Jersey visited Epsom & Ewell at their new “home”, as they are now sharing atCorinthian-Casuals. It meant they were back playing on grass as their previous venue at Cobham converted to 3G last season.

Last season they finished 16th, only just clear of the relegation spots, with Jersey doing the double over them. A 2-0 (Adam Trotter and Jonny Le Quesne) win at Springfield in early September was followed by a 2-1 win at Cobham in late January with both goals scored by Lorne Bickley, the second a last minute penalty to break the home supporters hearts.

This season Epsom started with a goalless draw at home to Phoenix Sports from the step above in the F.A. Cup and followed it up by winning the replay 3-1 after going a goal down. William Kendall being their hat-trick hero. They came down to earth with a bump on Saturday losing 0-5 at home to Guildford City. Skipper Adam Green was sent off after half an hour for “saving” a second Guildford goal. The visitors converted the subsequent penalty and added three more in the second half.

Jersey made two changes to their starting XI with Ben Le Rougetel stepping up for the unavailable Luke Campbell and James Sunley making his competitive debut after Toby Ritzema took a knock on Saturday. Harry Curtis, back from holiday was on the bench along with Luke Coutanche, set for his senior debut, Jay Dos Santos and Seaney McColgan.

Jersey maintained their 100% start to the season with a comfortable win and in so doing consigned their opponents of the day to the bottom of the table for the second consecutive match. It also meant that Epsom have yet to score at their new home.

The goals did not flow as they had at Spelthorne but the defence was only threatened once when the hosts thought they had scored an equaliser after 39 minutes. However, Euan Van der Vliet had only spilt Adam Green’s free kick as he had been fouled and so Callum Wilson’s header was rendered meaningless.

Jersey spent most of the match in Epsom’s half and thought they had again got off to a quick start when Joe Kilshaw played Lorne Bickley in to convert after only fiveminutes only for Simon Harwood to raise his flag.

James Sunley brought a diving save out of Faebian Witter and the Epsom ‘keeper was kept on his toes by a succession of threats from the Jersey attack with Miguel Carvalho, Fraser Barlow and Le Quesne all prominent.

The breakthrough came ten minutes before the interval when after yet more Jersey shots had been blocked Le Quesne astutely changed the pattern of play. He floated the ball to the far post where Carvalho, the shortest player on the pitch, headed powerfully home to thwart the best efforts of Toby Young on the line.

Epsom had capitulated to Guildford on Saturday, conceding five times, and Jersey might have matched that if not for some desperate defending, some of it illegal. Carvalho had a good chance just before the hour but shot weakly at Witter from close in and a few minutes later Luke Coutanche was brought on for his first senior match to replace Barlow.

A rare foray by Epsom saw Fabio Nunes shoot weakly too but Jersey maintained their ascendancy. Jay Giles shot over, Luke Watson headed wide and Carvalho had a shot that Witter needed two attempts to stop.

The clinching goal came from Le Quesne with just over ten minutes left. Galloping down the right flank once more, some clever inter-play between, Kilshaw, Watson and he was finished off with a thunderous cross shot from a narrow angle.

By this time Epsom had been reduced to ten men after an atrocious tackle by the presumably frustrated Young went right through Carvalho from behind to earn himself a straight red. Three other cautions came their way too as an evening of chasing shadows became too much to bear for the hosts defence and midfield.

The win moves Jersey up to second and now only they, league leaders Redhill, and Abbey Rangers still have perfect records.

Epsom & Ewell – Faebian Witter (wore 13), Toby Young, Callum Wilson, Adam Green (c), Stefan Aiwone, Fabio Nunes, Luke Miller, Axel Kodjo (12. Carlos Polo-Infante 67), William Kendall, Carl Oblitey (15. Kenneth Anthony 87), Ethan Nelson-Roberts. Not used – 14. Zak Ingram-Wright, 16. Sean Omoigiade-Agun, 17. Ethan Brazier

All Yellow with Royal Blue trim to shirts and shorts; GK All Dark Grey

Warren Burton (Manager), Kevin Espinosa (GK Coach), Simon Payne (Kit), E. Nery (Medical), Eoin Donaldson (Son of Committee Member)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne (wore 18) (19. Harry Curtis 83), Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Ben Le Rougetel, Luke Watson (wore 16), Fraser Barlow (12. Luke Coutanche 62), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, James Sunley (15. Jay Dos Santos 72), Miguel Carvalho (14. Seaney McColgan 83), only four substitutes

Red/White/Red: GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Adam Lester (Assistant), Kaj Stefansen (GK Coach)

Formations (R to L)

Epsom & Ewell (4-4-2) 13; 2-4-5-3; 7-8-6-11; 10-9
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 18-4-5-3; 16; 7-8-10-11; 9

Match Officials – Jack Healy (Worcester Park), Roger Wells (Coulsdon) (dug outs), Simon Harwood (Ashtead) (clubhouse)

Dismissal – Toby Young (E&E) 69

Cautions – Adam Green (E&E) 51, Fabio Nunes (E&E) 61, Luke Miller (E&E) 77

Corners – Epsom & Ewell (0) 0; Jersey Bulls (0) 4

Assists – Le Quesne, Watson

Player of the Match – Jonny Le Quesne

Added Time – 1.55 & 2.55 (4.50)