Jersey hosted Hastings United, the only team that could do the double over them this season after having lost there 0-1 in late November in a poor display. Hastingshad also been to Springfield earlier in the season in the F.A. Trophy when Jersey had won 3-1. Hastings were 17th, with a 13-7-21 55-67 record only having made themselves safe from relegation last week with a 1-1 draw at home to Herne Bay.Jersey were assured of a play-off place but would need to win and hope A.F.C. Croydon Athletic and/or A.F.C. Whyteleafe slipped up if they were to be a semi-final host.

Bearing in mind that they would be playing again on Tuesday Jersey kept the same squad but “rested” five of them by rotating the starting XI. Therefore Toby Ritzema, Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho, Adam Trotter and Jamie Watling were “benched” with their places being taken by Luke Campbell, back from holiday and making his 200th appearance, Fraser Barlow, Joe Kilshaw, James Sunley and Francis Lekimamati.

Hastings elevated Sonny Causton and Finlay Campbell from the bench to replace Ezekiel Williams and Lukas Franzen-Jones. Tito Saalam, a substitute last week, was also missing with Bradley Barry, Hayden Skerry and Oliver MacDonald being added as substitutes.

Jersey got the start they wanted with an early goal. James Sunley provided a good ball for Lorne Bickley to run on to in the left channel. He cut in and managed to evade a couple of defenders before putting in a powerful shot past Harry Haines.Hastings were not going to roll over though and forced several corners, but nothing fell kindly for them.

After the break Hastings were still in the match, but Jersey gradually introduced all their replacements and two of them combined for the second goal to ease supporter’s fears. Toby Ritzema broke down the left and Miguel Carvalho was on hand to apply the finishing touch. Haines went down injured near the end and his emergency replacement, Charlie Brown, had to pick the ball out of the net as his first action. A superb cross field ball from his own half by Dos Santos set Ritzema free on the left again and this time he took it on himself and hit a shot with the outside of his right boot that found the bottom right corner.

At that point Jersey had finished second but supporters anxiously watched the scores of their two rivals who were still playing. A.F.C. Whyteleafe had come back from two goals down at Herne Bay but could not find the winner to take themselves above Jersey. A.F.C. Croydon Athletic again salvaged a last-minute equaliser to push Jersey down to the third and so they will host A.F.C. Whyteleafe on Tuesday evening with many provisional plans having to either be actioned or cancelled at short notice.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis (wore 23), Jay Giles (wore 14), James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson (wore 16), Fraser Barlow, Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, James Sunley (wore 20), Francis Lekimamati (wore 21)
Substitutes – 6. Toby Ritzema (for Sunley 71), 10. Rai Dos Santos (for Bickley 58), 11. Miguel Carvalho (for Lekimamati 54), 12. Adam Trotter (for Giles 58), 15. Jamie Watling (for Campbell 78)

Red/Red/Red; GK All Lemon (new kit for next season paraded early)

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

Hastings United – Harry Haines, Freddie Legg, Sonny Causton, Jack Saunders, Eugene Asike, Sam Pidgeon, Damien Theodore, George Taggart, Max Walsh, Jordan Mase (c), Finlay Chapman
Substitutes – Bradley Barry (for Legg 90), 14. Elijah Shute (for Chapman 70), 15. Hayden Skerry (not used), 16. Charlie Brown (for Haines, inj. 88), 17. Oliver MacDonald (for Taggart 80)

All Light Blue; GK Turquoise/Turquoise/White

David Altendoorf (Manager), Alex Marr (Assistant), Joshua Wheeler (Coach), Mark Wright (GK Coach), Bobby-Jay Deegan (Medical), Sam Piper (Assistant Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 4-23-5-14; 16; 21-20-8-7; 9
Hastings United (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-6-3; 7-4-10-8; 9-11

Officials – Kane Dempster (Deal), Krystian Kaczala (Canterbury) dug outs, Christopher Cannon (Sandwich) grandstand

Caution(s) – Finlay Chapman (HU) 12, Freddie Legg (HU) dissent 80, Fraser Barlow (JB) dissent 83, Eugene Asike (HU) 90+3

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 6; Hastings United (3) 6

Assist(s) – James Sunley, Toby Ritzema, Rai Dos Santos

Player of the Match – Luke Campbell

Added Time – 2.25 & 6.00 (8.25)