Jersey hosted top of the table rivals Redhill in a match postponed from 31st August when travel problems made it impossible to arrange. It was an immediate re-match for the top two teams. The teams were level on points but Jersey had a game in hand and a much better goal difference. A win for Redhill would mean Jersey would have to win both their remaining fixtures. The last 3 meetings had all been drawn.

Jersey made two changes to their starting XI with Toby Ritzema replacing Fraser Barlow and Adam Trotter displacing Paul McKay in midfield. Barlow and McKay were both on the bench along with James Carr, Kurtis Guthrie and Karl Hinds.

Redhill also made two alterations to their team. Jaevon Dyer was promoted from the bench to replace Olly Allen injured last week, and Timmy Obisanya swapped roles with Elliott York. York was a substitute along with Charlie Penny, Arlie Talboys and the brothers Tom and Paddi Harland-Goddard. The latter’s brother Archie was in the starting side so making three Harland-Goddard brothers in the squad.

The conditions were far more conducive to the playing of football this week with the importance of the occasion drawing a record club crowd of 1,849 to Springfield, including about 70 from Redhill.

As expected, a feisty encounter where the ball might go past the visiting defender, or the attacker, but not both. It was again noticeable how often they went to ground holding their heads so forcing the referee to stop the match. Sometimes there had been no contact whatsoever. Two were cautioned for simulation but it could have been more.

Jersey had the better of the first half with the returning Toby Ritzema prominent. A Carvalho cross grazed his head and from another he headed into the side netting.The opening goal came shortly afterwards. Joe Kilshaw did well to gain the ball on the edge of the box and fed the ball inside towards Lorne Bickley but Adam Trotter came steaming in and from the edge of the box hit a screamer into the top rightcorner of the goal.

A second almost came after thirty-five minutes, Ritzema regained the ball in the left corner and crossed to Bickley at the near post whose glancing header hit the top of the bar.

Redhill needed a goal and came out on the front foot after the break. Jaevon Dyer was cautioned for trying to “win” a penalty but shortly afterwards they had the rub of the green when James Queree was harshly adjudged to have fouled Seb Tauta-Caballero on the edge of the box. The decision had consequences as the free-kickwas not cleared and after a bout of pinball Timmy Obisanya stabbed home the equaliser.

Before the restart the cautioned Dyer was replaced upfront by Elliott York and after thirty-seven seconds on the pitch he scored what proved to be the winner. Nathan Hogan hit a strong shot from twenty yards that cannoned back off Euan Van der Vliet’s chest to York fifteen yards out who steered the rebound back first time into the bottom right corner.

Redhill resolutely defended what they had and there was only one significant chance for Jersey after that. With five minutes of “normal” time remaining Jonny Le Quesne swung in a cross from the right to the far post where Queree did not get a good connection, and it went just wide.

The frustrations boiled over near the end of added time. Campbell and the Redhill goalkeeper Luke Roberts went for a loose bouncing ball outside the box with the ‘keeper staying down and the Redhill defenders piling in to the situation. Callum McAllister embarrassed himself going down holding his head as if poleaxed when no contact had been made. He further inflamed the situation with a lengthy taunting of the crowd at the final whistle. Doing that somewhere else could have led to a pitch invasion. He was obviously delighted to win a vital match but it was unnecessary.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne (wore 12), Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Toby Ritzema (wore 21), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, Adam Trotter, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 14. James Carr (for Ritzema 68), 15. Fraser Barlow (for Giles 74), 16. Kurtis Guthrie (for Bickley 71), 18. Paul McKay (for Watson 71), 20. Karl Hinds (for Kilshaw 74)

Red/White/Red; GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Adam Lester and Andy Dewhurst (Coaches), Dylan Buesnel (Analyst), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)

Redhill – Luke Roberts, Archie Harland-Goddard, Joe Dyett, Sam Fitzgerald (wore 15), Tommy Smith (c), Callum McAllister (wore 18), Ethan Ford, Jaevon Dyer (wore 14), Seb Tauta-Caballero (wore 20), Nathan Hogan, Timmy Obisanya (wore 23)
Substitutes – 11. Elliott York (for Dyer 57), 16. Charlie Penny (for Ford 82), 17. Tom Harland-Goddard (for Obisanya 90+7), 21. Paddi (sic) Harland-Goddard (for Hogan 82), 22. Arlie Talboys (for Fitzgerald 62)

Yellow/Royal Blue with Yellow trim/Royal Blue with Yellow tops; GK All Light Blue

Jordan Clark (Manager), Luke Taylor (Assistant), Matt Chapman and Jack Porter (Coaches), Colin Miles (Scout), Sam Foster (Secretary), Jaymini Patel (Medical)

Formations (R to L)

Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 12-4-5-3; 6; 11-10-8-21; 9
Redhill (4-4-2) 1; 5-15-3-2; 10-18-20-7; 23-14

Match Officials – Jamaal K. Horne (Thornton Heath) 39 of Jamaican heritage, qualified in 2009, formerly at Step 1 level as an assistant on the National League. Second season with the Combined Counties League and his first Jersey Bulls match. Rohan A. Chotai (Wembley) on the dug outs side. Of Indian heritage, qualified in 2018, previously at Springfield in February 2024 for the Colliers Wood United fixture. Jonathan M. Biss (Burnham) on the grandstand side. Also qualified in 2018, initially on Berks and Bucks matches. Second season with the Combined Counties League, also on his first Jersey fixture.

Cautions – Jaevon Dyer (R) 49, Jonny Le Quesne (JB) 55, Sam Fitzgerald (R) 60, Tommy Smith (R) 64, Lorne Bickley (JB) 67, Archie Harland-Goddard (R) 67, Miguel Carvalho (JB) 86, Elliott York (R) 90+4, Luke Campbell (JB) 90+10, Kurtis Guthrie (JB) 90+10, Callum McAllister (R) 90+10

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 2, Redhill (1) 1

Assist(s) – Joe Kilshaw

Player of the Match – Adam Trotter

Added Time – 1.00 & 10.55 (11.55)