Jersey hosted their third consecutive home match with play-off hopefuls Redhill the visitors. Redhill were in 8^thposition with games in hand on those immediately above them. If their home record had matched their unbeaten one away they would already be in a play-off position.

Redhill won through three rounds of the F.A. Cup, including two victories over teams from the level above, before going down to Whitehawk. In the F.A. Vase they fell at the first hurdle to newly relegated V.C.D. Athletic whom Jersey beat in the F.A. Cup two seasons ago. In the league all their six defeats had been at home whereas on their travels the only points they had dropped were in a 2-2 draw at A.F.C. Croydon Athletic. Their overall record stood at 11-1-6 43-22.

Jersey made two changes, giving them a side similar to that which finished the match against Hamworthy. Will Byers replaced James Carr with James Queree switching from right to left in the back four. Kamen Nafkha came in for Luke Watson

giving the team more of a 4-2-4 look. Francis Lekimamati and Jonny Le Quesne retained their places but switched shirt numbers. Carr and Watson were on the bench along with Joe Kilshaw, Ruben Mendes and new signing Odinaka Nwokoro.

Jersey kicked off attacking the Town End on a sunny but still chilly (4C) day. Redhill’s Adam Grant put an early chance wide of the left post before Lorne Bickley, making his 100^th appearance, played in by Lekimamati, put a good chance wide of the right post. Tyrese Sutherland forced a good save out of Pierce Roche at the expense of a corner before Bickley, put in this time by Le Quesne, again put his shot wide right. After all that in the first twenty minutes there was little to separate the sides for the remainder of the half.

Grant was replaced by Andrew Demby at the interval and within a minute Redhill almost took the lead. Sutherland wriggled clear of a Luke Campbell tackle right of centre and put in a cross shot which struck the foot of the left post before rebounding clear. Both sides made changes but little goalmouth action resulted as the match became increasingly tetchy.

In the last minute of “normal” time a quick through ball put substitute Tom Harland-Goddard racing clear only to be brought down just outside the box by Roche who was dismissed for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. Watson, who had replaced an injured Ben Le Rougetel midway through the first half, went between the sticks and had surprisingly little to do in the lengthy added time of almost 18 minutes.

However, scores were being settled on the pitch and the caution count racked up to eight, including one for the opposition manager, to add to the dismissal of Roche.
Eventually the teams settled for a goalless draw, Jersey’s fifth in their league career. There were three last season - two against Tadley Calleva and away at Knaphill. The first in August 2021 was away at…. Redhill.

Jersey Bulls 0, Redhill 0

Attendance – 707

Programme – 32 pages, £3.50

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, Will Byers, James Queree (c), Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, Francis Lekimamati, Ben Le Rougetel, Lorne Bickley, Fraser Barlow, Jonny Le Quesne
Subs – 12. Odinaka Nwokoro (not used), 14. Luke Watson (for Le Rougetel 27), 15. James Carr (for Lekimamati 67), 16. Joe Kilshaw (for Barlow 90+5), 18. Ruben Mendes (for Nafkha 81)

Red/White/Red; GK All Green

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

Redhill – Luke Wynne-Roberts, Ben Dyson, Ricardo Thompson (wore 14), Eoin Fraser (c), Tommy Smith, Reuben Duncan, Adam Grant (wore 19), Jack Saunders, Tyrese Sutherland, Arlie Desanges (wore 23), Andrew Herring (wore 16)
Subs – 10. Andrew Demby (for Grant 46), 11. Alex Keating (for Desanges 90+2), 17. Tom Harland-Goddard (for Saunders 63), 20. Reyon Dillon (for Sutherland 77), 21. Jack Poplett (not used)

Yellow/Royal Blue/Yellow; GK All Purple

Jordan Clark (Manager), Luke Taylor (Assistant), Matt Chapman, Jack Porter & Sam Foster (Coaches), Jay Patel (Physio.)

Formations
Jersey Bulls (4-2-4 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 8-6; 7-10-9-11
Redhill (4-4-2 R to L) 1; 2-16-5-14; 9-4-8-6; 23-19

Referee – Ethan T. Stacey (Reading) 27, His seventh season, four with the Hellenic League and now in his third with the Combined Counties Previously here as an assistant for the Camberley match in February 2023. Now level 4 and in the middle.

Assistants – Sam Palmer (Reading) On the dug outs side, qualified 2020, Initially on local leagues and now in his second season with the Combined Counties. Richard Garland (Woking) on the grandstand side, qualified 2006. With Surrey leagues before joining the Combined Counties this season. Both on their first Jersey match.

Cautions – Jack Saunders (RH) 35, Will Byers (JB) 41, Ricardo Thompson (RH) 84, Pierce Roche (JB) 90 (dismissed), Reyon Dillon (RH) 90+4, Lorne Bickley (JB) 90+7, Joe Kilshaw (JB) 90+16, Jordan Clark (RH mgr) 90+17, Tommy Smith (RH) 90+18

Corners – Jersey Bulls (0) 2; Redhill (2) 5

Player of the Match – James Queree; Added Time – 2.00 & 17.40 (19.40)