Jersey travelled to Ash for their third consecutive away fixture in the play-offs for promotion. Ash qualified in the 7th and final spot with an almost perfectly balanced record of 5-1-5 26-25. When they lost 1-6 in Jersey six months ago the game was played as nine a side as that was all they brought over despite having 32 players registered. Back on home turf today they had a full team.

Jersey made two changes to the squad that played at Horley last week with Natasha Keen and Laura Riley replacing Emily Le Page and Coco Leonard. Keen and Taylor Smythe replaced Lauren Queree and Le Page in the starting line up

The Bulls started strongly and raced into an early lead, but Ash settled down and with the help of some good goalkeeping and resolute defending kept the score to four at half time. The first came from a short corner played to Leah Morris who swung in a cross that Danielle Bradshaw headed home. Midway through the half Morris added a second from outside the area and two minutes later Holly Sundby converted a Samantha Silva-Pinto cross. The fourth arrived from a Natasha Keen corner that Holly Sundby finished off a post.

The Bulls were guilty of taking their foot off the pedal early in the second half during which they missed several good chances and Ash had a good spell when they earned their only corner and hit the crossbar with a rasping drive. But once Holly Sundby completed her hat-trick with the fifth goal she quickly added two more to give her five consecutively and Jersey went on to take control and win comfortably. Holly Sundby added two assists to her five goals and leading scorer, Anita Tavares, did not add to her season’s total until she took the team to double figures three minutes from time but by then she already had four assists to her name.

Ash United – Jennifer Beckett (wore 21), Hollie O’Brien, Heather McCabe, Shelley Hankins, Cerys Milligan, Grace Belstone (c), Hannah Sutch, Georgia Ekins (wore 18), Danni Parsons (wore 19), Lani Trevena, Mary-Lou Watkins
Rolling Substitutes (both used) – 12. Nisa Hamzah, 14. Tyla-Flo Hoyle, only two substitutes

All Red with wide Green diagonal sash across chest; GK Navy Blue/Black/Black

Dan Dulloway (Manager), Blaine Conway (Assistant), Ben Turner (Coach & Medical)

Jersey Bulls – Tayah Vasse, Tiffany Sundby, Aine Ruth (wore 12), Natasha Keen (wore 14), Danielle Bradshaw, Poppy Benest, Taylor Smythe (wore 17), Holly Sundby (c), Anita Tavares, Leah Morris, Samantha Silva-Pinto
Substitutes – 15. Laura Riley (not used), 16. Lauren Queree (for Benest 68), 18. Sophie Thornton (for Smythe 68), only three substitutes

White (Purple sleeves)/Purple (White side panels)/White, GK All Light Blue

Chad Morris (Manager), Harry Walker (Assistant), Laura Riley (Coach)

Formations (R to L)
Ash United (4-4-2) 21; 2-3-6-5; 11-6-10-18; 9-12
Jersey Bulls (4-4-2) 1; 2-6-5-14; 11-8-10-12; 9-17

Officials – David Goater (plus club line persons)

Caution(s) – none

Corners – Ash United (0) 1; Jersey Bulls (7) 14

Assist(s) – Leah Morris 1st, Anita Tavares 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th, Samantha Silva-Pinto 3rd, Natasha Keen 4th, Tiffany Sundby 6th & 11th, Holly Sundby 8th & 10th

Player of the Match – (voted by opposition) – Holly Sundby, (voted by sponsors) - Anita Tavares

Opposition Player of the Match – Jennifer Beckett

Added Time – 3.25 & 2.15 (5.40)