For their first fixture of 2026 Jersey entertained Merstham with whom they had drawn 2-2 in August but Merstham now had a much changed squad. They were one place above Jersey in 6th with a 12-5-7 45-35 record and had won four consecutive matches before losing at home to Sittingbourne 1-2 last Saturday.

Jersey were missing three team members who were still on their festive holidays - Jonny Le Quesne, Lorne Bickley and James Sunley, in addition Euan Van der Vliet’s was still in the Far East. A situation the manager has realised needs addressing for future seasons. Jamie Watling came in for Joe Kilshaw who dropped to the bench where James Carr replaced substitute ‘keeper Sam Davy. In addition, Will Yates replaced debutant Casey Nixon on the bench.

Merstham swapped the roles of Billy Oram and Oliver Allen and added Sam King to their substitutes. In a very late change, after the initial submission of the teams, striker Korrey Henry (#9) was withdrawn from the starting line up and Abdulahi Abdul-Azeez brought in off the bench, to which was added Charlie Greenwood.

Jersey won the toss and opted to have Merstham looking into the bright sun and which might have contributed to the opening goal. Toby Ritzema won a “soft” free kick just outside the area for a foul which defender Anje Djadja was also harshly cautioned. Francis Lekimamati curled the ball into the top left corner with Rob Tolfrey in the Merstham goal not moving. Abdul-Azeez brought a save out of Pierce Roche midway through the half and Jack Lumsden almost scored from forty yards when he had Tolfrey backpedalling frantically as the ball dropped just over. As half time approached Miguel Carvalho attacking down the left had a shot parried by Tolfrey which was creeping in before skipper Matt Drage got back to hook it off the line. In added time Jersey won their second corner and Jay Giles delivered it from the right to the centre of the goal where an unmarked Lumsden got in front of Tolfrey to nod it in from a yard or so.

Ten minutes after the break the Jersey goal survived after a remarkable lengthy bout of head tennis with Luke Campbell heading off the line at one point. Merstham made a double change before the hour and continued to have plenty of possession as they pushed forward and it needed a good save from Roche to deny Olu Lawal midway 2 / 2through the half to preserve the two goal advantage. Merstham went for a triple change in a late attempt to get back into the game but it was Adam Trotter who whistled a cross shot narrowly wide of the visitors left post with a couple of minutes remaining. Merstham persevered and in the last minute of added time Roche tipped over a rising shot from substitute Finlay Johnson to preserve his clean sheet.

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche (wore 13), Jack Lumsden, Jay Giles (wore 14), James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Toby Ritzema, Francis Lekimamati (wore 21), Jamie Watling (wore 15), Luke Watson (wore 16), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 3. James Carr (for Carvalho 84), 7. Fraser Barlow (for Ritzema 46), 8. Joe Kilshaw (not used), 19. Stan Dunne (not used), 20. Will Yates (for Lekimamati 61)

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

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

Merstham – Rob Tolfrey, Ollie Khinda, Luke Ashburn, Paris Hamilton-Downes (wore 18), Matt Drage (c), Ange Djadja, Emmanuel Robe (wore 14), Billy Oram, Abdulahi Abdul-Azeez (wore 19), Lee Lewis, Olumayowa Lawal
Substitutes – 4. Harry Pointing (for Drage 75), 7. Finlay Johnson (for Lawal 75), 12. Sam King (for Abdul-Azeez 75), 17. Charlie Greenwood (for Oram 58), 20. Oliver Allen (for Ashburn 58)

All Light Blue (White sleeves); GK All Light Green
Jamie De Cruz (Manager), Lee Matthews (Assistant), James Deacon (Coach), Ollie Ellaway (GK Coach), Daniel Anthonio (Kit), Ryan Valentine (Medical)
Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 13; 4-15-5-14; 16; 21-12-2-11; 6
Merstham (4-4-2) 1; 2-6-5-3; 14-8-18-11; 10-19

Officials – Harry Wood (Haywards Heath), Owen Lawrence (East Grinstead) dug outs, Steven Fogden (Burgess Hill) grandstand

Cautions – Ange Djada (M) 6, Billy Oram (M) 23, Fraser Barlow (JB) 90+5

Corners – Jersey Bulls (2) 4, Merstham (2) 6

Assist(s) – Toby Ritzema, Jay Giles

Player of the Match – Jack Lumsden

Added Time – 1.45 & 7.10 (8.55)