Jersey (15th, 15 from 11) welcomed Sevenoaks (16th, 13 from 13) looking for an early afternoon win in order to climb the table after a difficult run of fixtures. With Toby Ritzema still injured, and Luke Campbell suspended, James Carr and Joe Kilshaw were elevated from the bench with Fraser Barlow moving in the opposite direction. Jonny Le Quesne and Francis Lekimamati, the latter returning from injury, joined the bench with Daniel Jinadu and Harry Mackenzie dropping out.
On the back of three successive defeats Sevenoaks made four changes to their starting team. Kevin Diomande, Ryan Sawyer, Jaden Perez and Daniel Duncanson replaced Hanson “Sam” Itauma, Tom Jackson, Joshua Wisson and Archie Burnett. Itauma and Wisson were on the bench along with another change - Ayomide Majekodunmi – and Warren Hughes Mfula. Archie Howard, Jack Tickle, Mason Douglas and Harry Bunclark all made way.
Although the sunshine was out the play failed to sparkle and there was little of note in the first half. Just before the quarter hour Rai Dos Santos hit a curling shot from twenty yards towards the bottom right corner only for Jordan Perrin to fly across to his left and push the ball away. At the midpoint of the half Lorne Bickley fired over and two minutes later James Stone spotted Euan Van der Vliet off his line. His thirty- yard attempt might have been successful against a shorter ‘keeper but a back peddling Van der Vliet was able to push it over for a corner.
As half time approached there were a few rumbles of thunder and a flash or two
of lightning in the distance to the North, but no rain.

After the interval Jersey went to a more attacking formation to get behind the Sevenoaks defence with Rai Dos Santos moving further forward with Bickley.
2 / 3It soon paid dividends. Dos Santos broke down the left and crossed for Bickley. It was just too far ahead of the tall striker whose diving header only grazed the ball which went on to hit his hand. The referee mistakenly deemed it an attempt at a Diego Maradona style “Hand of God” and cautioned the bewildered front man. A minute later Dos Santos broke away again but only found the side netting.
On the hour James Queree underhit a back pass but Van der Vliet was able to thwart Daniel Duncanson after he seized upon the half chance. Rain started to fall shortly afterwards and within five minutes it had developed into a ferocious hailstorm which forced the referee to take the players off for three minutes until it abated.

Shortly after the resumption Dos Santos challenged Kevin Diomande for a long high ball forward from Van der Vliet. The referee deemed it a foul on the Jersey player and awarded a free kick twenty-five yards out left of centre. Dos Santos retrieved the boot he had lost in the challenge and fired in the free kick towards the left corner. Perrin did well to push it on to the post only to see newly introduced substitute Fraser Barlow be on hand six yards out to score from the rebound.

With nine minutes left Jersey almost threw away their hard-earned lead. Another under hit back pass, this time from Joe Kilshaw, saw Stone beat Van der Vliet and cross to the unmarked Gil Carvalho near the penalty spot. Fortunately, Jamie Watling managed to get across and block the shot.

Jersey immediately went up the other end and Dos Santos narrowly volleyed over a cross from substitute James Sunley. As added time approached Bickley was well placed in the right channel but went for power and sliced his shot high and wide. Sunley also went close in the added time as Jersey held on for the slenderest of wins. It lifted them four places up the table, at least until the later kick offs.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jay Giles (wore 14), James Carr, James Queree (c), Jamie Watling (wore 15), Luke Watson (wore 16), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 2. Jonny Le Quesne (for Kilshaw 85), 7. Fraser Barlow (for Carvalho 63), 20. James Sunley (for Watson 63), 21. Francis Lekimamati (not used), only four substitutes.
Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), David Kennedy (Coach), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)
Sevenoaks Town – Jordan Perrin, Kevin Diomande, Charlie Dickens, Jahmal Howlett-Mundle (c), Ryan Sawyer, Thomas Hanfrey, Gil Carvalho, Jaden Perez, James Stone, Daniel Duncanson, Aaron Jenkins
3 / 3Substitutes – 12. Joshua Wisson (for Sawyer 85), 14. Hanson “Sam” Itauma (for Jenkins 78), 15. Ayomide Majekodunmi (for Perez 78), 16. Warren-Hughes Mfula (for Howlett-Mundle 88), only four substitutes
All Jade Green; GK All Purple
Marcel Nimani (Manager), Ben Franks (Assistant), Craig Coles (Coach), Alex Mulrooney (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 4-15-14-3; 16; 11-8-12-10; 9
Sevenoaks Town (4-4-2) 1; 2-5-6-3; 7-8-4-10; 9-11

Officials – Toby J. Carlisle (Hackney), Mark E. Spence (Littlehampton) dug outs, Christopher J. Findlay-Greer (Hailsham) (grandstand)
Caution(s) – Daniel Duncanson (ST) 16, Lorne Bickley (JB) 48, Adam Trotter (JB) 81, Thomas Hanfrey (ST) 82

Corners – Jersey Bulls (0) 0, Sevenoaks Town (5) 8

Assist(s) – Rai Dos Santos

Player of the Match – Jamie Watling (honourable mentions for Rai Dos Santos and Adam Trotter)

Added Time – 0.55 & 6.20 (7.15)