Jersey welcomed table toppers Raynes Park Vale to Springfield. Last season they had finished one above Jersey’s fourth with both the match there and the return at Springfield finishing as 1-1 draws.

The opponents, based two miles south of Wimbledon, have been in the Combined Counties League since they were formed in 1995, by a merger of Raynes Park and Malden Vale. Raynes Park Vale finished fifth in the Premier Division in the last completed season of 2018-19 but were in the bottom half for the two ensuing curtailed seasons before finishing third last season.

This season they have led from the start and apart from losing twice to Badshot Lea have carried almost all before them. A surprising home defeat to strugglers Guildford City and three goalless draws on their travels are the only other league points they have surrendered. Their current record is 25-3-3 79-25.

Jersey made three changes to their starting team that had defeated Colliers Wood United last Saturday. The Bulls welcomed back Francis Lekimamati, Jonny Le Quesne and Robert Martins-Figueira from their Muratti expedition to Alderney but rather surprisingly left Adam Trotter on the bench. Raynes Park Vale had won 7-0 in a hastily re-arranged fixture on Thursday night and left their top scorer Jordan Gallagher on the bench too.

On a sunny (11C) afternoon with a northerly breeze from the Robin Hood end Jersey kicked off attacking the Town end.

In the absence of Gallagher the visitors main threat came from the nippy Jermaine Green and their midfield strings were being pulled by the impressive Aaron Lamont who vied with their ‘keeper Bishop for the player of the match.

After a dozen minutes Green had an early sighter from twenty-five yards which Euan Van der Vliet dealt with diving to his right but disaster struck just before quarter of an hour.

Lamont’s long ball down the right found Archie Harland-Goddard in plenty of space. A good first touch gave him time to put in a low cross along the six yard line. Timmy Obisanya could not reach it but Jersey captain, James Queree, sliding in to prevent the ball reaching Ethan Archer at the far post, only succeeded in doing the job for him.

Just after the half hour Kamen Nafkha gave Jay Giles room on the left. His cross set up Luke Watson on the edge of the box only for Watson’s well struck shot to skim the bar. Lekimamati continued to work his magic down the right with one delightful move leaving two defenders trailing in his wake.

Frank Tobin made a trade mark surging run down the right before being tackled on the edge of the box. The resultant clearance was blocked by Le Quesne and it cannoned to Tobin whose momentum had carried him goalward. His volley was well struck but the covering Nathan Lewis threw himself in its way and deflected it for a corner.

Nevertheless, it was the visitors who extended their lead before the break. A Lamont free-kick on the right was either sliced or cleverly placed. The result was that Van der Vliet was equally unsure how to deal with it. He started to come for it but Ben Dyett managed to hook it across the face where Archer’s attempt was well blocked at the near post by the recovering ‘keeper only for it to fall to Callum Hope to shoot home from a couple of yards.

Jersey almost pulled one back shortly afterwards when Luke Campbell, making his 100^th appearance, rose at the far post to nod a Giles free-kick from the half way line in front of the dug outs, against the left upright.

At the interval the Bulls brought on Trotter and Fraser Barlow to give them the line-up many thought that they should have started with. It immediately paid dividends as a superbly struck 25 yard free-kick by Lekimamati was clawed away from the top left corner by Bishop only for Barlow to pounce and beat the ‘keeper and Lewis to the loose ball.

The re-energised hosts went looking for the equaliser and ten minutes later had a golden opportunity. Le Quesne was adjudged to have been brought down by Harland-Goddard, a decision that was understandably questioned by the visitors. Campbell struck it hard and low to Bishop’s right and the keeper got a strong right hand to it to push it away before the rebound from a narrow angle was put over the bar by Barlow.

Two minutes later Bishop was the saviour again. Trotter managed to thread the ball through to Lorne Bickley near the penalty spot. The striker did well to turn Lewis and get in a shot with the awkwardly bouncing ball but that strong right hand of Bishop’s was there again to thwart him.

Bickley soon had two more sights of goal but was quickly closed down by the visitors defenders before anything significant could materialise.

The last half hour did not see Jersey create anything more in terms of chances whereas Hope, Green and then substitute Gallagher, in added time,all came close for Raynes Park Vale.

It was a vital win for the visitors as a draw would have seen them overtaken on goal difference by Badshot Lea for the one guaranteed promotion place to be decided in the next three weeks as the fixtures come thick and fast.

The match epitomised the season, so near but so far. The chances were there against the well organised opposition but Raynes Park Vale are top for a reason. They limited the Bulls opportunities and those that were created were twice thwarted by the captain/goalkeeper Billy Bishop and on a third by the woodwork.

Jersey Bulls 1 (Fraser Barlow 47), Raynes Park Vale 2 (James Queree own goal 14, Callum Hope 42) (Luke Campbell penalty saved 57)

Attendance – 915; Programme – 32pp, £2

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Frank Tobin (wore 12), Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, Francis Lekimamati, Luke Watson, Lorne Bickley (wore 16), Jonny Le Quesne, Robert Martins-Figueira
Substitutes – 14. Joe Kilshaw (for Watson 76), 15. Adam Trotter (for Martins-Figueira 46), 21. Robbie Scott (sub GK) (not used), 22. Fraser Barlow (for Nafkha 46), 23. Ben Le Rougetel (not used)

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

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

Raynes Park Vale (squad numbers) – 1. Billy Bishop (c), 2. Archie Harland-Goddard, 3. Callum Hope, 5. Nathan Lewis, 7. Brad Sweeney, 9. Timmy Obisanya, 11. Ethan Archer, 12. Aaron Lamont, 15. Jermaine Green, 29. Ben Dyett, 30. Callum McAllister
Substitutes – 8. Louie Downey (for Archer 64), 10. Jordan Gallacher (for Green 88), 14. Ben Dyson (for Sweeney 88), 18. Tom Barnes (for Aaron Lamont 84), 20. Charlie Penny (for Obisanya 70)

All Royal Blue (all with Red trim); GK All Orange

Josh Gallagher (Manager), Anthony Panayi (Assistant), Rees Williams-Bowers (Coach), Chris Williams (Fitness), Dan Canning (Physio.)

Formations
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 12-4-5-3; 6; 7-8-10-11; 16

Raynes Park Vale (4-4-2 R to L) 1; 2-29-5-3; 30-11-12-7; 15-9

Referee – Alex J. McKay (Sutton) aged 36, of Ayrshire extraction. Qualified in 2014, initially with the Surrey Leagues, fourth season with the Combined Counties League, his first Jersey match.

Assistants – Philipp Chaykin (Richmond) on the dug outs side. Of Russian heritage, Chaykin is Russian for Seagull, Qualified in 2020, initially with the London leagues. Second season with Combined Counties League. On the line at Balham recently.

Gulam Damji (Wallington) on the grandstand side. Of Indian heritage. Qualified in 2019, initially with the Surrey Leagues, first season with the Combined Counties League. On the line for our F.A. Vase match at Tooting Bec last season.

Cautions – Jonny Le Quesne (JB) 35, Callum Hope (RPV) 45, Jay Giles (JB) 82

Corners – Jersey Bulls (3) 3, Raynes Park Vale (2) 2

Player of the Match Award – Francis Lekimamati