Jersey travelled to Sussex for the second time in four days, this time to Broadbridge Heath, a couple of miles west of Horsham. After 40 years in the Sussex County / Southern Combination League Broadbridge Heath were promoted as champions in 2023 and have had mid-table finishes in the two seasons since.
This season they reached the third qualifying round of the F.A. Trophy and lie 9th in the table (7-2-6 36-24). This is due to a strong home record (6-1-1 27-10) being balanced by a poor away one (1-1-5 9-14). At home they have won their last four games with a goal tally of 19-5. Their last match was on Saturday, a 2-3 loss at Margare after conceding a stoppage time goal.
Jersey still had Toby Ritzema injured, Luke Campbell suspended and Jamie Watling on holiday. They elevated Joe Kilshaw and James Sunley from the bench in place of James Carr and Fraser Barlow. They in turn were replaced as substitutes by standby ‘keeper Daniel Jinadu, who replaced Pierce Roche, and defender Sonny Cassidy, in line to make his debut.
Broadbridge Heath made four changes to the side that lost at Margate. Brad Peters came in for Sean Terry, and three substitutes swapped roles with Margate starters. Callum Dowdell, Charlie Connell and Emmanuel Abudiore replacing Luke Bejashvili, Elliott Romain and Jake Lawrence. Dodwell reclaimed the armband from Salvatore Marino.
Jersey had the best of the opening exchanges with a Jay Giles free kick almost creeping in and a James Sunley cross shot going narrowly wide. Rai Dos Santos then had a shot parried by ‘keeper Alfie Hadfield with rebounds falling to Lorne Bickley and Miguel Carvalho both being blocked. Mid way through the half Dos Santos had a glorious chance. Put through the left channel for a one on one with Hadfield he only found the side netting which briefly fooled the visiting supporters as they saw the net ripple. The momentum of the match switched thereafter.
2 / 3After twenty-six minutes Broadbridge Heath were also celebrating prematurely. Charlie Gibson put in a corner from the right which was headed home by skipper Callum Dowdell but the referee had already blown for a foul. On the half hour Joe Kilshaw at right back lost his footing and Dowdell seized on the opportunity and surged forward only to be thwarted by Euan Van der Vliet.

The opening goal came out of nothing. Adam Trotter in central midfield made a short back pass which only found opposition top scorer Zachary Young. Young took one touch and lobbed the stranded Van der Vliet from thirty-five yards. Young looked to have scored another four minutes later when a magnificent glancing header to the top right corner. from a thirty-yard free kick on the left by Gibson, was ruled out for offside.

Trotter’s misery was compounded after the interval when he flattened Louis Evans for a penalty. Despite protests by skipper James Queree and Van der Vliet which eventually saw the latter cautioned it only succeeded in delaying the inevitable. Young stepped up and went down the middle as Van der Vliet went to his right.

Jersey got a penalty of their own when Dos Santos was fouled by Luke Staight. Queree went top right as Hadfield went the other way which preserved Jersey’s record of having scored in every league match so far this season. Three minutes later Lorne Bickley thundered a twenty-five yard shot just wide of the left post but thereafter Jersey rarely threatened as Broadbridge Heath ran down the clock.

Broadbridge Heath – Alfie Hadfield, Luke Staight, Charlie Gibson, Salvatore Marino, Lewis Hyde, Brad Peters, Callum Dowdell (c), Charlie Connell, Zachary Young, Louis Evans, Emmanuel Abudiore
Substitutes – 12. Elliott Romain (for Marino 82) 14. Luke Bejashvili (for Young 80), 15. Jake Lawrence (for Abudiore 71), 16. Neo Wooster (for Connell 88), 17. Bailey Cotton (for Staight 80)
All Blue (White trim); All luminous Yellow
Chris Simmons (Manager), Carl Downs and Sean Jarvie (Coaches) Naomi Cole and Josh Pumfrey (Medical)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, Jay Giles (wore 14), James Queree (c), James Sunley (wore 20), Luke Watson (wore 16), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley (wore 19), Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 13. Daniel Jinadu (sub GK, not used), 18. Sonny Cassidy (for Kilshaw 74), 21. Francis Lekimamati (for Sunley 58), 22. Harry Mackenzie (for Le Quesne 86), only four substitutes
3 / 3All White (Lilac trim); GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin and Nicky Nicolle (Medical)
Formations (R to L)
Broadbridge Heath (4-4-2) 1; 2-6-5-3; 11-4-8-7; 9-10
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 8-4-14-2; 16; 11-20-12-10; 19

Officials – Wayne Pocock (Brighton), Daniel Cooper (Burgess Hill) dug outs, Joshua Plumb (Worthing) grandstand side,
Caution(s) – Jonny Le Quesne (JB) 50, Euan Van der Vliet (JB) 57, Luke Watson (JB) 61, Luke Staight (BH) 73, Elliot Powell (JB mgr) 76, Louis Evans (BH) 90+7, Elliott Romain (BH) 90+8

Corners – Broadbridge Heath (3) 3, Jersey Bulls (4) 5

Assist(s) – Rai Dos Santos

Player of the Match – Rai Dos Santos

Added Time – 1.20 & 8.35 (9.55)