Jersey travelled to Croydon for the second time in a week as the away trip just before Christmas was postponed when the thaw following the cold snap revealed that the clubhouse pipes had burst.

Croydon finished 18^th last season without ever being in danger of relegation. This season they lie 12^th with a 11-2-14 44-58 record. Jersey scraped a 2-1 win against them at Springfield last month and drew 2-2 at Croydon a year ago when Nahum Green scored both their goals.

Croydon, unusually amongst the teams in the division, still had a majority of the same players that played us twelve months ago. Jersey made four changes to the team that lost to a last-minute goal against Farnham Town on Saturday. Kamen Nafkha, Luke Watson, Jack Boyle and Robert Martins-Figueira came in for Joe Kilshaw, Adam Trotter, Frank Tobin and Sammy Henia-Kamau. The latter two were unavailable and the former two were on the bench alongside Sammy Sutcliffe and Miguel Carvalho. Jay Giles became the second player for reach 100 appearances for Jersey Bulls. Jonny Le Quesne, although wearing 2, played in midfield giving Jersey a 3-1-5-1 formation instead of their usual 4-1-4-1.

On a mild (10C) still evening Jersey kicked off attacking the Cemetery End. They were soon causing the hosts problems with Le Quesne narrowly wide after four minutes and ‘keeper David Boorer saving at Fraser Barlow’s feet after ten. Boorer did well again after sixteen to tip a long-range dipping Watson volley over and he also made a double save from Barlow and then Jack Boyle as he followed up.

Boyle just failed to curl a cross shot in the top right corner before the opening goal eventually arrived just before the half hour. A Giles corner from the right was met by Watson at the far post to nod Jersey ahead. Four minutes later Croydon almost scored from a corner themselves. Euan Van der Vliet spilt his catch and fortunately Campbell, at the far post, was able to keep it out.

Jersey extended their lead before half time when a Barlow shot was blocked, it deflected to Martins-Figueira who was able to lift it over Boorer from close in. Croydon almost reduced the lead three minutes before the interval but Van der Vliet at full stretch was able to claw away Michael Redfearn’s header from under the bar.

After the break Hermes Mengi headed over from close in before, on the hour, Van der Vliet missed a corner and was grateful to Watson to clear the Croydon header off the line. This was as close as Croydon came to a goal and the match petered out with occasional Jersey chances.

Martins-Figueira shot straight at Boorer, substitute Miguel Carvalho put a low cross right along the face of the Croydon goal and in added time Barlow could not quite get the ball out from under his feet before running out of room to put in a shot.

A.F.C. Croydon Athletic 0, Jersey Bulls 2 (Luke Watson 29, Robert Martins-Figueira 39)

Attendance – 108

Programme – T.B.A.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, Francis Lekimamati, Luke Watson, Fraser Barlow, Jack Boyle, Robert Martins-Figueira
Substitutes – 12. Joe Kilshaw (not used), 14. Sammy Sutcliffe (not used), 15. Adam Trotter (for Lekimamati 71), 4. Luke Watson (for Barlow 65), 15. Jack Boyle (for Trotter 77), 17. Miguel Carvalho (for Boyle 57), only four substitutes

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant)

A.F.C. Croydon Athletic – David Boorer, Serge Ikudehinbu, Alfie Young, Mohammed “Junior” Kaffo (c), Hermes Mengi, Ibrahim Kallon, Michael Redfearn, Luwayne Greenwood, Emiliano Lika, Jack Marney, Nahum Green
Substitutes – 12. Gerald De Graft (for Kaffo 89), 14. Khari Oriogun, (for Greenwood 57), 15. Abbas Agoro (for Marney 45), 16. Sirak Negassi (for Redfearn 77), 17. Alfie Phethean-N’Dong (for Kallon 86)

All Maroon (Sky Blue shoulders and trim to shorts); GK Pink/Black/Black

Kevin Rayner (Manager), Ben Crabb (Coach), Gary Henry (GK Coach), Tony Pearson (Kit), Denis Lawton (Physio.)

Formations
A.F.C. Croydon Athletic (4-4-2 R to L) 1; 2-6-5-3; 10-8-4-7; 9-11

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

Referee – Nigel Owen (East Molesey) Qualified in 2010, initially in the Surrey Leagues, Combined Counties League for the last nine. Refereed the same match last season as well as at Tooting Bec (F.A. Vase) and the home match with Beckenham Town. Also seen earlier this season at Redhill.

Assistants – Dean Harrison (Banstead) on the dug outs side and Durucan-Dorken Baltas (Kensington), of Turkish heritage, on the grandstand side. Both on their first Jersey match.

Caution – Michael Redfearn (AFCCA) 75

Corners – A.F.C. Croydon Athletic (2) 5; Jersey Bulls (2) 6

Player of the Match Award – Luke Watson