Balham were the visitors, usually a mid-table side but struggling this season, lying 19th of 20 and looking over their shoulders. The only other amateur side in the division their record was 3-7-19 28-62. Their third league win had come a week ago when they defeated Sandhurst Town 1-0. The teams had met in early-September at Tooting and Mitcham United, Balham’s new groundshare, when Jersey had won 4-1.

Jersey made three changes. Jay Giles, returning from a long-term injury, came in at left back to replace Fraser Barlow. It was his first start since late August. Adam Trotter, a substitute last week, swapped roles with Luke Watson meaning Watson did not start for the first time this season. Finally, Lorne Bickley, also returning from a long-term injury, made his first start since early October. He had been a substitute last week and swapped roles with Rai Dos Santos. Joining Dos Santos and Watson on the bench were Joe Kilshaw, back from holiday, Keiran Lester, and new signing Paul McKay, formerly of Clyde, who has recently re-located to the Island.

Jersey had been urged to get on to the “front foot” early and the first sign of this was a break down the left by Miguel Carvalho which was countered at the expense of a corner. Carvalho swung it in and Harry Curtis coming in at the near post put a header just over the bar. Jonny Le Quesne was well placed shortly afterwards but perhaps took a touch too many and a defender put in a saving block. At the other end James Queree had to the same when James Adebayo took aim for Balham.

Midway through the half Bickley dragged his shot across the face of the goal but a minute later provided the assist for the opening goal. He flicked on Giles ball forward and the ball found Karl Hinds in space twenty-five yards out. He waited for the ball to sit before a beautifully weighted lob left John Ross stranded ten yards off his line.

Le Quesne had another shot blocked before a Carvalho cross saw a Bickley diving header which Ross parried with a one-handed reaction save before scrambling back to grab the ball before it crossed the line. Before the interval Bickley was thwarted twice more as defenders nicked the ball away as he was about to pull the “trigger”.

Immediately after the break Le Quesne scuffed a Carvalho cross wide before Adebayo found himself in space only eight yards out, albeit with his back to goal. He was slow to turn and his shot was well wide of the right post. Connor Keene also

just missed the same vertical with a powerful swerving shot from the right channel.

Jersey needed a second goal to put the game to bed and it eventually arrived midway through the half. A Giles corner on the right came back to him and this time he found Carvalho twenty yards out and his low shot found its way through all the bodies in front of Ross and into the bottom right corner. This was the cue for a double substitution with Watson and McKay coming on for Trotter and Bickley.

Jersey immediately sprang to life and scored a third. A Carvalho corner on the left went to Luke Campbell beyond the far post and he headed back to the near post where Toby Ritzema outjumped two defenders and nodded home off the post. This goal saw Carvalho replaced by Kieran Lester and he soon swept down the right and crossed for Hinds to tap in only for the assistant to incorrectly give it as offside. This statement made with the benefit of reviewing the match footage. Last week the same happened and cost Jersey two points, this time it was of less consequence.

Hinds soon had two more excellent opportunities. The first from a Ritzema through ball he scuffed wide and the second brought a good save out of Ross. Watson also almost added to the total when he met a Giles corner with a powerful header that deflected off a defender just over the bar. The final significant action saw Balham almost grab a consolation. Substitute Sam Pagano provided a shooting chance for Luke Hedges which deflected off Campbell’s chest to debutant Marlon Ortiz five yards out. Somehow Euan Van der Vliet parried it to maintain his clean sheet.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis, Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Adam Trotter (wore 15), Jonny Le Quesne (wore 18), Karl Hinds (wore 20), Lorne Bickley, Toby Ritzema, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 6. Luke Watson (for Trotter 69), 8. Joe Kilshaw (for Le Quesne 62), 12. Paul McKay (for Bickley 69), 14. Rai Dos Santos (not used), 17. Kieran Lester (for Carvalho 72)

Red/White/Red; GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Adam Lester (Coach), Dylan Buesnel (Analyst), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)

Balham – John Ross, Ed McCrea, Kojo Kyei, Dan David (c), Ollie Meadows, Jake Henry, Piers Oldland, Jack Banks, James Adebayo, Connor Keene, Luke Hedges
Substitutes – 12. Sam Pagano (for Keene 86), 14. Omario Stewart (for McCrea 42), 15. Idir Kermoud (for Adebayo 84), 16. Erick Arias (for Oldland 90+2), 17. Marlon Ortiz (for Banks 76)

White/Black/Black; GK Orange/Orange/Black

Dare Jean-Pierre (Manager), Seneye Morrell (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-3; 15; 18-10-20-11; 9

Balham (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-6-3; 11-8-4-7; 10-9

Match Officials – Matthew Childs (Reading), 31, qualified 2018, Hertfordshire, Berks & Bucks, London, 4th season with Combined Counties, first visit to Springfield. On the line at Ascot when we played Balham in March 2022 and in the middle at Sandhurst in September 2023. Robert Reid (Kenton) dug outs, Middlesex leagues, 5th Combined Counties season, first Jersey match so also first visit to Springfield. Martin Etheridge (Walton on Thames) grandstand side. Referees Appointments Secretary for the Combined Counties League and a linesman at Wimbledon for over thirty years. Last at Springfield in November 2021 for the 4-4 draw against Walton & Hersham, last seen at Corinthian-Casuals three months ago for another dramaticfinish when Jersey won 4-3.

Cautions – none for either side

Corners – Jersey Bulls (4) 10; Balham (1) 4

Assists – Lorne Bickley, Jay Giles, Luke Campbell

Player of the Match – Karl Hinds

Added Time – 3.50 & 2.30 (6.20)