Looking to join Curzon Ashton in the final, after they had defeated Wythenshawe Town 2-1 in the first semi-final, Jersey played their first match under new managerElliot Powell by playing a separate team, except two players, for each half. The two exceptions were substituted midway through the second half so no one played more than three quarters of the match.

The formation (4-2-3-1) remained the same as last season. Euan Van der Vliet, Kieran Lester, Jay Dos Santos, Rai Dos Santos and Jack Lumsden all re-appeared for the Bulls but they were missing numerous influential players including Luke Campbell, Adam Trotter, Jonny Le Quesne, Fraser Barlow, Francis Lekimamati and Lorne Bickley. Additionally, Kamen Nafkha had retired and Ruben Mendes hadmoved abroad with his work. On the positive side Toby Ritzema and James Sunley, both having finished university on the “mainland”, made their debuts.

The Arthurian League, strictly amateur with teams of public school old boys, won the F.A. Inter-League Cup in May. A competition twice won previously by the Jersey Football Combination, a virtual Jersey Bulls side on the second occasion. TheArthurian League will therefore be representing England in the U.E.F.A. Regions Cup Qualifying Round in Finland later this season. Their appearance did not seem to particularly enthuse the locals many of whom probably capitalised on the rare appearance of the sun to head off to the beach.

Jersey started promisingly with six corners in the opening quarter of the match but none came to anything and Miguel Carvalho, Rai Dos Santos and Kieran Lester all failed to make the most of half chances that came their way.

The Arthurians “grew” into the match and made a quadruple change after the half hour. Shortly afterwards a long free kick from Harry Larke found Andy Evans unmarked at the far post. Pierce Roche managed to parry his header but Jake Raine followed up to score. Jake Fetherston almost added a second for the visitors before Sunley curled a twenty-yard shot on to the bar with the last kick of the half.

The ”new” team after the interval could have fallen further behind with chances falling to Sam Fetherston and Nicky Samra whilst Rai Dos Santos and Joe Kilshawbrought good saves out of Ollie Bowles at the other end.

With a minute left Jersey were pressing for an equaliser from their 10th corner. It was cleared and Seaney McColgan chasing back attempted to find Euan Van der Vliet who almost up to the half way line. Sam Fetherston intercepted it and raced away from Van der Vliet and Fergus Boyle to seal the win.

Jersey attempted to reduce the deficit and had a call for a penalty in added time waved way when Samra brought down Jay Dos Santos who then had salt rubbed into the wound by being cautioned for simulation.

A disappointing end to the match for the young side missing many of its stronger players. They lacked a cutting edge with far too many square and back passes with the wide back men failing to get forward very often. “Minutes in legs” was about all that could positively be said about what was very much a pre-season performance.

Jersey Bulls (first half) – Pierce Roche, John “J.J.” Lloyd (wore 12), Jay Giles, Sammy Sutcliffe, James Queree (c), Toby Ritzema (wore 16), Rai Dos Santos, Luke Watson, Kieran Lester, James Sunley, Miguel Carvalho (no substitutes)

Jersey Bulls (second half) (only two continued and they were both changed mid half) – Euan Van der Vliet (wore 21), Will Byers, Fergus Boyle, Jack Lumsden, Harry Curtis (c), Ben Le Rougetel, Rai Dos Santos (14. Miguel Carvalho 71), Joe Kilshaw, Kieran Lester (16. Toby Ritzema 71), Jay Dos Santos, Seaney McColgan

Red/White/Red (first half), White/White/Red (second half); both GKs All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Adam Lester & Dan Garton (Coaches), Dylan Buesnel(Analyst), Karl Benest (Kit)

Arthurian League – Ollie Bowles (Brentwood), Peter Brooking (c) (wore 15)(Brentwood), Charlie Rolls (wore 17) (Brentwood), Josh Banfield (Chigwell), Andy Evans (Repton), Anthony Beddows (Charterhouse), Harry Larke (wore 16)(Brentwood), Tayo Felstead (wore 14) (Forest), Will Payne (wore 18) (Harrow), Gus Shaw-Stewart (Eton), Ben Hale (wore 13) (Forest) Substitutes – 2. Fraser Lane (Repton) (for Rolls 80), 7. Nicky Samra (Repton) (for Banfield 63), 8. Tommy Redhead (Repton) (for Hale 33), 9. Jake Raine (Repton) (for Shaw-Stewart 33), 11. Jake Fetherston (Dulwich) (for Felstead 33), 12. David Lederman (Harrow) (for Redhead 80), 19, Sam Fetherston (Dulwich) (for Payne 33)
Returners – Banfield (for Samra 80), Shaw-Stewart (for Evans 80), Hale (for J. Fetherston 80), Payne (for Larke 80)

Navy Blue/Black/White; GK Dark Green/Dark Green/Light Green

Billy Jenkins (Forest)((Manager), Jon Hunter (Kimbolton) (Assistant Manager), Nicky Samra & David Lederman (Player/Coaches)

Formations
Jersey Bulls (4-2-3-1 R to L) (first half) 1; 12-4-5-3; 16-8; 11-10-7; 9
Jersey Bulls (4-2-3-1 R to L) (second half) 21; 2-5-4-3; 8-6; 11-10-7; 9
Arthurian League (4-4-1 R to L) 1; 17-6-5-15; 18-16-4-10; 14-13

Referee – Ahmad Rafique (Hayes) aged 54, born in Kashmir, North India he re-located to the U.K. in 2002. Qualifying as a referee in 2006 he reached Level 4 status in 2015. Working in law enforcement in Hammersmith he also acts as both referee’s observer and development officer for the Middlesex F.A.

Assistants – Gareth Walker (Jersey) (dug outs side) & Chris Duncan (grandstand side) (Jersey)

Cautions – Fraser Lane (AL) 72 (foul) Jay Dos Santos (JB) 90+2 (simulation)

Corners – Jersey Bulls (6) 10; Arthurian League (0) 1

Player of the Match – No award

Added Time – 2.00 & 4.20 (6.20) (drinks breaks 23 & 68 minutes)