Jersey hosted the only other amateur team in the division – Balham. A club with a strong youth development section that has seen their better players move on to other clubs only to return to Balham as they enjoy the atmosphere there. Last season they lost both Tom Read, their top scorer the previous season with 41 goals, and midfielder Luke Hedges, who joined the higher ranked Metropolitan Police and Beckenham Town respectively. Both are now back with Balham this season.

Like Redhill last week Balham had a much better away record than “home”. Their home record was 4-0-6 but it was away 8-1-3 which saw them in sixth position in the league with an overall record of 12-1-9 31-34. They fell at the first hurdle in both the F.A. Cup and F.A. Vase, both inevitably being home ties, but they were still involved with the Combined Counties Premier Cup and the London Senior Cup.

Jersey tweaked their line up once again as they sought to increase their goal tally. With Pierce Roche being suspended after his dismissal last week, and both Euan Van der Vliet and Robbie Scott being injured, the goalkeeping spot was filled by Alex Brown. Brown, a 17 year old from Hoylake, playing for the Tranmere Rovers youth team had already been loaned out to Vauxhall Motors (Ellesmere Port) this season. A helpful link having been made when Roche had trials with the Prenton Park club.

Ben Le Rougetel had not recovered from the knock he received last week and was replaced by Luke Watson making his 50^th appearance. Finally, James Carr came in for Francis Lekimamati. The latter was on the bench where he was joined, inter-alia, by Miguel Carvalho, back from a trial with Crawley Town, and Robert Martins-Figueira as his local club, Grouville, were without a fixture. Jersey went for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Fraser Barlow and James Carr attacking the flanks and Jonny Le Quesne in the centre behind Lorne Bickley.

Balham kicked off attacking the Robin Hood end on a sunny but still chilly afternoon as the easterly breeze somewhat negated the 10C showing on the thermometer. Jersey suffered an early set back when Le Quesne, floored for a second time, had to be replaced by Ruben Mendes. Barlow fed a couple of delightful through balls to Bickley, the first squandered but the second giving the front man his 75^th goal just after the half hour to give Bulls the advantage.

Balham hit back before the interval. A long ball forward skimmed off the back of Luke Campbell’s head and fell conveniently into the path of Piers Oldland who deftly lifted the ball over the stranded Brown who had advanced to the edge of his box. After the break Bickley could not capitalise on chances set up by Mendes and then Carvalho. The latter having been part of a triple substitution as Jersey looked to break through.
As it was Balham could have taken the three points. A header from centre back Mark Palmer hit the left post in the 79^th minute and in the last minute of normal time substitute Andre Cruz-Rosa blazed over from near the penalty spot to leave the teams sharing the points and Jersey without a league win in their last four matches.

Jersey Bulls 1 (Lorne Bickley 34), Redhill 1 (Piers Oldland 43)

Attendance – 596

Programme – 32 pages, £3.50

Jersey Bulls – Alex Brown, Will Byers, James Queree (c), Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, Fraser Barlow, Luke Watson, Lorne Bickley, Jonny Le Quesne, James Carr
Subs – 14. Joe Kilshaw (for Nafkha 68), 15. Francis Lekimamati (for Mendes 68), 16. Robert Martins-Figueira (not used), 17. Miguel Carvalho (for Barlow 68), 18. Ruben Mendes (for Le Quesne 18)

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

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

Balham, Haydn Read (wore 23), Ed McCrea, James Adebayo, Dan David (c), Mark Palmer, Jake Henry, Alec Fiddes, Luke Hedges, Sebastian Fallowfield, Tom Read, Piers Oldland
Subs – 12. Ashley Snadden (for Adebayo 74), 14. Nathan Osaji (for Read 87), 15. Andre Cruz-Rosa (for Oldland 84), 16. Sam Pagano (not used), 17. Leighton Francis (not used)

White/Black/Black; GK All Dark Green

Ebrahim Seedat (Manager), Angus Wythes (Coach), Dare (sic) St. Pier (Physio.)

Formations
Jersey Bulls (4-2-3-1 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 6-8; 7-10-11; 9
Balham (4-4-2 R to L) 23; 2-5-6-9; 7-4-8-11; 3-10

Referee – Harry (sic) G. Yellen (Sutton) Only 21 but in his 8th season of officiating, initially in the Surrey County League, now in his fifth season in the Combined Counties League. Last here in March 2023 for the match v Camberley Town.

Assistants – Simon Maynard (Reading) On the dug outs side, qualified 1999. Initially on local leagues, then the Hellenic for 9 years before reaching Level 3 and officiating in the Southern and Isthmian leagues. In his fourth year with Combined Counties.

David Masters (Twyford) on the grandstand side, qualified 2001. Initially with Berks & Bucks before Hertfordshire whilst at university. Continued in both Italy and Tanzania whilst living abroad before returning in 2016. In third year with Combined Counties.

Cautions – Carr (JB) 42, Nafkha (JB) 56, Freeman (JB manager) 65, McCrea (B) 82, Campbell (JB) sin bin 88, Watson (JB) sin bin 90+8

Corners – Jersey Bulls (2) 6; Balham (2) 3

Player of the Match – James Carr; Added Time – 4.05 & 8.30 (12.35)