Jersey travelled to old adversaries Beckenham Town aiming to consolidate their play off credentials and put the final nail in Beckenham’s relegation coffin. Beckenham had postponed the inevitable on Monday with a 2-1 win at Erith Town but still needed to win their three remaining matches and turn around a 22 goal differential. They were in 21st position with a 7-11-21 50-90 record having drawn 1-1 at Springfield in mid December.

Jonny Le Quesne and James Carr were still convalescing, and Luke Campbell was on holiday. Jamie Watling took Campbell’s place with Adam Trotter and Miguel Carvalho once again rotating with Fraser Barlow and Joe Kilshaw to take starting places. Captain James Queree returned to the squad on the bench with Will Yates dropping out of the squad.

Beckenham brought in Mudiago Waniogho and skipper Jack Holland for Joe Chalker and Henry Douglas who both dropped to the bench displacing Henry Griffin and Emmanuel Dasho from the squad. Holland took over the armband from Thomas Hever who remained in the side.

Teams stayed ends and Jersey kicked off attacking the South (clubhouse/railway) end 2.59.40

Jersey would have been disappointed that they had not wrapped this match in the first half. That would have negated the hosts route one tactics on a hard bumpy pitch that meant much of the play consisted of head tennis. Toby Ritzema had a golden chance within the first minute when a Jay Giles free kick was only partially cleared. Ritzema did not get hold properly of the dropping ball and hit it straight at Carter Sullivan in the home goal.

Bickley hit a rasping cross shot from the right shortly afterwards that Sullivan blocked for a corner and Sullivan conceded the third corner in the opening eight minutes when stretching for a James Sunley chip. Carvalho had another gilt edged chance after quarter of an hour when put clear by Rai Dos Santos but hit it straight at Sullivan from fifteen yards. After this Beckenham came more into the game but before the half hour Lorne Bickley hit a rising shot from twenty two yards that cannoned back into play off the underside of the bar. So, the interval arrived still goalless.

Just after the hour Jamie Watling skimmed the bar with a header and shortly afterwards Jersey had three successive attempts blocked after Carvalho had broken free on the right. The much needed goal eventually arrived with ten minutes remaining. Carvalho brought down a high ball on the left flank, beat newly introduced substitute Callum Corbin, and crossed to the centre where Bickley glanced a header into the right corner to bring relief to the travelling supporters. Sunley was twice thwarted by Sullivan in the closing minutes as Beckenham threw everyone forward in search of an equaliser and Jersey sat deep to keep them at bay.

Beckenham Town – Carter Sullivan, Mudiago Waniogho, Makhaya James, Thomas Hever, Jack Holland (c), Will Grieveson, Freddie Nyhus, Elliott Romain, Alfie Bloomfield, Casey Dudley, Tyler Anderson
Substitutes – 12. Callum Corbin (for James 80), 14. Joe Chalker (not used), 15. Henry Douglas (for Grieveson 73), 16. Shaquille Gordon (for Bloomfield 70), 17. Mark Marshall (not used)

All Orangey Red; GK All Yellow

Del Oldfield (Manager), others TBC - Rob Carter (Assistant), Harry Gamble (Player/Coach). Jacob Monteith (Medical)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis (wore 23), Jay Giles (wore 14) (c), Luke Watson (wore 16), Jamie Watling (wore 15), Toby Ritzema, James Sunley (wore 20), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Lorne Bickley, Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 4. James Queree (for Bickley 90+3), 7. Fraser Barlow (for Dos Santos 70), 8. Joe Kilshaw (for Carvalho 85), 18. Stan Dunne (for Trotter 78), only four substitutes

All White with lilac trim; GK All Yellow (also)

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dave Kennedy (Coach), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Karl Benest (Kit), Nikki Nicolle (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Beckenham Town (4-4-2) 1; 2-6-5-3; 7-4-8-11; 9-10
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 23-6-5-14; 16; 10-12-20-11; 9

Officials – Simon J. Cutler Sheerness), Jerahl D.L. Hall (Harlow) dug outs, Kennedy D. Kikulwe (Dartford) opposite side

Caution(s) – Freddie Nyhus (BT) 35, Mudiago Waniogho (BT) 49, Rai Dos Santos (JB) 59, Adam Trotter (JB) 68

Corners – Beckenham Town (0) 5; Jersey Bulls (4) 7

Assist(s) – Miguel Carvalho

Player of the Match – Miguel Carvalho

Added Time – 2.00 & 5.00 (7.00)