In form Cobham were the visitors, lying 4th and almost certainly guaranteed a play-off position. They had only lost twice away and had a 17-8-6 68-32 record but since late November 8-1-1 27-6 with the only blemish being a 0-1 loss at Whyteleafe. The teams had met in mid-October when Cobham had had the better of a goalless draw.

Cobham fielded an unchanged starting XI whilst Jersey made just one alteration with Miguel Carvalho replacing Francis Lekimamati. Adam Trotter, Lorne Bickley and substitute goalkeeper Harry Gladdish were added to the bench. The match marked Euan Van der Vliet’s 150th appearance.

Jersey started brightly with a looping Rai Dos Santos header coming back off the bar in the first minute and Jacob Gbadmassi heading a Carvalho cross against his own post three minutes later. A Carvalho one-two with Le Quesne in the fifth minute saw the latter hit Conrad Knight’s legs.

After that early flurry the match settled into a midfield battle with little goalmouth action until just before the interval when a Dos Santos diagonal free kick was headed powerfully towards the left corner from six yards by Luke Watson. Knight was well positioned and the ball cannoned off him for a corner.

Trotter replaced Toby Ritzema at the break, the latter having been caught on the left ankle by Nic Osborne just before half-time. Cobham almost scored after twelve seconds when Ryan Marklew punted forward from thirty-five yards. Van der Vliet nonchalantly watched it drop on to the top of his own cross bar.

Just before hour Cobham threatened again. A corner from the right pinballed around the box before falling to Gbadmassi who blazed over from eight yards as James Queree came in to try to block the attempt. On the hour Jersey had a “goal” chalked off for offside. A Dos Santos free kick on the left sideline saw Charlie Alexiou head past his own ‘keeper under pressure from Luke Campbell. It must have been close.

Undeterred Carvalho and Dos Santos created another chance within seconds that the latter, from near the penalty spot, put just wide of the left post.

Bickley was introduced for Harry Curtis at the three quarter-mark and soon after both Carvalho and Karl Hinds had shots from the right saved before Bickley had a shot in added time cleared off the line by Ryan MacLean to leave the match goalless again.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis, Fraser Barlow, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Jonny Le Quesne (wore 18 after 7 minutes), Karl Hinds (wore 20), Rai Dos Santos, Toby Ritzema, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 8. Adam Trotter (for Ritzema 46), 12. Kieran Lester (for Hinds 82), 16. Lorne Bickley (for Curtis 67), 17. Jay Giles (not used), 21. Harry Gladdish (sub GK, not used)

Red/White/Red; GK All Green

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

Cobham – Conrad Knight, Ryan MacLean, Remi Myers, Jacob De Sa, Hakeem Gbadmassi, Charlie Alexiou (c), Patrick Murray, Ryan Marklew, Reis Stanislaus, Derick Hayford, Nic Osborne.
Substitutes – 12. Elijah Simpson (for Meyers 67), 14. Tom Weston not used), 15. Louis Toussiant (for Stanislaus 84), 16. Theo Huey-Walker (not used), 17. Rourke Pickford (sub GK, not used)

Yellow/Black/Black; GK Light Blue with Navy Blue sleeves/Navy Blue/Navy Blue

Craig Lewington (Manager), Adrian Browne and Ross Chalke (Assistants), Paul Cross (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-3; 6; 18-10-20-11; 9

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

Match Officials – Ricky Jordan Ansher (Edgware) 26, qualified 2012, Middlesex leagues, 4th season with Combined Counties, first Jersey Bulls fixture. David Masters(Twyford) on the dug outs side. Qualified 1995, initially with Berks & Bucks before Hertfordshire whilst at university. Continued in both Italy and Tanzania whilst living abroad before returning in 2016. Fourth season with Combined Counties and was at Springfield in January 2024 for the Balham match. Joshua Samuel Whittall (Camberley) on the grandstand side. Qualified in 2018 with Berks & Bucks, was on the line at Fleet Town six weeks ago, first visit to Springfield.

Cautions – Harry Curtis (JB) 63, Fraser Barlow (JB) 90+1

Corners – Jersey Bulls (3) 4; Cobham (2) 5

Assists – none

Player of the Match – Fraser Barlow

Added Time – 1.00 & 3.20 (4.20)