Jersey started 2024 hosting Alton whom they narrowly beat 2-0 in the first league away game in mid August with late goals from Fraser Barlow and Luke Watson.
Alton started the season slowly and after four consecutive losses in October their record stood at 3-2-7 plus defeats in both the F.A. Cup and F.A. Vase.

However, with a strengthened midfield and attack they have turned their season around and since late October their league form has been 7-1-1 with the only loss being 1-6 against league leaders Farnham Town. In that period they have also registered wins in the Combined Counties Cup and Hampshire Saturday Cup.

They now sit 5^th in the table 10-3-8 40-34.

Jersey, dormant for three weeks, fielded the same side that finished last year, albeit
Luke Watson and Jonny Le Quesne switched roles. Francis Lekimamati, Ruben Mendes and Fergus Boyle, the latter a late replacement for Kamen Nafkha, were added to the bench. Euan Van der Vliet, Jay Giles, Sammy Sutcliffe, Jack Boyle and Adam Trotter were all still out with injuries.

Jersey kicked off attacking the Town End from which a low sun shone with the thermometer registering 9C but it feeling much colder with the north-easterly breeze.

Alton opened the scoring after eight ten minutes. A long clearance was made by ‘keeper, Lewis Mees, out to the right wing, where Jamie Hoppitt cushioned a looping header infield. This was met by Perry Coles who flicked it forward beyond Harry Curtis to the onrushing Scott Sanderson who had anticipated this well. He advanced down the right channel and from the edge of the box struck the ball in off the bottom of the left post past a stranded Pierce Roche. An excellent move, for Alton anyway!

Another move between the same three players almost brought Alton another goal on 27 minutes but a stretching Sanderson could not steer his half volley wide of Roche.

After half an hour Jersey came more into the game and they equalised just before the hour. A Hoppitt follow through on Luke Campbell, which earned him the first caution of the afternoon, gave Roche the opportunity to launch the subsequent free-kick towards the Alton box. Jonny Le Quesne headed it on and Fraser Barlow harried a stooping Ed Dryden into a weak headed clearance. This was booted clear by Alex Merrifield only for Lorne Bickley to charge it down and the rebound dropped kindly for him for finish off from eight yards.

However, Alton were to obtain the winner. A long throw by substitute Ross Stepney

was aimed towards Sanderson at the near post. He was outjumped by Campbell but did enough to make the defender do his job for him with a deflection towards the centre. There Alton defender Jamie Phillips reacted quickest with a diving header to angle the ball into the bottom left corner. Alton’s second well taken goal to secure the points in a match between two well organised sides.

Jersey Bulls 1 (Lorne Bickley 58), Alton 2 (Scott Sanderson 8, Jamie Phillips 73)

Attendance – 643

Programme – 32 pages, £3.50

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, James Queree (c), James Carr, Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Ben Le Rougetel, Fraser Barlow, Luke Watson, Lorne Bickley, Jonny Le Quesne, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 14. Joe Kilshaw (not used), 15. Ruben Mendes (not used), 16. Francis Lekimamati (for Carvalho 70), 17. Seaney McColgan (for Watson 87), 18. Fergus Boyle (not used)

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

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

Alton – Lewis Mees, Jamie Phillips (vc), Matt Graham (wore 16), Ed Dryden, Adam Brice (c), Alex Merrifield, Owen Tanner, Jamie Hoppitt, Perry Coles, Josh Stepney, Scott Sanderson
Substitutes – 12. Max Cunningham (for J. Stepney 84), 14. Ross Stepney (for Brice 55), 15. Evan Anderson (for Hoppitt 81), 17. Archie Larkham (for Graham 46), 21. Morgan Kendall (sub GK) (not used)

White (Black shoulders)/Black/Black; GK All Light Green

Kevin Adair (Manager), Leigh Keddle (Assistant), Steve Franks and Matt Benham (Coaches), Rosie Miron (Physio.), Bobbie Williams (Assistant Physio.)

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

Referee – Michael C. Smith (Bracknell) 29, qualified at 14 in 2008 and was initially with the East Berkshire League. Reached Level 3 aged 20 but after 8 years there, with the birth of his first child, has reverted to Level 4 and is back with the Combined Counties League. His first Jersey match.

Assistants – Derrick Coe (Boreham Wood) on the dug outs side. In his 27^th season

having previously been with both the Spartan South Midlands and Essex Senior Leagues. Nigel Hickes (Ruislip) on the grandstand side. Qualified in 1991 and with the Combined Counties League for 27 years. Both were here last season too.

Cautions – Jamie Hoppitt (A) 57, Jonny Le Quesne (JB) 74

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 2; Alton (1) 1

Player of the Match – Fraser Barlow

Added Time – 1.40 & 5.10 (6.50)