Jersey met Beckenham Town in a match re-arranged from 13th September as Jersey hosted Worthing in the F.A. Cup on that date. The teams had met previously in 2021-22, Jersey’s first in the Combined Counties Premier Division. Beckenham won the title that season and reached the Isthmian play-offs in their first season at the higher level. Their bubble burst in 2023-24 when they escaped relegation despite finishing 19th of 20 clubs. They were on the fringes of the play-offs again in 2024-25 but are struggling again this season in 21st place (of 22) with a 4-4-14 31-53 record. However, they had won their last two fixtures at V.C.D. Athletic and on Saturday versus Crowborough Athletic.

Jersey made two changes to their squad with James Carr and Rai Dos Santos, who were both on the bench, replacing Fraser Barlow and Sam Devy. The starting line up saw Luke Campbell, Adam Trotter and Saturday’s player of the match, Stan Dunne, coming in for James Queree, Joe Kilshaw and Barlow, with Jonny Le Quesne taking over the captaincy. This was Dunne’s full debut.

Beckenham had Mudiaga Wanagho and Callum Corbin unavailable with Saturday substitutes Will Grieveson and Harry Gamble replacing them.
George Porter, Abbas Agoro and Roy Carter were added to the bench with Mark Marshall dropping out.

Jersey started strongly with Miguel Carvaho escaping down the right but his low cross just evaded the onrushing Lorne Bickley. James Sunley brought a straightforward save from Vinith Murugamoorthy and a Bickley shot on the turn also went straight to the ‘keeper. Beckenham went ahead against the run of play just before the half hour. Tyler Anderson evaded Jay Giles on the right flank and put in a low cross shot which Pierce Roche could only parry at the near post leaving Shaquille Gordon to tap in from four yards. Dunne had a shot blocked before half-time as Jersey went into the break a goal behind.

Ten minutes after the restart Bickley skipped past two defenders in the left channel before his close in shot was saved at the near post. Murugamoorthy then excelled himself with a double save from Dunne and then Bickley, the latter particularly good. Beckenham had another escape when a Bickley “goal” was ruled offside. Carvalho put in a cross from the right, Watling at the back post headed it back across the goal for Bickley to smash home, but to no avail.
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Jersey eventually scored with just under twenty minutes left. Dos Santos cut in from the left and his shot would probably have been saved, only for it to take a wicked deflection off Jack Holland. Murugamoorthy made a reaction save only for the ball to loop up to the far post where Bickley nodded home from a yard. With three minutes left Jersey had the ball the net again when Francis Lekimamati finished off a Giles cross after Adam Trotter had split open the defence. However, Giles was ruled offside in the build up, it must have been marginal.

This was followed shortly after by Le Quesne spurning an excellent chance after another glorious Trotter pass. In added time Sunley shot just wide from the edge of the box before the same assistant chalked off yet another “goal” just before the final whistle. Dos Santos put in a teasing cross from the left which Luke Campbell headed back towards the top left corner. Murugamoorthy clawed it away but only as far as Sunley who headed home from close in before he too was thwarted by an offside flag.

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, Jonny Le Quesne (c), Jay Giles (wore 14), James Watling (wore 15), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson (wore 16), James Sunley (wore 20), Aam Trotter (wore 12), Lorne Bickley, Stan Dunne (wore 19), Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 3. James Carr (not used), 4. James Queree (not used), 8. Joe Kilshaw (for Watson 73), 10. Rai Dos Santos (for Dunne 64), 21. Francis Lekimamati (for Carvalho 75)

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Dave Kennedy (Coach), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)

Beckenham Town – Vinith Murugamoorthy (wore 13), Joe Chalker, Makhaya James, Henry Douglas, Jack Holland (c), Will Grieveson, Freddie Nyhus, Harry Gamble,Shaquille Gordon, Thomas Hever, Tyler Anderson
Substitutes – 12, George Porter (not used), 14. Jesse Rowe (for Gordon 85), 15. Abbas Agoro (for Grieveson 81), 16. Casey Dudley (for Gamble, inj. 64), 17. Rob Carter (not used)

All Navy Blue; GK All Light Green

Management – Del Oldfield (Manager), Rob Carter (Player/Assistant), Harry Gamble (Player/Coach). Jacob Monteith (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-15-5-14; 16; 11-19-8-20; 9
Beckenham Town (4-4-2) 13; 2-5-6-3; 10-8-4-7; 11-9

Officials – Anthony Cross (Gosport), Ryan Hetherington (Kingston) dug outs, Alan Steward (Woodford) grandstand

Cautions – none (for either side)

3 / 3Corners –Jersey Bulls (2) 4; Beckenham Town (1) 2

Assist(s) – Rai Dos Santos

Player of the Match – Jamie Watling

Added Time – 1.00 & 5.25 (6.25)