Jersey’s “reward” for dismissing Sittingbourne was a home tie against divisional rivals, Knaphill, three miles west of Woking. Knaphill proved obdurate opponents last season and were one of two teams Jersey did not score against, home or away. Tadley Calleva, up next, were the other. Knaphill finished 7^th last season, conceding just 40 goals, only bettered by the top three. Had they scored more than 62 they would probably have been promotion contenders. This season they defeated A.F.C. Varndeanians, one of Jersey’s Vase opponents last season, 3-0 in the Extra Preliminary Round whilst in the league they drew 1-1 at Colliers Wood United before defeating Fleet Town 3-2 on Tuesday.

Jersey made three changes to their starting line-up. Kamen Nafkha, Francis Lekimamati (back from holiday) and Jake Baker replacing Frank Tobin, Lorne Bickley (injured) and Adam Trotter respectively. Tobin and Trotter were on the bench along with Robert Martins-Figueira. If Trotter came on it would be his 100^th appearance.

On a sunny afternoon, officially 21C but feeling much warmer on the 3G pitch, Jersey kicked off attacking the Town end. After 4 minutes Lekimamati was hit by a defenders clearance and it rebounded kindly for him but from 18 yards he hit the bar.
Miguel Carvalho, a constant threat down the left, had a shot deflected for a corner from which Luke Campbell’s header was saved at the foot of the right post by Jos Barker. A long ball forward saw Knaphill have a rare chance, Calvin Camara held off Harry Curtis but Euan Van der Vliet advanced and closed him down as he shot.

Nearing half time Mulholland volleyed over before Jersey took the lead. Carvalho got to the left byline again and his low cross deflected off Knaphill’s captain James Ward before another touch from Fraser Barlow saw the ball trickle into the far corner.

Knaphill equalised before the hour with a wonderful goal. A ball out to the right saw Jake Hawker spin past Jay Giles before unleashing a powerful twenty-yard cross shot into the top left corner. Campbell headed another corner at Barker before Carvalho curled a shot just wide of the left post. Van der Vliet had to be sharp to block Seb Karczewski before Jersey had two “goals” chalked off in a minute. The first from a corner saw a Campbell header flicked in by Barlow’s head only for Campbell to have been adjudged to be “climbing”. Seconds later a through ball saw Martins-Figueira given marginally offside by Olga Svaikevic as he rounded Barker.

Martins-Figuera later shot at Barker before Carvalho hobbled off with a knee injury after Aaron Burchett tackled him. Van der Vliet had to prevent Karczewski nipping in again after a Giles headed back pass was “under cooked” with Giles almost redeeming himself in the 5^th added minute when he planted a header into the left side netting as he met a curling Trotter cross. Simon Faires added 13 and a half minutes to the second half, in response to Knaphill’s constant delaying tactics. Jersey failed to capitalise so it is over to Knaphill for a replay on Tuesday evening.

Jersey Bulls 1 (Fraser Barlow 42); Knaphill 1 (Jake Hawker 58)

Attendance – 444

Programme – 32pp, £2 (110 printed)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis (wore 19), Jay Giles, Ben Le Rougetel (wore 14), Luke Campbell (c) (wore 15), Kamen Nafkha, Francis Lekimamati, Luke Watson, Fraser Barlow, Jake Mulholland, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 12. Adam Trotter (for Watson 61), 16. Frank Tobin (for Carvalho 84), 18. Robert Martins-Figueira (for Lekimamati 84), only three substitutes

Red/White/Red; GK All Dark Green

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Steve Martin (Physio.)

Knaphill – Jos Barker, Zac Horkan, Aaron Burchett (wore 12), Joe Dyett, James Ward (c), Tom Drinkwater, Zac Hawker, Stacey Thripp, Seb Karczewski, Calvin Camara, Jake Harker
Substitutes – 13. Dease Kerrison (sub GK) (not used), 15. Luke Maguire (for Dyett 46), 17. Jack Williamson (not used), 19. Josh Pound (not used), 20. Sean Swift (for Zac Hawker 53), 22. Adam Poynter (for Horkan 57), 23. Bradley Pegg (not used)

Luminous Yellow(Navy shoulders)/Navy/Navy; GK Light Blue/Light Blue/Orange

Jamie Daltry (Joint Manager), John Cook (Joint Manager), Lee Trussler (Assistant), Ricky Mallet (Coach), Chris Rye (GK Coach)

Formations
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 19-14-15-3; 6; 7-8-10-11; 9
Knaphill (4-4-2 R to L) 1; 6-5-4-12; 11-2-8-10; 7-9

Referee – Simon J. Faires (Horsham) aged 36, in his 6^th season, all with the Southern Combination. Also lines Isthmian League matches. His first Jersey match.

Assistants – Ian Homewood (Storrington, near Horsham) on the dug-out side. 15 years, all with the Southern Combination, also on the line at Springfield for the Crowborough Athletic F.A. Vase tie in September 2021. Olga Svaikevic (Crawley) on the grandstand side. Of Lithuanian heritage, re-locating 12 years ago and qualifying 7 years ago. 3 seasons in the London leagues and 4 with the Southern Combination.
Her first Jersey fixture.

Cautions – Zac Hawker (K) 47, Giles (JB) 79, Trotter (JB) 90+2

Corners – Jersey Bulls (5) 7; Knaphill (1) 1

Player of the Match – Ben Le Rougetel

Added Time – 3.15 & 13.35 (16.50)