Epsom & Ewell returned to Springfield after almost four years. Jersey won 2-0 in November 2019 with a penalty and an added time own goal. The pandemic had begun before the return could be played. After a second abandoned season Epsom were transferred to the Southern Combination. They lost out in the play-offs in 2022 but gained promotion and another geographical transfer last season.

This season they propped up the table having lost all three of their league games but in the cups they had been more successful. In the F.A. Cup they put out Horsham Y.M.C.A. and the higher level Metropolitan Police, in a replay, before losing last week at Eastbourne United. In the F.A. Vase they beat A.F.C. Varndeanians and now travel to Bearsted in a fortnight.

Jersey made only one change to the side that won at Colliers Wood United last week with Miguel Carvalho taking the place of the unavailable Francis Lekimamati.

It was a blisteringly hot (31C) afternoon, only the 8^th occasion the temperature had reached 30C in September in Jersey. Many of the grandstand spectators moved to its rear to avoid the heat and then transferred to the shaded opposite side after the interval. Drinks breaks were agreed for the mid point of each half but the first one did not come until the half hour as the ball stayed in play and so prevented a stoppage.

Epsom kicked off attacking the Robin Hood End and looked to frustrate the hosts with five strung across the back. A slick Luke Watson, Fraser Barlow, Jack Boyle inter passing move set up Lorne Bickley after seven minutes but Harvey Keogh was quickly off his line to smother at Bickley’s feet. Ethan Nelson-Roberts fizzed a twenty yarder just over the bar for the visitors and Luke Campbell made an excellent last ditch tackle to deny the equally feisty Murisiku Batula.

At the drinks break the referee notified the observer that he was suffering from the heat and asked if there was a local official to take over the “junior” line whilst the other officials moved up a notch. There was not, but after another four minutes play

the referee was replaced and Jersey Assistant Manager, Kevan Nelson, ran the line.

Before the much delayed interval Keogh thwarted Bickley again, Barlow flicked a header just over and Boyle had a deflected free kick tipped over by Keogh.

Jersey brought on James Carr for Boyle at the break and broke the deadlock soon after. A Jay Giles free kick was only cleared to the edge of the box from where Adam Trotter’s shot took a wicked deflection off Zachary Powell to defeat Keogh at last.

The win was confirmed near the end when a cleverly scooped pass from one substitute, Jake Mulholland, to another, Jonny Le Quesne, put him clear. He nodded the ball down and was fortunate that it struck his right shin and found the bottom right corner to replicate the result from when the teams had previously met.

Jersey Bulls 2 (Adam Trotter 51, Jonny Le Quesne 87); Epsom & Ewell 0

Attendance – 533

Programme – Yes (£2, 32 pages with an improved statistics page)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis, Jay Giles, Sammy Sutcliffe, Luke Campbell (c), Adam Trotter, Fraser Barlow, Luke Watson, Lorne Bickley, Jack Boyle, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 14. Jonny Le Quesne (for Barlow 61), 15. James Carr (for Boyle 46), 16. Kamen Nafkha (for Watson 78), 17. Seaney McColgan (for Trotter 88), 18. Jake Mulholland (for Carvalho also 61)

Red/White/Red, GK All Yellow

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Dan Seviour (Coach), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Steve Martin (Physio.), Sam Bickley (Analyst)

Epsom & Ewell – Harvey Keogh, Ayran Kugathas, Ethan Nelson-Roberts, Callum Wilson (c), Oliver Thompson, Zachary Powell, Murisiku Batula, Chester Clothier, Jaan Stanley, Rory Edwards, Kiyo Brown
Substitutes – 12. Nick-Aaron Inwugwu (for Kuguthas 74), 13. Toby Colwell (sub GK) (not used), 14. Ashley Snadden (Assistant Manager) (for Clothier 78), 15. Valentino Carpene (for Batula 57), 16. Sirak Negassi (for Powell also 74)

Royal Blue & White Hoops (White Back)/Royal Blue/Royal Blue; GK All Dark Green

James Scott (Manager), Steve Springett (Coach), Kevin Espinosa (Coach), Alfie Wylid (Physio.) (Ashley Snadden, Assistant Manager, was amongst the substitutes)

Formations
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 6; 7-10-8-11; 9
Epsom & Ewell (5-3-2 R to L) 1; 2-4-6-5-3; 7-10-8; 9-11

Referee – Tom Berry (Weybridge) until 38^th minute. Aged 31, his 14^th season on both the Wessex (he formerly lived on the Isle of Wight) and Combined Counties Leagues

Assistants – Steven Monks (Marlow) on the dug outs side until the 38^th minute, then the referee. 4^th season on both the Royal Air Force and Combined Counties lists. Nick Phipps (Windsor) on the grandstand side until the 38^th minute, then on the dug outs side. 4^th season, initially with the Thames Valley and Berkshire Leagues before joining the Combined Counties League in January 2023. Kevan Nelson (Jersey Assistant Manager) on the grandstand side from the 38^th minute

Cautions – Murisiku Batula (E&E) 50, Zachary Powell (E&E) 71

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 4; Epsom & Ewell (2) 2
Player of the Match – Adam Trotter
Added Time (including drinks breaks) – 9.45 & 4.20 (14.05)
Drinks Breaks – 30 (4 mins), 38 (referee replaced) (4 mins) & 66 (3 mins)