After losing at second placed Faversham Town on Saturday, Jersey had the return against league leaders Three Bridges. Their record was now 10-2-1 39-14. The teams had met a fortnight ago when a late equaliser had rescued a point for Three Bridges. It also meant that seven of Jersey’s eight league matches in the last five weeks had been against teams currently in the top seven positions.
Toby Ritzema, injured at Faversham, was missing and replaced by Adam Trotter. James Carr and Joe Kilshaw moved to the bench to make room for two players returning from injury, Jay Giles and Miguel Carvalho. James Sunley and Harry Mackenzie continued as substitutes, and they were joined by substitute goalkeeper Daniel Jinadu who came in as a late change for Jonny Le Quesne when the latter failed a fitness test.
Three Bridges made only one change to the side that had opposed Jersey a fortnight ago. Nabeel Ghannam, a substitute then, coming in for Charlie Bennett. Ghannam’s place on the bench went to substitute goalkeeper Naythan Bryson.
Three Bridges attacked down the flanks and Hayden Velvick had a shot cleared off the line by Jay Giles before skipper Noel Leighton had a gilt-edged opportunity after 18 minutes. He met a cross from the right but his header from five yards hit the underside of the bar before being cleared by Luke Campbell as Leighton appealed hopefully for an Azerbaijani linesman!

Midway through the half Miguel Carvalho broke down the right but no one had gambled on his cross that was lifted over ‘keeper Sam Roberts. Roberts saved at Lorne Bickley’s feet before the interval and in added time Watling blocked a Reece Hallard attempt that looked likely to creep inside the post. Ten minutes after the break Euan Van der Vliet kept Jersey in the game with a fine double save. He parried Ade Adeyinka’s attempt into the path of Velvick and did even better in blocking the follow up.
2 / 3A Jersey free kick was delayed by a lengthy discussion between the referee and his senior assistant. When it was eventually taken by Rai Dos Santos twenty-two yards out left of centre it was floated to the far post where Watling’s powerful header from a narrow angle five yards out was too powerful for Roberts to stop.

The lead did not last long. Hayden Neathey played a long ball to the left flank where Reece Hallard beat James Queree and pulled the ball back from the byline. Leighton Singleton got across Campbell to stab the ball home from close in at the near post.
Six minutes later substitute Kevin Rivera played in Reece Hallard but player of the match Van der Vliet came to Jersey’s rescue again. Skipper Singleton, who was lucky to stay on the pitch at Three Bridges, was cautioned again soon after this and immediately withdrawn as the match concluded with another draw between the teams.
Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jamie Watling (wore 15), Jay Giles (wore 14), James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson (wore 16), Fraser Barlow, Adam Trotter (wore 12), Lorne Bickley, Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 3. James Carr (not used), 8. Joe Kilshaw (not used), 13. Daniel Jinadu (sub GK, not used), 20. James Sunley (for Carvalho 63), 22. Harry Mackenzie (not used)
Red/White/Red; GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), David Kennedy (Coach), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)
Three Bridges – Sam Roberts, Dan Ferreira, Josh Hallard, Ade Adeyinka (wore 14), Sam Bull, Hayden Neathey, Nabeel Ghannam, Bryan Villavicencio, Noel Leighton (c), Hayden Velvick (wore 17), Reece Hallard
Substitutes – 4. Harvey Woollard (not used), 10. Kevin Rivera (for Ghannam 68), 13. Nathan Bryson (sub GK, not used), 16. Ben Holden (for Leighton 84), 18. Billy Irving (not used)
Amber (Black shoulders)/Black/Black; GK All Purple
Jamie Crellin (Manager), Joe Kay (Assistant), Ross Hall (Coach), Richard Mann (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 4-15-5-14; 16; 11-12-10-7; 9
Three Bridges (4-4-2) 1; 2-6-5-3; 17-14-8-7; 11-9

Officials – Billy Wootten (Shoreham), Jamie Cogdell (Seaford) (dug outs) (he also did the reverse match), Tom Murray (Sutton) (grandstand)

3 / 3Caution(s) – Euan Van der Vliet (JB) 3, Jamie Watling (JB) 6, Lorne Bickley (JB) 17, Ade Adeyinka (TB) 71, Josh Hallard (JB) 74, Noel Leighton (TB) 83, Fraser Barlow (JB) 88

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 1, Three Bridges (2) 5

Assist(s) – Rai Dos Santos

Player of the Match – Euan Van der Vliet (honourable mentions for Jamie Watling and Adam Trotter)

Added Time – 2.15 & 4.45 (7.00)