Jersey travelled for the first time in over six weeks to meet Epsom & Ewell who now ground share the new 3G pitch laid by Cobham. The match was initially due to be played on 13^th January but had to be re-arranged when Jersey reached the F.A. Vase fourth round played on that date.

Jersey, like their last two opponents, now have a much better away record than home and hoped that would continue at the Leg of Mutton ground. Epsom & Ewell lay 18^th, of 20, in the table with a 5-2-16 31-57 record.

They had started the season under new manager James Scott and had had some good cup results. They won through two rounds of the F.A. Cup, including against the higher level Metropolitan Police, as well as a victory in the F.A. Vase before going down on “penalties” to Bearsted in the next round. However, their league form did not match that and after opening with seven straight losses, including 0-2 on a blisteringly hot day at Springfield in early September, Scott was replaced by coach Steve Springett. He had in turn resigned and the Jersey game was the first with Warren Burton in charge and Gwynne Berry as coach.

Jersey were plagued by unavailabilities and injuries with Will Byers and James Carr unable to travel and Jonny Le Quesne added to the latter group. Pierce Roche returned in goal after his suspension. Fergus Boyle, briefly hospitalised after a first minute injury the previous evening playing for the Island U18s, came in for Byers with James Queree reverting to the right side of the defence. Francis Lekmamati played on the right flank with Fraser Barlow moving in to Le Quesne’s central position and Miguel Carvalho took Carr’s place on the left side.

Jersey kicked off on a chilly (6C) evening attacking the Eastern pathway end, once tree lined but now a wooden fence is all that is there since the recent redevelopment.
Jersey dominated the match but in the end were fortunate to win it. Carvalho was regularly creating chances and it was he who seized on a poor roll out by ‘keeper Toby Colwell. Carvalho was quicker to it than defender Reece Tierney and laid the ball across to Lorne Bickley at the far post to tap in and give Jersey an early lead.

Epsom equalised with a “scruffy” goal after half an hour. Luke Miller on the right played in new signing Carl Oblitey near the penalty spot. Oblitey scuffed his shot in to the ground but it spun up awkwardly and Roche at full stretch tipped it on to the bar only for Oblitey to beat Queree to the rebound and hit his shot in to the ground again which was sufficient to bounce up and over the still grounded Roche.

Jersey created a host of chances but it was debutant Odinaka Nwokoro’s first touch that led to the winner. His looping cross from the right was misjudged by Tierney who missed his header and the ball bounced up on to his arm. Bickley, rather than Luke Campbell, took the resultant penalty and gave Colwell no chance. It was Jersey’s first win in five league matches and it kept them in fourth position.

Epsom & Ewell 1 (Carl Oblitey 30), Jersey Bulls 2 (Lorne Bickley 9 & pen 90)

Attendance – 64

Programme – Yes

Epsom & Ewell – Toby Colwell, Ethan Brazier, Ethan Nelson-Roberts, Nick-Aaron Inwugwu, Reece Tierney, Nicholas Wilson (c), Luke Miller, Thompson Adeyemi, Carl Oblitey, Tigani Eshilokun, Lewis Pearch
Substitutes – 12. Jaan Stanley (for Eshilokun 87), 14. Sirak Negassi (for Pearch 87), 15. Jerry Antwi (not used), 16. Tommy Williams (not used), 17. Harvey Keogh (not used)

Royal Blue & White Hoops (White Back)/Royal Blue/Royal Blue; GK All Dark Green

Warren Burton (Manager), Gwynne Berry (Coach)

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, James Queree (c), Fergus Boyle, Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, Francis Lekimamati, Luke Watson, Lorne Bickley, Fraser Barlow, Miguel Carvalho
Subs – 12. Odinaka Nwokoro (for Carvalho 88), 15. Ruben Mendes (for Watson 88), 16. Joe Kilshaw (for Nafkha 71), 18. Ben Le Rougetel (not used), only four subs.

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (assistant), Richard Hebert (GK Coach)

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

Formations
Epsom & Ewell (5-4-1 R to L) 1; 2-5-6-4-3; 7-8-10-11; 9

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

Referee – Samuel Holland (Godalming)

Assistants – Phil Paice (Woking) on the dug outs side and Ben Frape (Guildford) on the grandstand side.

Cautions – Ethan Nelson-Roberts (EE) 52, Nicholas Wilson (EE) 77, Ruben Mendes (JB) 90+1

Corners – Epsom & Ewell (0) 0; Jersey Bulls (2) 6

Player of the Match – Fergus Boyle

Added Time – 0.45 & 4.50 (5.35)