Jersey began the first of three away matches in nine days at Horley Town, just north of Gatwick airport. Horley had been in the upper reaches of the division last season but are struggling this time around. They lay 18^thwith a record of 8-1-18 32-48 with many of their defeats being by narrow margins.

James Queree, Luke Campbell and Lorne Bickley were all back from holiday, Francis Lekimamati from injury, and Miguel Carvalho from his trial with Wolves. Sammy Sutcliffe, Fraser Barlow, Jack Boyle and Kamen Nafkha all dropped to the bench where they joined Joe Kilshaw.

Horley won the toss and Jersey kicked off attacking the Training ground end on a very chilly (1C) evening.

Horley took an early lead after a Jack Poplett cross deflected off Frank Tobin into the path of Sam Remfry who was brought down by Euan Van der Vliet. Jake Roberts sent Van der Vliet the wrong way as he tucked the ball into the bottom right corner.

It soon became evident that Horley were already running down the clock which had unfortunate implications later in the half. Remfry almost added a second goal with a lob that just cleared the bar before he set Jonathan Kusaka away on the right flank ten minutes before the interval.

Kusaka cut back inside Campbell whose attempt to tackle him only succeeded in bringing him down. Roberts again stepped up for the penalty and again succeeded in sending Van der Vliet wrong way as he scored in the bottom left corner this time.

Jersey fought back and just before the interval a Tobin cross from the right byline succeeded at the second attempt for Bickley to volley home at the far post. ‘Keeper George Hyde, who had been one of the prime timewasters, refused to release the ball as Bickley tried to retrieve it and a shoving match between them and then Poplett resulted in dismissals for Bickley and Poplett and a caution for the instigator.

Jersey equalised soon after the interval when a subtle Lekimamati pass played in Le Quesne to shoot powerfully past Hyde. Eight minutes later a Lekimamati free kick from the right found Le Quesne unmarked near the penalty spot but his flying header was too close to Hyde who pushed it away. After the hour Hyde saved well again when a Tobin lob nearly crept in from a narrow angle.

Barlow almost converted a Tobin cross with ten minutes to go and in the 90^th minute an Adam Grant back flick did not have sufficient power to trouble Van der Vliet. Jersey nearly snatched victory at the death when in the sixth added minute a low Carvalho cross found Barlow near the penalty spot. His first time shot was parried by
Hyde low to his right and Le Quesne put away the rebound only to find the flag raised against him by the junior assistant. The corner count ended 12-0.

Horley Town 2 (Jake Roberts pen 11 & pen 35)
Jersey Bulls 2 (Lorne Bickley 44, Jonny Le Quesne 50)

Attendance – 55

Programme – 20pp £2

Horley Town – George Hyde, Matthew Rapson, Jevonthe Hylton, Jack Poplett (c), Lynden McGugan, Louis Chin, Jonathan Kusaka, Jake Roberts, Lee Peacock, Sam Remfry, Adam Grant
Substitutes – 12. Josh Rapson (for Roberts 72), 14. Cordell Whyte (for Remfry 56), 15. George Membrillera (for Peacock 65), 16. Owen Ansell (for Hylton 65), 17. Harry Mark (not used)

Claret(Sky Blue)/Claret(Sky Blue)/Sky Blue; GK Orange/Black/Orange

Martin Rapson (Manager), Tyler Chambers (Coach), Dan Rapson (Coach), Dean Claydon (Coach), Adam Lewington (Kit), Lydia Passera-Hughes (Physio.)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Frank Tobin (wore 12), Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Adam Trotter, Francis Lekimamati, Jonny Le Quesne, Lorne Bickley (wore 16), Luke Watson, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 2. Sammy Sutcliffe (not used), 9. Fraser Barlow (for Watson 71), 14. Joe Kilshaw (not used), 15. Jack Boyle (for Trotter 86), 18. Kamen Nafkha (for Lekimamati 71)

White/Black/Black; GK All Yellow

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Dan Seviour (Coach), Richard Hebert (GK Coach)

Formations
Horley Town (4-3-3 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 7-6-8; 11-9-10
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 12-4-5-3; 6; 7-8-10-11; 16

Referee – Dylan Ann (Surbiton) his first Jersey match

Assistants –Roger Wells (Coulsdon) a familiar face, who also did the reverse fixture, on the dug outs side. Oscar Cotton (also Coulsdon) on the grandstand side

Dismissals – Lorne Bickley (JB) 45+2, George Hyde (HT) 45+2

Cautions – Jonny Le Quesne (JB) 24, Matt Rapson (HT) 32, Jake Roberts (HT) 40, George Hyde (HT) 45+2, Jonathan Kusaka (HT) 73, Owen Ansell (HT) 79), Josh Rapson (HT) 90+4, Jack Boyle (JB) 90+5

Corners – Horley Town (0) 0, Jersey Bulls (5) 12

Player of the Match Award – Jonny Le Quesne