Jersey travelled for their first league meeting with Crowborough, although they had met at Springfield in the F.A Vase in 2021-22 when Jersey won 5-0. Crowborough sits in the North-East corner of East Sussex, on the Kent border, so compete in the South-East Counties League when a level lower. They, like Jersey, finished second last season and won their way through the play-offs. They currently sit 17th win 8-4-11 34-47 record.

Their last match was a fortnight ago when they draw 1-1 with Eastbourne as last week’s fixture at Faversham Town was postponed. After Storm Goretti swept through on Thursday a pitch inspection at Friday lunchtime confirmed that the grass pitch was in a fit state for this match to proceed. Although damp it was in a remarkably good condition.

Jersey had Jonny Le Quesne, Lorne Bickley and James Sunley back, with the first two starting and the latter on the bench. Joe Kilshaw was promoted to the starting line-up. Jack Lumsden, now back in England, captain James Queree and Toby Ritzema made way with Le Quesne taking over the armband. Rai Dos Santos joined Sunley on the bench with Fraser Barlow and Will Yates dropping out.

Crowborough brought in four substitutes from their last match – Harrison Mayhew, Brady Ayolla, Alfie Lambden and Tom Pearson plus Harry Reed. Jack Lyons, Elliott Duncan and Josh Turner dropped to the bench with Nelson Ajayi and Harry Forster dropping out entirely.

Crowborough’s overlapping Marcus Goldsmith had the first sight of goal but only found the side netting with Jersey immediately going up the other end for Bickley to hook a left footed cross shot wide. Miguel Carvalho operating down the left fired a low cross to the far post where Francis Lekimamati was thwarted by Charlie Holmwood in the home goal. Two minutes later Jersey took the lead when a long ball forward from Jay Giles found Adam Trotter on the edge of the box from where he hit a first time volley into the top right corner on the turn.

A Bickley piledriver cleared not only the goal but the small stand behind it. Jersey’s second goal was similar to the thwarted move a dozen minutes previously. Trotter 2 / 3set Carvalho free down the left and his low cross to the far post was intercepted by Harry Reed running back who only managed to put it past his own ‘keeper, Holmwood. Before the break Pearson had a shot for Crowborough but failed to test Pierce Roche.

Crowborough had it all to do after the break but Carvalho immediately had another break down the left but failed to find a team mate in the middle. Crowborough pulled one back shortly afterwards to set up a tense second half. Harry Reed made amends for his own goal with a ball through the left side of the defence which Rushaar Samuel-Smikle was able to run on to and size up the situation. He picked the top left corner and found it with a curling shot that went in off the inside of the post.

Crowborough spent most of the remainder of the match looking for the equaliser with only a Bickley header over from a Giles free kick looking like adding to Jersey’s tally. Crowborough had a shout for a penalty six minutes from time when Samuel-Smikle went down but the free kick went Jersey’s way. Roche only scuffed it to half way and it was quickly returned to substitute Elliott Duncan who lobbed Roche who was still on the edge of his area. It must have been a marginal call and Jersey hung on for the victory.

Crowborough Athletic – Charlie Holmwood, Marcus Goldsmith, Harry Reed, Tom Boddy (c), Harrison Mayhew, Connor Pring, Brady Ayoola, Alfie Lamden, Rushaar Samuel-Smikle, Henry Muggeridge, Tom Pearson
Substitutes – 12. Jack Lyons (for Ayoola 58), 14. Elliott Duncan (for Pearson 72), 15. Josh Turner (for Mayhew 79), 16. Mark Swainston (for Lambden 72), only four substitutes

Navy Blue and Sky Blue wide stripes/Navy Blue/Sky Blue; GK All Light Purple
Sean Muggeridge (Manager), Danny Wood (Assistant), Scott Mason and James Larkin (Coaches), Honor Smith (Medical)
Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche (wore 13), Jonny Le Quesne (c), Jay Giles (wore 14), Jamie Watling (wore 15), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson (wore 16), Francis Lekimamati (wore 21), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, Adam Trotter (wore 12), Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 3. James Carr (for Carvalho 86), 10. Rai Dos Santos (for Lekimamati 63), 18. Stan Dunne (not used), 20. James Sunley (for Kilshaw 74), only four substitutes

All White (Lilac trim); GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dave Kennedy (Coach), Karl Benest (Kit), Dylan Buesnel (Analyst), Nikki Nicolle (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Crowborough Athletic (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-4-3; 7-8-6-11; 9-10
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 13; 2-15-5-14; 16; 21-8-12-11; 19

Officials – Conor Griffin (Hanwell), Darren Kempson (Sidcup, Kent), William Prior (Eltham)
3 / 3
Cautions – Luke Campbell (JB) 18, Connor Pring (CA) 34, Luke Watson (JB) 70, Harrison Mayhew (CA) 71

Corners – Crowborough Athletic (0) 3; Jersey Bulls (1) 1

Assist(s) – Jay Giles, Miguel Carvalho

Player of the Match – Adam Trotter

Added Time – 1.15 & 5.20 (6.35)