Both teams had received byes in the Extra Preliminary Round which gave Jersey sufficient time to organise a mainland venue for this “home” match. Crawley Down, five miles south-east of the airport therefore played hosts for the match against Metropolitan Police. Crawley Down’s first team are members of the Southern Combination Premier Division, the same level that Jersey Bulls play at.

The clubs had met once before when Jersey’s U23s had beaten the Met. reserves at Imber Court on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the quarter-final of the Suburban League Cup in February 2022. A match best remembered for a Jake Prince “worldy” in added time to take the match to the shoot-out.

The Met. came out of the blocks the quicker with their triple pronged attack very slickon the break and they forced three corners in the opening four minutes. However, Jersey’s defence, led by Tomas Goncalves, stood firm and it was Jersey that took the lead against the run of play. Ewan Brodie cut in from the left and fed the ball inside to Conor O’Keeffe. The front man hit it first time from twenty yards and found the bottom left corner.

The Police team continued to press but Frankie Morton got no power into a rare chance and their solidly built leader Jojo Stanley rarely troubled the defence significantly. They continued to be quick on the counter and their ‘keeper Luca Saloman had good hands so Jersey were also limited to their chances in front of goal too as the only goal separated the teams at the break.

Jersey continued their policy of giving all their substitutes half a game, risky if there are any later injuries, but at the break all four were introduced. One of them, Max Stefanski headed in a Joey O’Toole corner within five minutes to settle any nerves.

Just before the hour Sonny Cassidy caught Liam Brenkley as he turned in midfield and Brenkley fell awkwardly twisting his left knee. After a six minute delay he was stretchered off. The lengthy delay possibly disrupted Jersey’s concentration as from the next Met. attack Tiago Duarte in the Jersey goal put in a weak tackle as Josh Bassey advanced from the left byline and the ball rebounded to newly introduced substitute Oliver White to shoot into the empty net from six yards.

This re-energised the Police team who had seemed dispirited by the lack of progress they had been making against Goncalves and his co-defenders. They brought on a fresh front man and there was another lengthy delay when Duarte took a knock.

Jersey re-asserted themselves and Dylan McGee chipped Saloman only for central defender Ted Wallis to hook the ball off the line. Joey O’Toole lined up a twenty yard free kick which beat Saloman but found the right side netting. Nevertheless, as the game began its lengthy added time the match was still on a knife edge with the possibility that another defensive error would lead to the lottery of penalties.

That pressure was relieved shortly afterwards with two goals in two minutes. The first was a rocket from substitute Evan Lees. Set up by another substitute, McGee, Lees unleashed a twenty yard shot that flashed into the roof of the net. McGee added the fourth, cutting in on the left his shot was almost blocked by Wallis. The ball took a deflection off the defender and looped up and over the unfortunate Saloman.O’Keeffe could have had a fifth near the end, played in by O’Toole his shot was parried away by the ‘keeper. The whistle went shortly afterwards after more than a quarter of an hour of added time with the margin of victory arguably flattering Jersey.

Jersey Bulls – Tiago Duarte, Ewan Brodie, Sonny Cassidy, Fergus Boyle (c), Tomas Goncalves, Kyle Wilson (12. Max Stefanki 46), Will Yates (14. Evan Lees 46), Stanley Dunne (15. Harry Ecobichon 46), Callum Gilroy (16. Dylan McGee 46), Joey O’Toole, Conor O’Keeffe. Only four substitutes, 5 from 7 permitted

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

Paul Renton (Manager), John Lloyd (Medical)

Metropolitan Police – Luca Salamon, Levi Samuels, Josh Bassey (c), Jose Atiencia, Ted Wallis, Alfie Reed (12. Charles Fox 59), Frankie Morton, Kassa Campbell, JojoStanley (16. Cornelius Antwi 75), Daghan Bassaranoglu, Liam Blenkley (15. Oliver White 65). Not used – 13. Callum Hind, 14. Filipe Goncalves, 17. Edward England, 18. Charlie Bailey

Blue/Navy Blue/Navy Blue; GK All Green

Dean Longman (Manager), Michael Mison (Assistant), Dan De Cruz and Ali Esmail (Coaches), Ginol Alexi (Medical)

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

Metropolitan Police (4-3-3) 1; 2-6-5-3; 8-4-10; 7-9-11

Match Officials: Olga Svaikevic (Crawley), Will King (Worthing) on the dug outs side and Bradley Coomber (Crawley) on the clubhouse side

Cautions – Cassidy (JB) 59; Basaranoglu (MP) 81, Campbell (MP) 90+9

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 2; Metropolitan Police (4) 7

Assists – Brodie, O’Toole, McGee, Lees

Player of the Match – Tomas Goncalves

Added Time – 1.45 & 15.25 (17.10)