Jersey revisited the scene of their first away match, when they won 6-0 at F.C. Deportivo Galicia, tenants of Bedfont Sports, in Combined Counties Division 1 in mid-August 2018. Jersey had had an unexpected “breather” after fog had prevented them flying to their top of the table clash with Redhill on Tuesday.

Bedfont Sports, whose well appointed ground adjoins that of Bedont (& Feltham) where Jersey have played more often, were only established in 2002. The club joined Combined Counties Division 1 from the Middlesex League in 2009 and were promoted after finishing second in their third season. A similar position in the higher division six years later saw them elevated to the Isthmian League. Their best season there was 2021-22 when they finished third, only to lose in the play-offs, as well as reaching the final qualifying round of the F.A. Cup and the first round of the F.A. Trophy. However, 2024 saw them relegated back to the Combined Counties where they are competing in the North Division.

There they sit 5th with a 7-3-4 32-14 record but they are currently on an eight match unbeaten run, including five in the league, during which they have only conceded two goals. In the F.A. Vase they have played three lower level clubs, defeating Langley 5-0, Bedfont 3-0 and Penn & Tylers Green 2-0. Jersey on the other hand were exempt to this stage having reached the last 16 again last season.

Jersey were still without their two strikers, Lorne Bickley and Karl Hinds, and Miguel Carvalho had not recovered from the knock he received against Knaphill. Kieran Lester came in for Rai Dos Santos who moved to the bench and Jack Boyle a “bencher” last week was brought in for Carvalho. Dos Santos injured himself in the warm up so Jersey only had two effective replacements.

Bedfont Sports made six changes to the team that won 3-0 at Ardley last week. Trisdon Andrews, Josh Eatwell (as captain), Ollie Davison, Adam Sewell, Chris Sawyer and Jared Myers all came in, only the latter being a substitute at Ardley.
Their bench also saw four changes with only one of them starting last week.

Both teams had splendid defensive records. Between them they had only conceded

twice in their last 16 matches combined. With each side only playing one up front a goalless match was a strong possibility.

Bedfont looked to break quickly in numbers whereas Lester cut a lonely figure up front for Jersey. It made for a drab match, rather like the weather, with chances few and far between.

After ten minutes Carr did well on the right and put in a cross to the unmarked Ritzema. The midfielder is no Bickley and his free header looped over the bar.
Almost immediately Lester got in a cross shot from close in on the right but it whistled past the left post. Lester was played in again just before the half hour but wanted too much time on the ball and the opportunity was lost.

With ten minutes to the interval Chris Sawyer broke quickly for Bedfont and his powerful rising shot from twenty-five yards was saved at the second attempt by Euan Van der Vliet. Jersey responded at the other end with Ritzema hitting a left footed volley just wide of the right post as Frankie Beckles dived to his left.

Just before the interval Jersey were fortunate not to concede a penalty when James Queree brought down Tyler Robinson but the referee waved away the home appeals

After the break Carr, stretching, miskicked when close in and a defender was able to clear the danger at the expense of a corner. Ten minutes later Carr again got in to a good position and put in a diving header from a Fraser Barlow cross but he did not get a good connection on that either.

Midway through the half Jude Jake-McKay was well placed on the edge of the box with the Jersey defence spreadeagled but Jonny Le Quesne put in a diving block to

deflect his shot for a corner. With quarter of an hour remaining Lester was replaced by Francis Lekimamati and he was to have a hand in both the Jersey goals.

Five minutes later Harry Curtis played a long ball forward to Le Quesne overlapping on the right flank. He skipped past Bedfont skipper Josh Eatwell and rifled in a powerful cross shot from a narrow angle. It just missed Lekimamati but central defender Ollie Davison standing beside him could only deflect it in past Beckles.

This set back saw Bedfont start to move forward more which left gaps at the back. In the last minute of “normal” time Watson played a long ball forward to the right flank where Davison reached it first. Pressurised by Lekimamati he played the ball inside towards Trisdon Andrews but it eluded Andrews and ran on to Boyle just outside the edge of the box in the left channel. Boyle collected himself and slotted to ball home,beating Beckles as he dived to his right, to ensure a Jersey victory. In added time substitute Sammy Sutcliffe set up Lekimamati sliding in at the right post, but Beckles did well to prevent a third. The win also means Jersey are exempt to at least the firstround next season if they are not promoted.

Bedfont Sports – Frankie Beckles, Trisdon Andrews, Josh Eatwell (c), George Frise(vc), Ollie Davison, Adam Sewell (wore 13), Jake Woods, Chris Sawyer, Tyler Robinson, Jude Jakes-McKay, Jared Myers
Substitutes – 12. Charlie Cushion (for Eatwell 90+2), 14. Jamie Pike (for Sewell 83), 15. London Bradshaw (not used), 16. George Maxwell (for Sawyer 58), 17. EbfaimDevanna-Ngungi (for Myers 78)

Red & Black wide hoops (Roger the Dodger style)/Black/White; GK All Royal Blue

Barry Chapman (Manager), Alfie Chapman (Assistant), Marc Corman, Luke Russell and Cesare Woodbridge (Coaches), Javon Charles (Medical)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne (vc), Fraser Barlow, James Queree (c), Harry Curtis, Luke Watson, Toby Ritzema, Joe Kilshaw, Kieran Lester,Jack Boyle, James Carr
Substitutes – 12. Francis Lekimamati (for Lester 75), 16. Sammy Sutcliffe (for Ritzema 90+1), 17. Rai Dos Santos (not used, injured in warm up), only three subs

White/White/Red; GK All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Adam Lester (Coach), Karl Benest (Kit), Dylan Buesnel(Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Bedfont Sports (5-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-13-3; 10-11-8-7; 9
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-5-4-3; 6; 8-10-7-11; 9

Match Officials – Liam Chick (Wimbledon), Dorken Baltas (Kensington) on the dug outs side and Richard Parnell (Watford) on clubhouse side

Cautions – Chris Sawyer (BS) 56, Toby Ritzema (JB) 85

Corners – Bedfont Sports (1) 5, Jersey Bulls (2) 3

Assists – Le Quesne, Lekimamati

Player of the Match – Queree

Added Time – 1.00 & 6.00 (7.00)