After a warm-up match seven days previously against the clubs under 23s at Springfield the youth team played its first competitive match of the season. Drawn at home to Ascot United the fixture was reversed and played on the mainland.

An unexpected question over Tomas Goncalves registration indicating he required international clearance meant Archie Drummond was initially named to start instead of him. As he had also played last season this was perplexing. Twenty-five minutes before kick-off it was confirmed that this was a problem with the F.A. registration system and Jersey reverted to their originally intended line up.

At the kick off the ball was played back to Paul Burton who hit a long ball forward to Gabriel Medeiros. His run into the penalty box was halted by a foul, resulting in a penalty, which was converted by Joey O’Toole going to the bottom right and sending Jorge Ribeiro-Perez the wrong way safter just ninety-two seconds. Ten minutes later an O’Toole corner was headed home by Alfie Queree for Jersey’s second.

Stanley Dunne looked to have made the game safe before half time with a pair oftwenty-yard rockets within fifteen minutes of each other, the first in off a post and the second proving the initial one was not a fluke.

Early in added time Sonny Cassidy was injured in making a tackle and was replaced by Archie Drummond. The following minute Zavier Knight pulled a goal back for Ascot as Afonso Freitas was unable to hold on to his shot from the edge of the box.

Two further changes were made at the interval with Harry Henderson and Jacob Clynes coming on for Dylan McGee and Gabriel Medeiros. After the break Jersey supporters began to worry when Cormack Harris further reduced the lead as the young Bulls seemed to still be in the dressing room and were slow to settle after the changes made to the team.

These worries were allayed five minutes later when Will Yates restored the three-goal advantage for Jersey when he was on hand to bundle the ball home after Ascot failed to clear a free kick.

Just after the hour substitute Henderson’s cross into the six-yard area was turned into his own goal by Thomas Pike. Within eighty seconds Ascot ‘keeper, Ribeiro-Perez, had a rush of blood to the head and came ten yards outside of the penalty box before clattering O’Toole. Although there were covering defenders the referee decided that the offence worthy of a red card. Ascot had a substitute ‘keeper, Oliver Hanlon, on the bench and he was brought on with striker Jack Burton sacrificed.

O’Toole returned to his feet to take the long delayed free kick and Hanlon was called into action straight away as O’Toole’s free kick from the right channel was curled into the top right corner with Hanlon unable to keep it out.

With Ascot reduced to ten players Henderson had room and time to collect a pass from O’Toole and he ran on to score Jersey’s eighth. Within two minutes another substitute was on the score sheet as Clynes accepted Burton’s pinpoint pass before converting the ninth. At the start of added time Jersey moved into double figures as Ascot again failed to deal with a free-kick and the ball was played back in for Yates to score his second.

Jersey Bulls – Afonso Freitas (wore 21), Ewan Brodie (wore 16), Sonny Cassidy (wore 12), Paul Burton, Tomas Goncalves (wore 18), Alfie Queree, Dylan McGee, Stanley Dunne, Joey O‘Toole (c), Will Yates, Gabriel Medeiros
Substitutes – 5. Archie Drummond (for Cassidy inj 45+1), 14. Harry Henderson (for McGee 46), 15. Jacob Clynes (for Medeiros 46), only three substitutes

All Red: GK All Green

Paul Renton (Manager), John Lloyd (Assistant), Nikki Nicolle (Medical)

Ascot United – Jorge Ribeiro-Perez, Lewis McMenemy, Fletcher Knight, Julien Malta-Bey (c), Michael Lloyd, Finley Brooks, Cormack Harris, Theo Parrott, Jack Burton, Zavier Knight, Joseph Ferrett
Substitutes – 12. Milo Schmidt (for F. Knight 46). 14. Thomas Pike (for Ferrett 46), 15. Ryan Murray (for Brooks 79), 16. Franklin Antonio (not used), 17. Joel Shears(not used), 18. Joshua West (not used), 19. Oliver Hanlon (sub GK) (for Burton 67)

Yellow/Royal Blue/Yellow; GK Green/Black/Black; Sub GK Green/Black tracksuit bottoms

David Burton (Manager)

Formations (R to L)

Jersey Bulls (4-3-3) 21; 16-18-6-12; 8-4-10; 7-9-11

Ascot United (4-4-2) N/A

Officials – Craig Backhouse (Windsor), Steven J. Monks (Medmenham, Marlow) (dug outs), Matthew Downey (Bourne End) (clubhouse)

Cautions – Sonny Cassidy (JB) 17 (simulation), Paul Burton (JB) 61, Jorge Ribiero-Perez (AU GK) 64 (dismissed), Archie Drummond (JB) 78, Ryan Murray (AU) 87, Theo Parrott (AU) 89

Corners – N/A

Assist(s) – Gabriel Medeiros, Joey O’Toole, outside box, outside box again, after free kick, Harry Henderson, free kick, Joey O’Toole, Paul Burton, after free kick

Player of the Match – Joey O’Toole

Added Time – 2.30 & 4.00 (6.30)