Jersey travelled to Hastings United (17th, 4-4-10 23-32) to see if they could climb another (Senlac) Hill in order to continue their rise up the table and again be on the winning side in the “Battle of Hastings” just as they had in 1066 when Jersey was part of the Duchy of Normandy.
Jersey made just one change to the starters that had narrowly defeated Deal Town last week with Adam Trotter coming in for Luke Watson. Watson was on the bench alongside Harry Mackenzie who replaced Jamie Watling.
Hastings made two changes to the side that had lost 0-4 at Herne Bay last week. Jack Saunders, signed on loan yesterday from Dorking Wanderers, and Finley Chapman came in for Rushaar Samuel-Smikle and Walter Figueira. The latter was on the bench along with Jamal Lubanga and Noah Agbinone. Charlie Brown, Charlie Scarles and Serhii Hura made way. The Hastings squad was almost completely changed to the one to that lost 1-3 in Jersey on 6th September in the F.A. Trophy
as the change of management since then had had a radical overhaul.
Hastings regularly attacked down the right and utilised Alfie Hilden’s long throws. Jersey had an early warning when a Hastings header landed on the roof of the net and ten minutes later Jordan Mase tried to lob Euan Van der Vliet from twenty- five yards which the backpedalling ‘keeper was able to tip over.

The threatened goal arrived from a George Taggart corner on the right. Aimed to the far post it looked as if Van der Vliet would collect it, but Sam Pidgen “attacked” the ball late, getting there before the ‘keeper. He headed it down and back up on to the bar where it dropped to Eugene Asike to volley home from a yard out.
A couple of minutes later Taggart put in a twenty-yard shot which had Van der Vliet diving to his left and just before half time James Stone threatened down the left before a late lunge by Luke Campbell deflected the ball into the side netting. Campbell was injured in the process and limped off to be replaced by Toby Ritzema who took on the central defender’s role.
2 / 3The mediocre first half performance led to a triple substitution at the interval with James Carr left back, Carvalho moving to the right and Luke Watson in midfield.
Jersey looked much better for the changes but could not find a way through the Hastings defence. Just before the hour a series a series of shots were blocked in the box and with quarter of an hour to go Carvalho put a curling shot just over immediately before he was substituted by Harry Mackenzie.
Harry Howes saved well from James Carr at the foot of the left post with ten minutes left before Jonny Le Quesne and Mackenzie combined well on the right to play in Ritzema who skewed his shot well wide of the left post in what turned out to be Jersey’s last roll of the dice.
Hastings United - Harry Howes, Alfie Hilden, Sonny Causton, Jack Saunders, Eugene Asike, Sam Pidgeon, Freddie Legg (c), Jordan Mase, James Stone, George Taggart, Finley Chapman
Substitutes – Jamal Lubanga (for Chapman 90+5), Walter Figueira (for Stone 74), Noah, Agbinone (not used), Joe Clifford (for Hilden 74), Hayden Skerry (for Taggart 80)
All Scarlet (wide Light Blue diagonal sash to shirt), GK All Luminous Yellow

Alex Marr and Dave Altendorff (Joint Managers), Joshua Wheeler (Coach), Clark Masters (GK Coach), Bobby-Jay Deegan and Sam Piper (Medical)
Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, Jay Giles (wore 14), James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Adam Trotter (wore 12), Francis Lekimamati (wore 21), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley (wore 19), Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 3. James Carr (for Lekimamati 46), 6. Toby Ritzema (for Campbell 43 inj), 16 Luke Watson (for Kilshaw 46), 20. James Sunley (for Dos Santos 46), 22 Harry Mackenzie (for Carvalho 75)
White (Lilac trim)/White (Lilac trim)/White; GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Karl Benest (Kit), Nikki Nicolle (Medical)
Formations (R to L)
Hastings United (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-6-3; 7-4-8-11; 10-9
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-14; 12; 21-8-10-11; 19

Officials – Joel E.B. Lamping (Brighton), Peter M. Andrews (Hassocks) dug outs, Greig Walker (Newhaven) far side. Andrews and Walker had both officiated in Jersey on 23rd August for the match against V.C.D. Athletic.
Caution(s) – Joe Kilshaw (JB) 45+4, Jack Saunders (HU) 83, Freddie Legg (HU) 90+2, Adam Trotter (JB) 90+6, James Carr (JB) 90+9

3 / 3Corners – Hastings United (5) 5, Jersey Bulls (3) 4

Assist(s) – none (first goalless league match of the season)

Player of the Match – Adam Trotter

Added Time – 4.25 & 8.50 (13.15)