Teams stayed ends and Jersey kicked off attacking the clubhouse end 1.15.10 (the kick-off was put back 15 minutes after travel delays for the Jersey team)

After four successive home matches Jersey visited the picturesque East Grinstead Town who only had a win and a draw so far this season and were already nineteen points from safety with a 1-1-20 16-71 record. However, that draw was gained recently against Herne Bay who had then ended Jersey’s unbeaten home record.

Jersey were missing four influential team members. Jonny Le Quesne, Luke Campbell, Lorne Bickley and James Sunley were replaced by Monday night substitutes Toby Ritzema, Jay Giles, Jack Lumsden and Luke Watson. The youthful bench consisted of Stan Dunne, Will Yates, Luke Coutanche and Harry Mackenzie. Ritzema took on the striker role in the absence of Bickley.

East Grinstead replaced Thomas Kavanagh with Jordan Maguire-Drew in their starting line-up and brought in Mohammed Diaby and Lewis McDonnell on the bench in place of Arron Hopkinson and Tariq Richards

Jersey made the early running but took time to break down the host’s defences. Francis Lekimamati, Adam Trotter and Ritzema all tested Ali Secka in the East Grinstead goal in the first quarter before Pierce Roche had to parry a Louie Theophanous cross shot after thirty-seven minutes. Jersey took the lead two minutes later when Secka came for a Giles corner on the right but did not reach it. Luke Watson, unmarked at the back post, nodded it down on to the post from whence it kindly bounced up for him to head home.

The match then turned on two “soft” penalty awards either side of half time. In the last minute of “normal” time James Carr slid in on Camron Lawson and after Giles had started a run up the left flank the referee belatedly awarded a penalty. Whilst Lawson was treated captain Queree told Roche in no uncertain terms that he had caused the problem with his short rollout after the previous attack had broken down. After a couple of minutes, the home captain Curtis Gayler stepped up to take the penalty. He hit a low drive down the middle which hit Roche’s legs as he dived to his left. It then bounced up and Roche was able to redeem himself by punching clear before any attacker could apply the coup de grace.

2 / 3Early in the second half Secka was not so fortunate. He was adjudged to have brought down Ritzema and was “carded” for the offence. Queree put the penalty bottom right with Secka going the wrong way.
With a two goal cushion Jersey’s confidence grew and Ritzema in with another opportunity shot straight at Secka but at the other end both Dominic Vose and Dan Perry kept Roche on his toes. As time ticked away Jersey were camped in their opponent’s half for the most part. After Luke Leppard almost put the ball past his own ‘keeper the eventual clearance was returned by Carr. His long ball forward found substitute Coutanche on the right. Coutanche’s low cross was tucked away by an unmarked Carvalho from six yards.

Jersey’s substitutes continued to have a field day in the closing minutes. Stan Dunne also found Coutanche on the right flank and he threaded the ball through to Ritzema who hit a reverse shot into the bottom left corner. Harry Mackenzie put a chance wide before he played a defence splitting ball to Will Yates who curled his shot into the top right corner from fifteen yards. East Grinstead ended a well beaten side that were no doubt pleased to hear the final whistle.

East Grinstead Town – Ali Secka, Curtis Gayler (c), Ridwan Euba, Luke Leppard, Dan Thompson, Dominic Vose, Camron (sic) Lawson, Jordan Maguire-Drew, Dan Perry, Kieron Pamment, Louie Theophanous
Substitutes – 12. Mohammed Diaby (for Leppard 83), 14. Tommy Seale (for Vose 67), 15. Omar Folkes (for Maguire-Drew 67), 16. Tyler Grant (for Lawson 83), 17. Lewis McDonnell (not used)

Amber and Black wide stripes but upper body totally Amber/Black/Black; GK All Purple

Andy Willis and Grant Hearn (Joint Managers), Patrick Spurle, Taylor Green and Dave Tidy (Coaches), Elise Hill (Medical)

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche (wore 13), Jay Giles (wore 14), James Carr, James Queree (c), Jack Lumsden (wore 15), Toby Ritzema, Francis Lekimamati (wore 21), Joe Kilshaw, Luke Watson (wore 16), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 7. Stan Dunne (for Kilshaw 76), 10. Will Yates (for Carvalho 78), 20. Luke Coutanche (for Lekimamati 59), 22. Harry Mackenzie (for Ritzema 81), only four substitutes

All White (Lilac trim to shirts and shorts); GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Karl Benest (Kit), Nikki Nicolle (Medical)

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

Officials – Thomas Price (Worthing), John Pike (Hurstpierpoint) dug outs/grandstand, Dylan Bailey (Sussex) camera gantry side
3 / 3Cautions – Ali Secka (EGT) 48, Luke Watson (JB) 86

Corners – East Grinstead Town (1) 5; Jersey Bulls (4) 4

Assist(s) – Jay Giles, Toby Ritzema, Luke Coutanche (3rd & 4th), Harry Mackenzie

Player of the Match – Luke Watson

Added Time – 4.50 & 4.00 (8.50)