Jersey hosted another of their play-off rivals. This time it was third placed Faversham Town (16-8-4 65-40) who had beaten Jersey 3-1 in late September and last week scored three times in the last ten minutes to rescue a point at home against Sittingbourne.

Lorne Bickley was back and replaced Fraser Barlow, who had scored at Faversham,in the squad. Bickley and Luke Watson, a substitute last week, started, with Joe Kilshaw and James Sunley dropping to the bench. Jonny Le Quesne joined skipper James Queree in reaching 200 appearances.
Faversham retained their squad but changed their first three with ‘keeper Jacob Russell, and “full backs” Bradley Simms and Jack Parter being promoted from the bench where they were replaced by Mitchell Beeney, Tariq Ossai and Frankie Smith respectively.

Faversham started impressively and dominated the early possession. Kieron Campbell put an early shot over and Nathan Wood put in a twenty-yard shot which Euan Van der Vliet, diving to his left, parried away. Jersey responded with Rai Dos Santos putting a cross shot wide right, but Faversham went straight back to the other end with Campbell wide with another twenty-five yard shot.

Midway through the half Toby Ritzema glanced a header over and put in a curling shot with the outside of his right boot which did not unduly trouble Russell. Ethan Smith brought another good save out of Van der Vliet before Bickley went clear, thought of chipping the stranded Russell, but instead tried to go alone. When he was tackled the ball ran to Dos Santos who blasted over. Campbell had another attempt blocked before George Evans had a header parried by Van der Vliet in the last action of the first half which had seen Faversham having the better of it and Jersey looking to hit them on the counter-attack.

Eight minutes into the second half Jersey had their best chance so far. A Jay Giles corner on the right was headed onto the bar, and over, from a couple of yards out at the far post by Luke Watson, who was arguably fortunate to still be on the pitch. Just after the hour Tashi-Jay Kwayie did the same when he smacked a fifteen yard shot on to the top right of the “woodwork” and over. It transpired this was Faversham’s last good opportunity.

With quarter of an hour left Jersey snatched the only goal of the game. Substitute James Sunley produced some clever footwork down the right flank to reach the byline. His low cross to the near post was smothered by a combination of Russell, Simms and Dos Santos but the loose ball was hooked home by the grounded Dos Santos.

Faversham pushed forward looking for an equaliser, but their largely aerial assault was repelled solidly by the central defenders, Jamie Watling and Queree. Two late chances fell to Bickley who shot wide when reasonably placed. Le Quesne made a good saving tackle before Nathan Wood could “pull the trigger” from close in a couple of minutes before time. Wood’s frustrated reaction, which led to a melee,meant he was another player fortunate not to receive a card, possibly of the darker hue. Six added minutes were extended to nearly ten by a couple of substitutions and another caution before Jersey could celebrate an important victory.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, Jay Giles (wore 14), James Queree (c), Jamie Watling (wore 15), Toby Ritzema, Adam Trotter (wore 12), Luke Watson (wore 16), Lorne Bickley, Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 3. James Carr (for Dos Santos 85), 5. Luke Campbell (for Bickley 90+4), 8. Joe Kilshaw (for Ritzema 90+2), 20. James Sunley (for Trotter 61), 21. Francis Lekimamati (for Carvalho 80)

Red/White/Red; GK Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Dave Kennedy (Coach), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)

Faversham Town – Jacob Russell (wore 24), Bradley Simms, Jack Parter, Harrison Pont, Dexter Peter, Ben Gorham (c), Nathan Wood, Ethan Smith, George Evans, Tashi-Jay Kwayie, Kieron Campbell
Substitutes – 12. Matthew Newman (for Evans 67), 14. Frankie Smith (for Campbell 85), 15. Tariq Ossai (for Pont 79), Joshua Ajayi (for Kwayie 67), Mitchell Beeney (sub GK) (not used)

White (with Red & Black markings)/Black/Black; GK All Green

Tommy Warrilow (Manager), Alex O’Brien (Assistant), Francis Collin (Coach), Adam Porter (GK Coach), Ash Johnson (Kit), Rory Sedge (Medical)

Formations (R to L)

Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-15-14; 16: 11-12-6-10; 9
Faversham Town (4-4-2) 24; 2-6-5-3; 7-4-8-11; 10-9

Officials – Joseph J. Langley-Fineing (Eastbourne), Mark E. Spence (Littlehampton) dug outs, Dylan P.J. Bailey (Hassocks) grandstand

Cautions – Euan Van der Vliet (JB) 30, Adam Trotter (JB) 43, Toby Ritzema (JB) 54, Kieron Campbell (FT) 65, Nathan Wood (JB) 89, James Sunley (JB) 90+8

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 3; Faversham Town (4) 4

Assist(s) – James Sunley

Player of the Match – Rai Dos Santos, honourable mentions Jamie Watling and James Queree

Added Time – 1.00 & 9.05 (10.05)