Jersey kept the same squad as had won at A.F.C. Croydon Athletic on Saturday with the one change being Toby Ritzema starting instead of Joe Kilshaw. Sittingbourne in 8th (3-3-1 12-9) had drawn 1-1 with Erith Town on Saturday and they made two changes. Derek Asamoah and Jean-Baptiste Fischer starting in place of Michael Salako, who was on the bench, and Darren Foxley.

Sittingbourne were a strong, physical side with a volatile manager with 39 clubs as a player and manager. He was spoken to but not sanctioned. As for keeping within the technical area, that was completely overlooked. The referee and senior assistant were kept busy and were to be strongly criticised by the home supporters for their leniency on the oppositions tackling and their time wasting tactics.
Sittingbourne appeared to adopt the same policy as one of last season's close adversaries of conjuring "injuries" out of nothing to give themselves regular breathers in order to keep closing down the home sides passing game. The referees attempt to keep play flowing was continually thwarted. The officials also made two very unpopular calls on two key match incidents.

The game itself was consequently bitty with Sittingbourne looking the more threatening, particularly at corners. However, it was Jersey that took the lead just before half time when a clever reverse ball by Adam Trotter allowed Lorne Bickley to thunder the ball home from the edge of the box.
Yannis Ambroisine, who had scored the Sittingbourne goal on Saturday, rose highest at a Richard Hamill corner two minutes later that perhaps Euan Van der Vliet should have come for. Fortunately, Rai Dos Santos was at the near post to head off the line. Jersey had not learnt their lesson and from the subsequent corner Ambroisine headed down from six yards for the equaliser.

Jonny Le Quesne, captain in the continuing absence of James Queree, had picked up a first half knock and was replaced by Joe Kilshaw at the break with Lorne Bickley 2 / 3taking over the armband. The regular shirt pulling on any player breaking free continued but ironically Miguel Carvalho was cautioned for simulation just outside the box when he was sent flying. If it was simulation the carpet burns suffered from the 3G pitch would discourage any repeat performance. Five minutes later Troy Howard broke clear in the right channel for Sittingbourne but blazed high and wide from ten yards when going for power rather than precision.

Jersey thought they had snatched a winner in the 73rd minute when Ritzema weaved his way along the left byline before putting in a low cross that Carvalho was quickest to react to and stab home from six yards. The referee initially awarded the goal only for the senior assistant on the far side and ten yards up the line to flag that the ball had already gone out of play. It was a "brave" decision but probably not the correct one. The match eventually ended level after almost a quarter of an hour of added time over both halves with Jersey maintaining their unbeaten start to the league season.


Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne (c), Jamie Watling (wore 15), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Luke Campbell, Toby Ritzema, Fraser Barlow, Luke Watson (wore 16), Lorne Bickley (vc), Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 3. James Carr (for Barlow 72), 8. Joe Kilshaw (for Le Quesne 46), 13. Daniel Jinadu (sub GK, not used), 14. Jay Giles (for Ritzema 89), 20. James Sunley (for Dos Santos 67)

Red/White/Red; GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Dave Kennedy and Andy Dewhurst (Coaches), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)

Sittingbourne - Mitchell Beeney, Jaden Crowhurst, Gavin Hoyte, Richard Hamill (c), Yannis Ambroisine, Christopher Arthur, Troy Howard, D'Sean Theobalds, Derek Asamoah, Jean-Baptiste Fischer, Henry Sinai
Substitutes – 12. Jack Steventon (not used), 14. Luke Woodward (for Fischer 31) 15. Ellis Brown (for Crowhurst 67), Michael Salako (for Asamoah 53), Emmanuel Robe (for Howard 74)

All Yellow; GK Orange/Orange/Black

Ryan Maxwell (Manager), Billy McMahon and George Howard (Coaches), Maurice Pilgrim (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-15-5-7; 16; 11-6-12-10; 9
Sittingbourne (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-5-6-3; 4; 7-8-10-11; 9
3 / 3
Officials – Christopher "Chris" S. Bowdery (Lewisham), Alexander "Alex" R. Hollis (Littlehampton) (dug outs), Harry Walker (Jersey) (grandstand)

Caution(s) – Adam Trotter (J) 48, Gavin Hoyte (S) 45+5 (time wasting), Derek Asamoah (S) 52, Miguel Carvalho (JB) 59 (simulation), Richard Hamill (S) 62, Toby Ritzema (J) 88

Corners – Jersey Bulls (2) 2; Sittingbourne (3) 6

Assist(s) – Adam Trotter

Player of the Match – Adam Trotter (honourable mentions for Toby Ritzema and Lorne Bickley)

Added Time – 5.15 & 8.30 (13.45)