giles’ free kick wide of the right post.

After the interval Michak Stanic-Stewart was cautioned within seconds for a foul on Fraser Barlow and Giles’ free kick saw a Campbell “goal” disallowed with the junior assistant indicating shirt pulling. One of the Abbey joint managers was also cautioned before Le Quesne was sin binned when he protested a free kick was given against him when he was fouled. Just before the hour a looping Aidan King free-kick nearly crept in at the right post after two attackers missed it and Pierce Roche did well to claw it away. Bickley found the side netting and substitute Le Rougetel hit the bar from 20 yards with quarter of an hour to go. With seven minutes left Stanic-Stewart was penalised for “climbing” all over Watson at a corner. Bickley went left but Sam Gray parried it only to be pulled up for jumping forward too soon. The re-take was buried in the other corner, just beating Gray. In added time the senior assistant spotted Stanic-Stewart clatter Roche from a free-kick so he picked up another caution and had to leave the field which led to the other Abbey joint manager also joining him in the referee’s notebook for his protestations about the decision.

Abbey Rangers 0, Jersey Bulls 3 (Lorne Bickley 19 & 85 pen, Luke Watson 38)

Attendance – 61

Programme – Yes

Abbey Rangers – Sam Gray, Ryan MacLean, David Orisatoki (wore 12), Aidan King (wore 14), Michak Stanic-Stewart, Dale Burnham Jack Watts (c) (wore 15), Jack Carrod (vc) (wore 16), Ferrell Danso (wore 19), Daryl Cooper-Smith, Ross Murdoch
Substitutes – 3. Roje Grant (for Orisatoki 64), 7. Spencer Maw (for McLean 64), 8. Yahaya Kamara (for Cooper-Smith 46), 17. Olly Woolgar (for Watts 90+4), 20. Luke Robertson (for Danso 78)

Grey & White stripes at front with plain White backs/Black/Black; GK All Light Green

Mike Woolgar and Paul Johnson (Joint Managers), Rob Hendry (Coach), Kiara Adley-Grice (Physio.), Becca Cross (Assistant Physio.)

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, James Queree (c), Jay Giles, Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, Jonny Le Quesne, Luke Watson, Lorne Bickley, Adam Trotter, Fraser Barlow
Substitutes – 12. Ben Le Rougetel (for Nafkha 70), 15. Francis Lekimamati (for Barlow 86), 16. Will Byers (not used), 18. Ruben Mendes (not used), 19. Fergus Boyle (not used)

Red/White/Red, GK All Green

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Richard Hebert (GK Coach),

Formations
Abbey Rangers (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 12-16-5-2; 6; 19-14-15-11; 10

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

Referee – Daryl Ann (Surbiton) – also refereed Jersey at Horley Town on a very cold evening in March last season

Assistants – Pavel Krastev (Sunbury) on the dug outs side, Robert Beck (Slough) on the open side

Cautions – Michak Stanic-Stewart (AR) 46, Mike Woolgar (AR joint manager) 50, Jonny Le Quesne (JB) sin bin 51, Luke Watson (JB) 71, Fraser Barlow (JB) 72, Luke Robertson (AR) 88, Michak Stanic-Stewart (AR) 90+3 and off, Paul Johnson (AR joint manager) 90+5

Corners – Abbey Rangers (1) 4; Jersey Bulls (1) 3

Player of the Match – Lorne Bickley

Added Time – 3.15 & 7.05 (10.20)