The Stock Market derby (Bulls v Bears) had been re-arranged from 12th August due to travel logistics earlier in the season, so this was Jersey’s fourth successive home fixture in ten days as they entertained Broadbridge Heath to whom they lost 1-2 in Sussex six weeks ago. The Horsham side sat one place above Jersey in 10th with a 10-3-9 49-37 record. 25 of those 33 points have come from their home matches. Their poorer away record had continued on Saturday when they lost 1-2 at Faversham Town with a squad that contained four changes to the one met by Jersey.

Jersey made three changes to their team. Saturday substitutes James Carr, Joe Kilshaw and Miguel Carvalho swapped roles with Jay Giles, Luke Watson and Stan Dunne. Jack Lumsden, back from university, was on the bench in place of Luke Coutanche. Harry Mackenzie (#22) was initially listed as a substitute but was replaced by Giles, who had been injured on Saturday, after the warm-ups. With Carvalho and Lekimamati starting on the flanks Sunley was moved to centre midfield where he proved far more effective.

Broadbridge Heath brought in Saturday substitutes Callum Dowdell and Charlie Connell who swapped roles with Neo Wooster and Luke Bejashvili. In addition, Emmanuel Abudiore replaced Zachary Young, who had scored both the goals when the teams met previously. Substitute goalkeeper, Stanley Williamson replaced Elliott Romain on the bench.

The first moments of interest occurred just before the mid-point of the half. A good three man move between Adam Trotter, Sunley and Lorne Bickley was finished off by the latter only for him to be flagged offside. Within a minute at the other end Jonny Le Quesne passed infield only to find Louis Evans in space. Evans advanced and hit the base of the left post from twenty yards. A few minutes later Carvalho had a shot pushed away for a corner and as the break approached Bickley hit a shot on the turn just wide of the left post.

Jersey knocked the stuffing out of their opponents straight after the interval. Sunley found Lekimamati with an astute pass inside the back on the right. Lekimamati’s low cross was aimed for Bickley but Lewis Hyde slid in at the near post and his 2 / 3interception trickled inside the right post with Alfie Hadfield in the Broadbridge goal wrong footed. Four minutes later Carr managed to stick in a foot as Emmanuel Abudiore tried to move forward, the ball ran to Sunley whose shot from just outside the area eluded Hadfield’s dive and found the bottom left corner.

The Jersey defence that had lived dangerously at times in the first half almost presented Broadbridge Heath with a way back with ten minutes to go.
Luke Campbell passed back to Pierce Roche but Roche’s heavy touch allowed Evans to partially block his attempted clearance. The ball ran to substitute Bejashvili whose shot was parried by Roche, desperately scurrying back to atone for his error. This time the ball fell for Evans near the penalty spot who shot past Roche only for Campbell on the goal line to pull off a magnificent lunging save with an outstretched right leg.

Jersey wrapped up the win four minutes later. A three man inter-passing move between Toby Ritzema, Dunne and Joe Kilshaw finished with a powerful shot from the latter twenty yards out. Hadfield made a good save diving to his left only for the ball to loop up for Carvalho to head home from eight yards off the recovering ‘keepers fingertips.

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche (wore 13), Jonny Le Quesne, James Carr, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Adam Trotter (wore 12), Francis Lekimamati (wore 21), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, James Sunley (wore 20), Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 6. Toby Ritzema (for Lekimamati 62), 14. Jay Giles (for Carvalho 90), 15. Jack Lumsden (for Trotter 88), 16. Luke Watson (for Kilshaw 90), 19. Stan Dunne (for Bickley 84)

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)

Broadbridge Heath – Alfie Hadfield, Salvatore Marino, Luke Staight, Byron Napper (c), Lewis Hyde, Jay Richardson, Callum Dowdell, Charlie Connell, Mason Doughty, Louis Evans, Emmanuel Abudiore
Substitutes – 12. Neo Wooster (for Richardson inj. 69), 13. Stanley Williamson (sub GK, not used), 14. Luke Bejashvili (for Doughty 73), 15. Charlie Gibson (for Staight 66), 16. Charlie Pettipher (not used)

All Royal Blue (White trim); All Purple
Chris Simmons (Manager), Carl Downs, Sean Jarvie and Chris Polson (Coaches) Naomi Cole and Josh Pumfrey (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 13; 2-4-5-3; 8; 21-20-12-11; 9
Broadbridge Heath (4-4-2) 1; 2-6-5-3; 10-8-4-7; 11-9
3 / 3
Officials – David Spain (Westfield, Hastings), Michael Corderoy (Gillingham) dug outs, Jack Mottram (Rainham, Kent) grandstand

Cautions – James Sunley (JB) 21, Luke Staight (BH) 36

Corners – Jersey Bulls (2) 3; Broadbridge Heath (1) 2

Assist(s) – Francis Lekimamati, James Carr, Joe Kilshaw

Player of the Match – James Sunley

Added Time – 1.55 & 5.55 (7.50)