Jersey hosted Abbey Rangers as their opponents bookended the Bulls year at Springfield, having been the first visitors of the calendar year too. On that occasion Jersey fought back to earn a draw with a Francis Lekimamati goal, having won 3-1 at Addlestone in late August courtesy of two goals from Lorne Bickley and another from Harry Curtis.

The two teams sat third and fourth, just as they did at the conclusion of last season. Abbey Rangers started the season slowly, going out of the F.A. Cup after a replay to Colliers Wood United, and only gaining one point from their first three league games.

Having got August out of the way they went on a twelve match unbeaten run in the league, winning ten of them, albeit losing three cup ties during the period. The unbeaten league run came to an end last Saturday when they went down 1-2 at A.F.C. Croydon Athletic. Their record was now 10-3-3 28-19, two points behind Jersey from the same number of matches.

James Carr was unavailable and ‘keeper Euan Van der Vliet was out with a minor groin strain. Pierce Roche took over in goal with Jonny Le Quesne and Luke Watson elevated from the bench. They were rotated with Kamen Nafkha and Lekimamati who were joined as substitutes by Joe Kilshaw, Seaney McColgan and Ruben Mendes, the latter returning after a long-term injury.

As the opposition flight was delayed the start was put back to 3.15. The afternoon was mild (12C) after a wet morning but there was a strong westerly which brought another squall just before the interval. Abbey Rangers welcomed back their captain Daryl Cooper-Smith who kicked-off as the visitors attacked the Robin Hood goal.

Firm tackling was the order of the day as witnessed by the eight cautions, four for each side, as the sides fought for control. Abbey Rangers shaded the first quarter of the match but Jersey came back in to it. Lorne Bickley after 34 minutes and Miguel Carvalho in added time were brought down in the box by Michak Stanic-Stewart and Ryan MacLean respectively but their penalty appeals were waved away. In between these incidents Will Byers, on his full home debut, gave home supporters a scare with a short headed back pass that Spencer Maw seized upon but Roche was out quickly and a calamity was avoided.

There was little meaningful goalmouth action and there was not a corner until an hour had been played, but the deadlock was broken by a Fraser Barlow “worldy”.
Bickley laid the ball off to him on the edge of the box right of centre and he curled his shot into the top left corner past the flailing Sam Gray as the Abbey Rangers defender’s heads visibly dropped. There was lengthy added time as the visitors had repeatedly been warned about time wasting and in the 99^th minute Barlow robbed a defender on the right byline, surged goalwards and laid the ball off for Watson to wrong foot Gray with a chip back across him in to the right corner to seal the win.

Jersey Bulls 2 (Fraser Barlow 75, Luke Watson 90+9), Abbey Rangers 0

Attendance – 754

Programme – 32pp £3.50 (with an attractive Christmas themed cover)

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, Will Byers, James Queree (c), Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Ben Le Rougetel, Fraser Barlow, Jonny Le Quesne, Lorne Bickley, Luke Watson, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 14. Kamen Nafkha (for Le Rougetel 84), 15. Francis Lekimamati (for Carvalho 76), 16. Joe Kilshaw (not used), 17. Seaney McColgan (not used), 18. Ruben Mendes (not used)

Red/White/Red, GK All Yellow

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Dan Seviour (Coach), Steve Martin (Physio.)

Abbey Rangers – Sam Gray, Ryan MacLean, Justin Thompson, George Frith, Michak Stanic-Stewart, Aidan King (wore 14), Spencer Maw, Yahaya Kamara, Danilo Cadete, Daryl Cooper-Smith (c), Jack Carrod (wore 16)
Substitutes – 11. Ross Murdoch (for Cadete 80), 12. Luke Robertson (for Maw 82), 17. Rob Hendry (player/coach) (not used), 18. Roje Grant (for Thompson 76), Ferrell Danso (for Carrod 62)

Grey & White stripes at front with plain White backs/Black/Black; GK All Light Green

Mike Woolgar and Paul Johnson (Joint Managers), Rob Hendry (Coach), Kiara Adley-Grice (Physio.), Becca Cross (Assistant Physio.)

Formations
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 6; 7-8-10-11; 9
Abbey Rangers (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 2-14-5-3; 8; 9-16-4-7; 10

Referee – Reece P. Woodham (Bracknell) 23, qualified 2018, initially with the Thames Valley League and now in his second Combined Counties season.

Assistants – Michael Hill (Merton) on the dug outs side, qualified 2008 in Blackpool.

Initially in the Lancashire Leagues and then the North-West Counties before moving south in 2020 to Thames Valley League and now in his third Co.Co season. Simon Cook (Wycombe) on the grandstand side, qualified in 2020, like referee Woodham initially with the Thames Valley League and now in his second Co. Co. season.

Cautions – Carrod (AR) 37, Barlow (JB) 54, MacLean (AR) 56, Kamara (AR) 64, Le Rougetel (JB) 69, Robertson (AR) 90, Lekimamati (JB) 90+5, Watson (JB) 90+10

Corners – Jersey Bulls (0) 1, Abbey Rangers (0) 1

Player of the Match – Fraser Barlow

Added Time – 1.55 & 9.45 (11.40)