Jersey Bulls development team did well to defeat a University side all of whom play for mainland clubs in the English pyramid system. Both sides have few opportunities to get together so welcomed this “friendly” to hone their teamwork. Underdogs Jersey, largely consisting of those with St. Paul’s and Wanderers connections, started brightly before the Universities settled. Joey O’Toole twice forced diving saves from Seth Locke in the opening ten minutes, first to the left and then to his right. Midway through the half Casey Nixon burst down the right but the ball would not quite “sit” for O’Toole and he eventually could only manage to lob the ball over the bar. The latter half of the half belonged to the Universities as they came back strongly at the hosts, but they were denied by a defence well led by Bulls regular,and skipper for the night, Jamie Watling.

Watling’s crew survived a defensive scramble on the hour as the Universities, with an overhaul of team members and a revised formation, continued to come at them strongly. Jersey introduced their substitutes too and new men Hugo Pereira and Callum Gilroy both brought saves out of Finn Osborn. It was Casey Nixon, dangerous on the flanks throughout the evening, who broke the deadlock. Receiving the ball on the left he cut in and shot across Osborn into the far corner. Five minutes later Pereira and Gilroy combined for a second. Pereira swung in a curling crossfieldball from the left which Gilroy smashed past Osborn.

This stung the Universities and Afonso Freitas immediately had to bring off a good save at the feet of their forwards as they looked to restore some pride. However, a minute later substitute Henry Nevill rifled another attempt into the roof of the net which a taller ‘keeper might have pushed over.

Watling remained a colossus to prevent an equaliser and two stoppage time corners were repulsed to leave the Bulls triumphant.

Jersey Bulls U23s – Jack Kemp, Ewan Brodie (wore 19), Sonny Cassidy, Tomas Goncalves, Jamie Watling (c), Jarma Mohamed, Harry Scott, Stan Dunne, Darryl Mvalo, Joey O’Toole, Casey Nixon
Rolling Substitutes – 14. Leandro Vieira (for Dunne 54), 15. Hugo Pereira (for O’Toole 58), 16. Callum Gilroy (for Mvalo 68), 17. James Murphy (for Brodie 58), 18. Charlie Yates (for Scott 66)

Returning – Scott for Nixon 77, Mvalo for Scott 86, Nixon for Cassidy inj. 88

All Navy Blue with Gold trim, Both GKs All Green

Martin Cassidy (Manager), Andrew McLaughlin (Assistant), Karl Benest (Kit), Rodrigo Da Silva (Fitness), Steve Martin (Medical)

English Universities South – Sethan Locke (Hartpury), Wilson Mario-Mendes(Athletic Newham), Tremayne Huie-Moseley (Colliers Wood United), Jacob Towns(A.F.C. Totton), Josh Roney (c) (Hartpury), Mikkiel Graham (Longlevens) (wore 15), Darren Foxley (Sittingbourne), Tom Jackson (Kingstonian), Jaxson Hundt(Longlevens), Misha Djemali (vc) (Chichester City), Matas Skarma (vvc) (Canvey Island)
Rolling Substitutes – 13. Finn Osborn (Barwell) (wore 1) (for Locke 46), 6. Kiril Halenin (Potters Bar Town) (for Roney 46), 12. Oliver Hamstead (Lewes) (for Huie-Moseley 46), 14. Antoine Atmadjov (Wimborne Town) (for Towns 46), 16. Henry Nevill (Bournemouth Poppies) (for Hundt 46), 17. Josh Ikem (Mulbarton Wanderers) (for Graham 46)
Returning – Huie-Moseley for Mario-Mendes 66, Towns for Foxley 66, Hundt for Jackson 66, Graham for Djemali 66

Kit – All White with Navy Blue and Red trim; GK Light Blue/Black/Black, Sub GK Orange/White/White

Management (all Chichester) – Danny Potter (Manager), Louis Langdown(Assistant), Jacob Burton (Coach), Mia Pearson (Medical), Bethan Delaney (Sports Science)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 19-4-5-3; 6; 11-8-10-7; 9
English Universities South (first half) (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-5-15-3; 4; 7-10-8-11; 9

English Universities South (second half) (4-4-2) 13; 2-12-6-11; 16-17-8-14; 10-7

Officials – (all Jersey) Gareth Walker, Richard Dyer (dug outs), Chris Duncan (grandstand)

Caution(s) – none

Corners – Jersey Bulls (3) 4, English Universities South (4) 7

Assist(s) – Jarma Mohamed, Hugo Pereira

Player of the Match – Jamie Watling

Added Time – 0.15 & 2.30 (2.45)