Bulls win 3-0 on penalties.

Jersey made three changes to the team that last played five weeks ago. James Carr replaced the injured Jay Giles, Paul McKay came in for Luke Campbell who was on holiday and Lorne Bickley was chosen to lead the attack in place of Karl Hinds. Toby Ritzema was suspended. On the bench were Will Yates, Hinds and Sammy Sutcliffe to replace starters Carr, Bickley and McKay. Alongside them were Francis Lekimamati and Kurtis Guthrie, the latter replacing Kieran Lester.

Fleet Town remained loyal to the squad that had got them to fifth place in the league and the last sixteen of the F.A. Vase after speculation they might utilise the Farnham Town players that they hold dual registrations for. Ross Stepney replaced Josh Sheridan in the starting line up and he was joined by Billy Oram, Tane Caubo and Leo Decabo who relegated Matthew Surmon, Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb and Ryan Case to the bench. There they were joined by Bradley Manning and Luke Phair who retained their slots whilst Kwesi Ntim, Josh Pound and Aaron Petch were displaced.

The match had been delayed by four weeks after first Jersey, and then Redhill, had been deducted three points for playing ineligible players. They both went through the full judicial process, including appeals. Neither succeeded but it meant that it was not known until Tuesday which teams Fleet Town and Cobham would be playing. As a consequence flight costs were very high and only a handful of Fleet fans attended.

Jersey had beaten Fleet 4-1 away in December and 4-0 at home in March but that counted for little as both teams looked rusty having not played competitively for over a month and Jersey unable to train at Springfield due to numerous local cup finals.

It took time for Jersey to settle but Fleet had an ambitious penalty appeal turned down after only two minutes and made a few openings that ended with tame shots.

Both teams were naturally cagey and the play lacked rhythm.

Bickley put a low cross across the face of the goal but no one had gambled to meet itand Barlow blasted a speculative shot well over after Carr had beaten Liam Pestle on the right and crossed to Barlow on the left. Miguel Carvalho curled a shot just past the left upright and Pestle and ‘keeper Finley Purcell thwarted him when Barlow put him through the middle on the half hour. The best opportunity arrived a minute later when Bickley played a one-two with Carvalho but then only shot straight at Purcell.

Luke Watson headed a Carr cross well wide before a Fleet counter attack ended with Chike Kandi ruffling the side netting with his attempt from the right. Jersey continued attacking up to the break with Pestle thwarting Carr again as he burst into the box, then Kilshaw flicking a Barlow cross just wide before Bickley half volleyed a

Jonny Le Quesne cross well wide to leave the teams goalless at the interval.

On their return Pestle cut out a Carvalho cross after he had wriggled free down the right before Fleet’s Billy Oram shot well over when he tried his luck from long range.

Speculation that it would need a mistake to break the deadlock proved correct just before the hour. From just inside his own half Carr launched a ball down the left flank. Ross Stepney had it covered as Fraser Barlow chased in pursuit and Purcelladvanced. A lack of communication led to Stepney lifting the ball over Purcell and it rolling into the unguarded net.

At the other end Euan Van der Vliet scuffed a clearance that fortunately did not find a Fleet attacker and Oram had another long range effort deflected just wide of the right post in the occasional bursts of second half action as Fleet looked to draw level.

The equaliser, like the opening goal, came out of the blue, with only two “normal” minutes left, although there were to be a further eight added. Joshua Stepney found Tom Smith on the left sideline and he advanced to the left edge of the box before putting a curling cross into the danger area with the outside of his boot. Van der Vliet, possibly unsighted by the diving James Queree, did not move as the ball nestled in the bottom right corner much to everyone’s surprise as Smith ran over to the grandstand to celebrate in front of the tunnel.

Three minutes later substitute Kurtis Guthrie had a chance to restore the lead but his well struck shot faded away from the right post rather like a mishit golf drive. Fleet retaliated with an attack that led to a fruitless corner before Guthrie almost nodded in another substitute, Karl Hinds, but Purcell was out quickly to dive at his feet.

It was then straight to penalties despite a match of this consequence surely being worthy of extra time. Fleet went first and Van der Vliet pulled off three very good saves to earn himself player of the match before Lekimamati sealed the win.

Shoot-Out (at the Robin Hood end 3.02.05 – 3.06.05, Fleet Town went first)
Chike Kandi (FT) – mid height left, good save by GK diving to his right (0-0)
Paul McKay (JB) – placed low left, GK went the wrong way (0-1)
Leo Decabo (FT) – low left, excellent save by GK diving to his right (0-1)
Kurtis Guthrie (JB) – powerful mid height left, in off GK hands (0-2)
Joshua Stepney (FT) – placed low right, saved by GK going to his left (0-2)
Francis Lekimamati (JB) – soft mid height left, GK went the wrong way (0-3)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne (wore 12), James Carr, JamesQueree (c), Paul McKay, Luke Watson, Fraser Barlow (wore 18), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, Adam Trotter, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 14. Francis Lekimamati (for Carvalho 77), 16. Kurtis Guthrie (for Barlow 64), 17. Will Yates (not used), 20. Karl Hinds (for Bickley 87), 22. Sammy Sutcliffe (not used)

Red/White/Red: GK All Yellow

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

Fleet Town – Finley Purcell, Nicholas Medcraft, Tom Smith, Joshua Stepney, Liam Pestle (c), Ross Stepney, Billy Oram, Chike Kandi (wore 19), Tane Caubo, Dean Rule, Leo Decabo

Substitutes – 8. Matthew Surmon (not used), 14. Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb (for Caubo 70), 15. Bradley Manning (not used), 17. Luke Phair (not used), 18. Ryan Case (for Oram 77)

Sky Blue with Navy Blue shoulders/Navy Blue/Navy Blue; GK All Green

Darryl Evans (Manager), Ben Murray (Assistant), Luke Barron (Coach), Princess Goodwin (Medical)

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

Fleet Town (4-4-2) 1; 3-6-5-2; 7-10-4-11; 19-9

Joe R.T. Alborough (Teddington) 28, originally from Essex making his third visit to Springfield, having officiated the Knaphill game last season in his first year at Level 4and then against Sheerwater six months ago. He also lined three Jersey away games the previous season. Qualified in 2012 initially officiating in his home county and then in Sheffield whilst at university there. His 6th Combined Counties season.

Steven A. Williams (Hatch End) (dug outs side) previously with the Spartan South Midlands League and now in his fourth season with the Combined Counties League.His fourth visit to Springfield following Badshot Lea in November 2022, Camberley Town in February 2024 and Alton at the beginning of this season.

Michael S. Heavey (Stanmore) (grandstand side) was with the Spartan South Midland league since 2009 but is now in his fourth season on the Combined Counties list. His fourth Springfield visit, the first two both being Tadley Callevamatches, in October 2022 and November 2023, and then also against Alton at the beginning of this season. He was due to referee the match at Cobham in late August 2024 but that was subsequently called off.

Harry Walker (Jersey) was the fourth official.

Caution(s) – Jonny Le Quesne (JB) 83, Euan Van der Vliet (JB) 90+6

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 4, Fleet Town (1) 5

Assist(s) – James Carr

Player of the Match – Euan Van der Vliet

Added Time – 1.30 & 8.00 (9.30)