Jersey travelled to Cobham on F.A. Vase first round day as both were exempt having reached the last 32 last season. The match had originally been scheduled for 24thAugust but Jersey could not obtain sufficient seats on a flight during the peak holiday season. Fortunately, both sides had this date free for the re-arrangement.

The teams had been due to meet in the Vase four seasons ago but the pandemic meant Jersey had to concede the tie and Cobham aided by another walkover and a

shoot-out win reached the last 16 for the only time. Cobham have been ever present in the Combined Counties League since its re-re-naming in 1979 with a best finish of 2nd in 1999. They were relegated to Division 1 in 2009 but regained Premier status in 2018. In the three post pandemic seasons they have always finished in mid-table.

Last season Jersey won at Springfield in October with Jonny Le Quesne scoring the only goal of the game late on. In the return just before Christmas on Cobham’s new 3G pitch it finished 2-2. Jersey went two up through Miguel Carvalho and Fraser Barlow in the first twenty minutes but Cobham pulled one back almost immediately and were on terms by the interval and that is how it stayed.

This season Cobham are on Jersey’s tails in 5th place with a 7-4-4 31-20 record. They lost 3-4 in their opening match against Isthmian side Uxbridge in the F.A. Cup.
and their league losses have nearly all been against the other early contenders – Knaphill, A.F.C. Whyteleafe, Sandhurst Town and Fleet Town. However, they had a goalless draw at Redhill and then took away their unbeaten record with a 4-1 win on Saturday, to add to their other recent victories against Alton and Corinthian-Casuals.
Their three top scorers are Derick Hayford 7, Nicolas Osborne also with 7 including two penalties, and Elijah Simpson on 6.

Jersey named an unchanged starting line up for the third successive match. Kieran Lester, Seaney McColgan and Fergus Boyle were again on the bench.

Cobham made two changes to the team that beat Redhill with wide men Patrick Murray and Jacob De Sa swapping places with substitutes Nic Osborne and Reis Stanislaus. They swapped roles again for the last 20 minutes of the match.

Cobham’s front pair of Elijah Simpson and Derik Hayford were a handful throughout,

holding the ball up well and trying to get on the end of their wide men’s crosses.

It was a stern test for the Jersey back four who did well to prevent Cobham having a clear-cut chance. The corner count of 10-2 reflected the general tone of the match.

Without creating very much themselves against a well organised home defenceJersey kept a sixth successive clean sheet. It keeps Jersey in fourth place and Cobham in fifth.

Cobham – Conrad Knight, Ryan MacLean, Remi Myers, Jake Boyer, Hakeem Gbadamassi, Charles Alexiou (c) (wore 18), Patrick Murray, Ryan Marklew, Elijah Simpson, Derick Hayford, Jacob De Sa
Substitutes – Ashby Charles (not used), 14. Nic Osborne (for Murray 74), 15. Reis Stanislaus (for De Sa 74) 16. Oscar Billington (for Marklew 68), 17. Louis Toussaint (not used)

Red & Black Stripes (Red Backs)/Black/Black: GK Light Blue(Black Sleeves)Black/Black

Craig Lewington (Manager), Adrian Browne (Assistant), Jack Rossi and Ronald Hlabano (Coaches), Paul Cross (Medical)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Joe Kilshaw, Fraser Barlow, James Queree (c), Sammy Sutcliffe, Luke Watson, Rai Dos Santos, Toby Ritzema, Karl Hinds (wore 20), Jack Boyle, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 12. Fergus Boyle (not used), 14. Seaney McColgan (for Dos Santos 81), 18. Kieran Lester (for Boyle 38), only three substitutes

White(Sky & Pink trim)/Sky/White; GK All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Adam Lester (Coach), Dylan Buesnel (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Cobham - (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-18-3; 7-4-8-11; 10-9
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-5-4-3; 6; 11-10-8-7; 20

Match Officials – Reece Woodham (Bracknell), Ali Matour (Sunbury) dug outs side, and David Sampson (Ashford) grandstand side

Cautions – James Queree (JB) 12 (delay), Elliot Powell (JB manager) 18 (dissent), Ryan MacLean (CH) 32 (pulling), Patrick Murray (CH) 42 (foul), Ryan Marklew (CH) 43 (dive), Fraser Barlow (JB) 62 (persistent), Joe Kilshaw (JB) 67 (reckless), Oscar Billington (CH) 89 (dissent & sin bin), Craig Lewington (CH manager) 90 (dissent),
Sammy Sutcliffe (JB) and Toby Ritzema (JB) both 90+5 (both dissent after FT)

Corners – Cobham (6) 10; Jersey Bulls (1) 2

Assists – none

Player of the Match – Luke Watson

Added Time – 2.45 & 4.50 (7.35)