Jersey entertained Margate in the first Saturday reverse fixture of the season. The teams had drawn 1-1 in Kent on the opening day of the league season. Margate had lost in the semi-final of the play-offs last season after finishing fourth and this season they are fifth with 9-7-3 48-31 record, the third highest scorers, including twelve in their last two outings.

Jersey made four changes to last week’s team. Luke Campbell was out injured and was replaced in central defence by Jamie Watling. James Carr, Luke Watson and James Sunley, substitutes last week, swapped roles with Francis Lekimamati, Joe Kilshaw and Rai Dos Santos. Harry Mackenzie replaced Toby Ritzema on the bench.

Margate after their recent successes had a more settled side with the only change being Harry Lawrence coming in for Tushaun Walters, with the latter a substitute. On the bench Sam Blackman replaced Joseph Kpaka.

An exciting end to end match ensued which could have gone either way. There was a frenetic start with a long ball forward by Jonny Le Quesne being chased by Lorne Bickley. Margate ‘keeper Tom Wray just beat him to it, but his hacked clearance rebounded off Bickley. The loose ball was picked up by Sunley who found Carr to his left. Carr’s centre was hooked home from just left of the penalty spot by Bickley to give Jersey an early lead.

Almost immediately Margate were awarded a penalty when a bouncing cross from the right from Henry Young saw Le Quesne challenge Margate player/manager Ben Greenhalgh. Le Quesne’s foot was slightly high, but Greenhalgh was ducking down. The home support thought it a “soft” award and were delighted when Margate captain Harry Hudson put the penalty very high and possibly wide too.

On the quarter hour Watling had a close in chance, but he scuffed his attempt into the right side netting as Wray closed him down, Before the interval Bickley broke down the middle but in rounding Wray he went too far left and Hudson was able to get back to block his shot.

Five minutes later both sides cold have scored within seconds of each other, but the “woodwork” intervened on both occasions.
2 / 3A superb ball forward with the outside of his right boot by Le Quesne put Bickley through the left channel with Harry Lawrence trailing in his wake. His lob cleared the advancing Tom Wray, only to come back off the top of the bar. Lawrence cleared it to the other end where Ibrahim Olutade cut inside James Queree and from ten yards hit the inside of the right post. In added time a clever Bickley back heel gave Sunley a sight of goal but he drilled his shot just wide of the left post.

Ten minutes after the break Margate equalised. A Greenhalgh corner from the left was met at the near post by Kane Haysman and his deft deflection found the right side of the net to give the visitors the leveller that they had been pushing for.

Bickley put a chance wide before Dos Santos restored the home lead. A long lofted diagonal ball forward from Jay Giles reached Carvalho just beyond the right post and in “acres” of space. Margate vainly appealed for offside but had two defenders on the other flank playing Carvalho onside. Carvalho chested it down and played the ball inside for the fast arriving substitute Rai Dos Santos to poke it home between two defenders on the line.

Margate’s second equaliser came when Kai Garande broke up a promising Jersey attack led by Sunley. Greenhalgh started and finished the ensuing move. He sliced through the midfield before playing the ball to substitute Walters on his right. The return pass found Greenhalgh six yards out as Jersey were cut apart very easily.

Dos Santos almost restored Jersey’s lead immediately but was thwarted by a good save from Wray who also blocked Sunley’s follow up. In the last minute of “regular” time Dos Santos broke down the left and cut inside but he was then thwarted by Hudson as an entertaining game for the neutral ended with the honours even.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, James Carr, James Queree (c), Jamie Watling (wore 15), Luke Watson (wore 16), Jay Giles (wore 14), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Lorne Bickley, James Sunley (wore 20), Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 7. Fraser Barlow (for Carvalho 76), 8. Joe Kilshaw (not used), 10, Rai Dos Santos (for Carr 60), 21. Francis Lekimamati (not used), 22. Harry Mackenzie (for Bickley 82)
Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow
Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Dave Kennedy and Andy Dewhurst (Coaches), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)
Margate – Tom Wray, Harrison Hatfull, Emmanuel Oke, Max Walsh, Harry Lawrence, Harry Hudson (c), Kane Haysman (wore 15), Henry Young (wore 16), Ibrahim Olutade, Kai Garande (wore 17), Ben Greenhalgh
Substitutes – 7. Tushaun Walters (for Young 67), 8. Sam Blackman (for Lawrence 67) 14. Jack Peters (for Hatfull 90+5), 18. Kelechi Nkwocha (not used), 19. Kieron Agbebi (not used)

Turquoise, White and Pink design/Turquoise/Turquoise: GK All Purple
Ben Greenhalgh (Player/Manager), Elliot Leveson (Coach), Owen Kellmeier (GK Coach), Frankie Empson (Kit), Ethan Woodgate (Medical)
3 / 3Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-15-14; 16; 11-20-12-3; 9
Margate (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-3-17; 6-4-16-15; 9-11

Officials – Edward Smith (Battle), Philipp (sic) Chaykin (Barnes) dug outs, Promise Phillips (Streatham) grandstand

Cautions – Adam Trotter (JB) 9 dissent, Ben Greenhalgh (M) 31, Luke Watson (JB) 38, Harry Hudson (M) 68 (Trotter and Watson will both miss the next match as a consequence of their fifth cautions before the November 30th cut off)

Corners – Jersey Bulls (3) 7, Margate (5) 8

Assist(s) – James Carr, Miguel Carvalho

Player of the Match – Adam Trotter

Added Time – 1.55 & 8.05 (10.00)