Jersey went into this match knowing that a win would put them top as their nearest rivals were still involved with the F.A. Cup. However, they were meeting stronger opposition as their opening two opponents were now propping up the table.

Alton had started the season hosting Fleet Town in the F.A. Cup and were only thwarted by a 97th minute penalty equaliser before losing the replay three days later1-4. In the league they drew 1-1 at Tadley Calleva and then won 1-0 at home against Camberley Town on Tuesday to put themselves in 9th position.

Last season they were on the fringes of the play-offs throughout and eventually finished 7th. Jersey won 2-0 at Alton in August with late goals from Fraser Barlow and Luke Watson only for Alton to return the “compliment” and win 2-1 at Springfield in January when Lorne Bickley scored the Jersey goal.

Jersey made three changes to their starting XI with James Campbell available againand replacing James Queree. However, it was Jonny Le Quesne rather than Campbell who took over the captaincy. Toby Ritzema returning from last Saturday’s knock came in for James Sunley whilst Rai Dos Santos made his season’s debut at the expense of Fraser Barlow. Queree, Sunley and Barlow were all amongst the substitutes along with Harry Curtis and Kieran Lester.

Alton started the quicker and Owen Tanner had a chance as early as the fourth minute. They took the lead just after the quarter hour when a free kick by ‘keeper Stephen Douglas was headed on by Darnell McDonald and it fell just right for George Barrowman. He held off Campbell and “nutmegged” the advancing Euan Van der Vliet from the edge of the box.

Alton followed this up with four corners in three minutes, their only ones of the match. During this spell Joe Goddard put a shot narrowly wide and McDonald had a volley blocked by a defender.

If Alton thought themselves hard done by the tables were soon turned. A midfield challenge saw the ball spin backwards off Ben Le Rougetel and on to the otherwise offside Tanner. He made the most of his good fortune and like Barrowman advanced towards the penalty box and slid the ball past the stranded Van der Vliet.

This reverse spurred Jersey into action and the second quarter of the match saw them have their best spell. Dos Santos went clear down the left channel only for his cross shot to go well wide but their next attack saw them reduce the arrears. JayGiles crossed from the left and although Bickley could get much on it his touch was enough to keep it in the danger area. Miguel Carvalho retrieved it from the byline, swivelled and played it back for Joe Kilshaw running in the right channel to finish off from six yards for his third goal of the season.

The momentum had changed and Jersey almost equalised when a Le Quesne cross from the right was returned with interest by Dos Santos. It hit central defender Toluwani Ajaye-Obe in the chest and could have gone anywhere but fortunately for Alton it just went wide of the left post.

The pressure continued as the interval approached. Le Quesne swung in another cross which Bickley headed forcefully against the bar and Kilshaw volleyed over the rebound. In added time a Giles was headed back across goal for Ritzema beyond the far post. He deftly lobbed it over Douglas but Ayabe-Obe was on hand to head it off the line.

Jersey maintained the pressure after the break and a superbly threaded through ball by Ritzema found Carvalho overlapping in the right channel. His low cross was too hard for Bickley in the centre but Dos Santos steamed in at the back post to convert for the equaliser.

Just when the crowd thought that Jersey would continue their dominance and go on to the win the match it instead became anti-climactic and very little of consequence happened for half an hour.

It burst briefly back to life in the last ten minutes when a Giles free kick was nodded down by Bickley towards Lester but the substitute attempted to chest it down rather than put in a header and the defenders muscled him off the ball. Shortly afterwards a Sunley snapshot from twenty yards whistled past the left post.

In the 89th minute Luke Watson beat Tanner to a loose bouncing ball near the halfway line with Tanner immediately going down injured. There had been similar delaying tactics earlier from Alton as they hung on for the draw and Lester made a comment to that effect to the referee for which he was sin binned. However, it transpired that this case was genuine and after a lengthy delay Tanner was substituted. There was over nine minutes added which meant Lester served his complete ten minute sentence although Jersey never appeared to be a player short.

Although they lost their 100% record the point keeps Jersey in second place with Alton lifting themselves up to seventh. A “curates egg” of a match, good in parts.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne (c), Jay Giles, Ben Le Rougetel, Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Rai Dos Santos (17. Kieran Lester 77), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, Toby Ritzema (15. James Sunley 61), Miguel Carvalho (18. Fraser Barlow 70). 12 Harry Curtis (not used), 14. James Queree (not used).

Red(new version)/White/Red: GK All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Adam Lester & Dan Garton (Assistants), Andy Dewhurst (Coach), Kaj Stefansen (GK Coach), Steve Martin (Medical), Karl Benest (Kit)

Alton – Stephen Douglas, Jamie Phillips, Joe Goddard (15. James Barnett 63), Scott Sanderson (12. Oli Kavanagh 82), Toluwani Ajaye-Obe, George Bennett (c) (wore 19), Adam Poynter, Tom Hill, Perry Coles (18. Luke Wandless 70), Owen Tanner (17. Liam Marshall 90+2), Darnell McDonald. 21. Kevin Adair (sub GK) (not used).

White/Black/Black; GK All Light Green

Kevin Adair (Manager), Matt Evans (Assistant), Matt Benham & Graham Purser (Coaches), Bobbie Williams (Medical)

Formations (R to L)

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

Alton (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-19-3; 7-4-8-11; 10-9

Match Officials

Shkumbin “Bimi” Sherifi (Shepherd’s Bush) (referee) born in Kosovo and re-located to London aged two. Qualified in 2016, initially with the Amateur Football Association and now in his sixth season with the Combined Counties League. Previously at Springfield in mid-April 2022 for the match v Horley Town.

Steven A. Williams (Hatch End) (dug outs side) previously with the Spartan South Midlands League and now in his fourth season with the Combined Counties League.His third visit to Springfield following Badshot Lea in November 2022 and Camberley Town in February 2024.

Michael S. Heavey (Stanmore) (grandstand side) Was with the Spartan South Midland league since 2009 but is now in his fourth season on the Combined Counties list. His third Springfield visit, the two previous both being Tadley Calleva matches, in October 2022 and November 2023. Referee of Cobham v Jersey Bulls next Saturday.

Cautions – Dos Santos (JB) 54, Sanderson (A) 66, Poynter (A) 79, Ajayi-Obe (A) 86

Sin Bin – Lester (JB) 89

Corners – Jersey Bulls (4) 5; Alton (4) 4

Assists – Carvalho, Carvalho (both)

Player of the Match – Jonny Le Quesne

Added Time – 2.10 & 9.10 (11.20) (Drinks break 27 mins, none second half)