Jersey hosted Crowborough whom they had defeated 2-1 in early January after only just resisting the hosts spirited comeback in the second half. Crowborough had spent the season in the lower/middle part of the table and were currently 14th (13-7-16 52-70) but without ever seriously being in danger of relegation. Crowborough sits in the North-East corner of East Sussex, on the Kent border, so compete in the South-East Counties League when a level lower. They, like Jersey, finished second last season and won their way through the play-offs.

Their last two fixtures had both been against Faversham, losing 0-4 at home in midweek before bouncing back to draw 1-1 at Faversham last Saturday with a squad that showed only two differences to the one that faced Jersey in January. The latter result did Jersey a good turn as now with six matches to play they and Faversham are level on points and goal difference as they contest the last play-off place.

Jersey made one change to their squad with James Sunley coming in for Francis Lekimamati on the bench. There were two starting rotations with James Carr and Adam Trotter starting in place of Joe Kilshaw and Miguel Carvalho. Crowborough captain Tom Boddy, a substitute last week, coming in for Charlie Paye, who had been recalled by Bromley from his loan, was their only starting change. On the bench Mohammed Zabadne and Harry Forster replaced David Ajao and Boddy.

Teams stayed ends and Jersey kicked off attacking the Robin Hood end 3.59.35

Jersey produced their best football of the season for their biggest crowd of the season as they swept aside Crowborough Athletic and at the same time leapfrogged their two Kent rivals, Sittingbourne Town and Faversham Town, who both suffered heavy home defeats. It puts the Bulls into fourth position and for the first time in the season they have their play-off destiny in their own hands with five matches remaining.

Rai Dos Santos was the star of the show with his second hat-trick in three home matches and eight goals in his last four home fixtures. It was a perfect hat-trick too -left foot, header and right foot as the decisive win allowed the manager to bring on all his substitutes as he rested vital members of the team ahead of their two fixtures in three days over the forthcoming Easter weekend. Jersey supporters will be hoping Dos Santos can now open his away account in the league in the next few weeks as all twelve of his league goals this season have come at Springfield.

Crowborough were no mean opponents, having drawn at Faversham last week, but Jersey were four up in the opening half hour. The first arrived when James Carr was clattered just outside the box. The resultant torn ligaments in his left ankle led to him being replaced by Miguel Carvalho shortly afterwards by which time the Bulls were two up. The free kick by Jay Giles given for the Carr foul hit the defensive wall but the rebound was recycled to Luke Watson on the left flank and his cross was met by a diving Dos Santos header near the penalty spot. This was parried by Charlie Holmwood in the visitors goal diving to his left but Luke Campbell, still up after the free kick, scrambled the ball home from a yard.

Before Carvalho arrived Dos Santos had opened his account. Giles fed Toby Ritzema on the left and his precise low cross saw Dos Santos react quickest, lose his marker, and hit a first time left foot shot past Holmwood’s despairing right hand.He doubled his personal account ten minutes later when Lorne Bickley chased down a ball to the right and laid it back to Adam Trotter on the right corner of the box. Trotter “stood up” a cross to the far post where Dos Santos arrived to head the ball back across Holmwood.

The fourth arrived just before the half hour and it was an excellent team move. Captain James Queree, pushing further forward with the comfortable lead established, received a pass inside from Carvalho before delivering a precise through ball to the onrushing Bickley. There was still work to do but the stretching striker astutely bent it around the onrushing ‘keeper with the outside of his right boot.

Before half time Jersey could have taken their tally towards double figures.Homewood saved from both Trotter and Bickley before getting his fingertips to a Ritzema effort that was just enough to take it past the post. Bickley looked certain to add a fifth but stumbled when one on one with Holmwood which allowed the ‘keeper to save at his feet. In added time Dos Santos was thwarted by the bar as he looked to complete a first half hat-trick.

The flow towards the Crowborough goal continued after the interval with Dos Santos looking to complete his hat trick in the fifteen minutes before he knew he was to be substituted. Ritzema had a shot saved when he put it too close to Holmwood, but the Dos Santos hat trick duly arrived with a few minutes to spare. It did not seem likely when he received the ball from Giles thirty yards out on the left wing, but he went on a weaving run which took him towards the right corner of the box whereupon he swivelled and found the bottom left corner with his right foot.

Ritzema made it half a dozen when close interplay between substitute James Sunley and Bickley set him up just inside the box. This time he gave Holmwood no opportunity as he thundered his shot in off the underside of the bar. With a quarter of an hour remaining Crowborough scored a consolation with a fine goal of their own. Substitute Brady Amoola outpaced Jamie Watling, no slouch himself, on the right and found Jack Lyons rushing in at the far post where he did well to volley the high ball past the otherwise redundant Euan Van der Vliet. There was still time for Sunley to have two shots saved and Ritzema to sting the hands of Homewood once again as the Bulls sent many new fans home happy. The new scoreboard had had a thorough testing as “The Crows” were murdered.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jamie Watling (wore 15), James Carr, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Toby Ritzema, Luke Watson (wore 16), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Lorne Bickley, Rai Dos Santos, Jay Giles (wore 14)
Substitutes – 7. Fraser Barlow (for Bickley 67), 8. Joe Kilshaw (for Watson 67), 11. Miguel Carvalho (for Carr 13 inj), 20. James Sunley (for Dos Santos 61), 23. Harry Curtis (for Giles 76)

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)

Crowborough Athletic – Charlie Holmwood, Jack Mayhew, Harry Reed, Tom Boddy (c), Harrison Mayhew, Connor Pring, Marcus Goldsmith, Alfie Lamden, Elliott Duncan, Jack Lyons, Tom Pearson
Substitutes – 12. Henry Muggeridge (for Lambden 74), 14. Josh Turner (for Mayhew 48), 15. Brady Ayoola (for Duncan 59), 16. Mohamed Zabadne (for Mayhew 65), 17. Harry Forster (for Pearson 50)

Navy Blue and Sky Blue wide stripes/Navy Blue/Sky Blue; GK All Light Purple

Sean Muggeridge (Manager), Danny Wood (Assistant), Scott Mason & Tom Marshall(Coaches), James Larkin (GK Coach), Honor Smith (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 4-15-5-14; 16: 3-12-6-10; 9
Crowborough Athletic (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-4-3; 7-8-6-11; 9-10

Officials – Steven R. Goldup (Maidstone), Byron P. Beard (West Malling, Kent), dug outs, Jack C. Mottram (Rainham, Kent) grandstand

Cautions – Harry Reed (CA) 44, Fraser Barlow (JB) 90+5

Corners – Jersey Bulls (3) 5; Crowborough Athletic (0) 4

Assist(s) – Rai Dos Santos, Toby Ritzema, Adam Trotter, James Queree, Jay Giles, Lorne Bickley

Player of the Match – Rai Dos Santos

Added Time – 3.00 & 5.10 (8.10)