Jersey made three changes to the squad that played against Fleet Town in the semi-final play-off four days previously. Luke Campbell, back from holiday, replaced Paul McKay in central defence. McKay moved to the bench where Kieran Lester and substitute goalkeeper Pierce Roche joined him as they displaced Kurtis Guthrie, Sammy Sutcliffe and Will Yates. Toby Ritzema was on holiday.

Cobham remained loyal to the squad that had got them to fourth place in the league and did not include the three higher level dual registration players that they had utilised in the play-off semi-final. The three changes to their squad from when they visited in early February were Derick Hayford, Nic Osborne and substitute Tom Weston being replaced by Louie Downey, who started, Marco Haigh and Kallum Peart. That match had ended goalless as had the one at Cobham in mid October.

Jersey took the lead after Lorne Bickley won the ball in midfield. He played the ball to Miguel Carvalho on the right corner of the box and he beat Remi Myers before crossing low to Joe Kilshaw near the penalty spot. Kilshaw’s first time shot to the bottom right corner brought him his 17th goal of the season, the only Bulls player to reach double figures this season. Four minutes later a Bickley shot from the edge of the box went narrowly wide of the left post.

Midway through the half James Queree and Campbell both went for the same ball lofted forward by Downey. Queree only succeeded in heading the ball to Elijah Simpson who headed goalward. Euan Van der Vliet was quickly out to the edge of his area but Simpson lifted the ball over him but well over the bar much to the relief of the capacity crowd.

Jersey responded with three corners in as many minutes but they came to nothing. Cobham looked likely to equalise after 39 minutes. Patrick Murray broke down the right but his low cross was blocked to the edge of the box where Downey running in at speed shot past Van der Vliet. Jonny Le Quesne charging back put in a magnificent sliding block which fell to Simpson fifteen yards out. Simpson also beat Van der Vliet but Le Quesne, now on his feet, was there again to save the day.

Cobham continued to apply pressure on the Jersey goal and forced four corners in the remainder of the half but Jersey managed to hang on to their slender lead going into the interval.
After the break Jersey increased their lead when Kilshaw fed the overlapping Bickley who worked his way to the right byline. His low cross from there found Fraser Barlow six yards out and he slotted home just before Ryan MacLean could get to him.

On the hour Jersey could have wrapped the match up. Bickley shot from the edge of the box and Conrad Knight managed to touch it on to the left post. It rebounded to Luke Watson but his shot was blocked by MacLean throwing himself in front of it. This time Kilshaw latched on to the rebound and his shot also hit MacLean but then looped up over Knight before Charlie Alexiou managed to get across and head it off the line.

Six minutes later Bickley again crossed from the right. Watson and two defenders all missed heading it and the ball fell to Barlow only for him to slice it well wide of the left post. This proved costly as shortly afterwards Hakeem Gbadmassi won the ball on the left sideline in his own half. He launched it forward diagonally with the speedy Murray in pursuit alongside James Carr. It appeared that Carr put in a good tacklebut a penalty was awarded. Jersey protests led to him consulting his assistant but the decision stood. With the crowd still booing the controversial decision Murray took the penalty and shot low left only for Van der Vliet, the hero of the semi-final shootout, to parry it as he dived to his right. Had it been a shoot out that would have been enough but the ball rebounded to Murray to head in from seven yards.

Cobham smelt blood and surged forward. In their next attack only sterling defensive work by Campbell and then Queree, the latter defying Reis Stanislaus, maintained the reduced lead. With ten minutes left substitute Marco Haigh wriggled into the penalty area but his eventual shot was not strong enough to extend Van der Vliet.
This proved to be Cobham’s last hurrah.

Jersey substitute Francis Lekimamati had a shot charged down and Jersey finished the stronger with three further corners before the final whistle blew with over six minutes added. Cue the inevitable good natured crowd invasion which was eventually cleared so that Chris Conlon, the Combined Counties Chairman could present the medals and then the trophy to James Queree, the Jersey Bulls captain.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne (wore 12), James Carr, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Fraser Barlow (wore 18), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, Adam Trotter, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 14. Francis Lekimamati (for Carvalho 78), 15. Paul McKay (for Watson 74), 17. Kieran Lester (for Barlow 86), 20. Karl Hinds (not used), 21. Pierce Roche (sub GK, not used)

Red/White/Red: GK All Green

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

Cobham – Conrad Knight, Ryan MacLean, Remi Myers, Jacob De Sa, Hakeem Gbadmassi, Charlie Alexiou (c), Patrick Murray, Ryan Marklew, Reis Stanislaus, Louis Downey, Elijah Simpson
Substitutes – 12. Marco Haigh (for Simpson 59), 14. Louis Toussaint (for Downey67), 15. Kallum Peart (not used), 16. Theo Huey-Walker (not used), 17. Rourke Pickford (sub GK, not used)

Yellow/Black/Black; GK All Mint Green

Craig Lewington (Manager), Ross Chalke and Jack Rossi (Assistants), Paul Cross (Medical) Dave Tippetts (Chair), Ewemade Orobator, Mark Cornish, Peter Steward and Eric Strange (Directors), Samuel Merison (Sporting Director), Trevor De Sa (Announcer)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 12-4-5-3; 6; 11-10-8-18; 9
Cobham (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-6-3; 7-8-4-10; 9-11

Daniel J. Harvey (Ashford, Middlesex) 24, visited Springfield as an assistant referee in early October 2022 for the goalless draw against Tadley Calleva. He was due to referee the match at Abbey Rangers in late January but that was postponed. Harvey progressed through the Middlesex leagues and is in his sixth Combined Counties season.

Craig M. Griffiths (Addlestone) (dug outs side) His 15th season, all with the Combined Counties. On the line at Badshot Lea in February 2023 and on the line at Springfield in August 2023 for the Tooting & Mitcham United fixture. Promoted to Level 4 and “middles” for this season and refereed the Guildford game in September.

Tom Murray (Crawley) (grandstand side) On the line here for the Knaphill match in December 2021 and for Horley twelve months later. Was fourth official for the F.A. Vase match against Hamworthy Recreation in January 2024. In the middle for our U18 matches at Hanworth Villa against Polish Victoria in March 2023 and at Horley Town for Rising Ballers Kensington in the F.A. Youth Cup this season. Now a Level 4 official he refereed the match at Fleet Town in December.

Nigel C. M. Owen (East Molesey) 48, An experienced official who qualified in 2010 and progressed through the Surrey leagues and is now in his 11th year with the Combined Counties. Referee at Springfield in April 2022 v Beckenham Town and in April 2024 for the play-off semi-final against A.F.C. Croydon Athletic. He was also in the middle for our away matches at Tooting Bec (F.A. Vase) in 2021-22, A.F.C. Croydon Athletic in both 2021-22 & 2022-23, Redhill 2022-23, Farnham Town 2023-24 and at Chipstead in mid December this season.

Caution(s) – Ryan Marklew (C) 39, Jonny Le Quesne (JB) 83, Reis Stanislaus (C) 90

Corners – Jersey Bulls (4) 10, Cobham (5) 6

Assist(s) – Miguel Carvalho, Lorne Bickley

Player of the Match – Adam Trotter

Added Time – 4.00 & 6.20 (10.20)