Jersey returned home with 6 of their last 8 fixtures at Springfield and knowing that if they won 7 of them they would be champions. Horley Town were their opponents, lying 14th the same position they finished last season. Their record was 10-6-15 55-72, having lost their last four league matches, albeit all against top six opponents. They had proved obdurate opponents last August when gaining a goalless draw.

Toby Ritzema was suspended but Adam Trotter, James Carr, returning after injury, and substitute goalkeeper Harry Gladdish were added to the squad. Paul McKay, Karl Hinds and Miguel Carvalho started with Luke Watson and Jonny Le Quesne moving to the bench alongside, Trotter, Carr and Gladdish. Horley made one change to their squad with Matt Rapson returning after suspension and replacing Owen Crammer-Flynn. Rapson started as did Coby Acquaye with Aaron Moody moving to the bench.

Horley started brightly, forcing three corners in the first eight minutes, one of them when Josh Rapson hit an audacious twenty-five yarder with the outside of his bootwhich had Euan Van der Vliet back-peddling furiously and grateful for his long reach.Jersey responded with a Karl Hinds shot from the edge of the box from a clever lay off from Kurtis Guthrie making his home debut. George Hyde got down to his right to push it around the post.

Miguel Carvalho had an outstanding match on the right flank, being involved in all six goals and linking up very well with Guthrie. The first was an “assisted assist” when his right-wing wing corner to the far post was headed down by Luke Campbell and Guthrie headed in the bouncing ball from a couple of yards.

Horley snatched a surprise equaliser when Acquaye dispossessed Campbell twenty-five yards out which put him clear of the other defenders and he smashed the ball past the advancing Van der Vliet. On the half hour Carvalho put in a curling cross which was slightly too high for the lanky Guthrie to convert but he made a noble attempt and the ball only just went over the left angle of the goal frame.

The two combined again in added time and restored Jersey’s lead. The wingers low cross was behind Guthrie but he was allowed too much space by the defence and was able to turn and find the bottom left corner.

Jersey put daylight between themselves and the visitors when an early second half corner from Carvalho was met by the unmarked Campbell at the far post to volley home from close in. Three soon became four when Carvalho broke away again but his cross was behind Guthrie only for Fraser Barlow to come steaming in at the back post to smash a left foot shot into the roof of the net.

A long punt forward by Van der Vliet led to the fifth. Guthrie rose to head it into the path of Carvalho who anticipating it well held off substitute Aaron Moody and slotted it in from the right past Hyde. Carvalho tried to get on the scoresheet again but his shot from a narrow angle was parried by Hyde into the path of Joe Kilshaw who managed to force it over the line for the sixth and what turned out to be final goal.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis, Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Fraser Barlow (wore 18), Karl Hinds (wore 20), Joe Kilshaw, Kurtis Guthrie, Paul McKay, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 6. Luke Watson (for Kilshaw 69), 12. Adam Trotter (for McKay 72), 14.James Carr (for Giles 67), 15. Jonny Le Quesne (for Curtis 62), 21. Harry Gladdish(sub GK) (not used)

Red/White/Red: GK All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Adam Lester (Coach), Dylan Buesnel (Medical)

Horley Town – George Hyde, Ben Dyson, Lewis Taylor (c), George Craig, Matt Rapson, Joe Carrington, Lewis Pearch, Sam Remfry, Coby Acquaye, Josh Rapson, Ben Senior
Substitutes – 12. Aaron Moody (for Taylor 57), 14. Sam Mercer (for J. Rapson 69), 15. Jake Roberts (for Craig 78), 16. Cameron Gyeabour (for Remfry 73), 17. James Allen (for Acquaye 57)

All Navy Blue; GK All Orange

Tyler Chambers (Manager), Paul Hammond (Assistant), Terry Savage, Dean Claydon and Connor Moody (Coaches), Lydia Passera-Hughes (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-3; 10; 11-8-20-18; 9

Horley Town (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-6-3; 8-4-7-11; 9-10

Match Officials – Peter J.N. Creagh (Gerrards Cross), 29, qualified 2010 Winchester, Hampshire League, North-East Counties League whilst at Leeds University, usually on Combined Counties North fixtures, first Jersey fixture, home or away.

Sebastian J. Lally (Coulsdon), on the dug outs side, qualified 2022, Amateur F.A, joined Combined Counties this season. First Springfield visit but on the line this season at Leatherhead (F.A. Youth Cup) and at Chipstead. Michael John Oakes (Hillingdon) on the grandstand side. Qualified 1991, initially with the Wessex League but the last 16 years with the Combined Counties. Previously at Springfield in February 2023 v A.F.C. Croydon Athletic and in April 2024 v Spelthorne Sports.

Cautions –James Queree (JB) 49, Harry Curtis (JB) 58, James Allen (HT) 75

Corners – Jersey Bulls (6) 9; Horley Town (5) 6

Assists – Luke Campbell, Miguel Carvalho, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 6th; Kurtis Guthrie

Player of the Match – Miguel Carvalho

Added Time – 3.50 & 4.20 (8.10)