Jersey played their first home fixture at Step 4 with V.C.D. the visitors. They had been defeated 5-1 in the F.A. Cup four seasons earlier since when they had been relegated from, and promoted back, to the Isthmian South-East division. The latter as a result of a 2-1 defeat of Fisher, Jersey’s last visitors, in the play-off final.

With almost a complete team missing due to Jonny Le Quesne’s wedding Jerseyhad to make numerous changes. Notable amongst the absentees, along with the groom, were James Queree, Luke Campbell, Fraser Barlow, Francis Lekimamati, Joe Kilshaw and Sammy Sutcliffe who had all been in the squad against Fisher.

Frank Tobin, Rai Dos Santos and Will Yates all moved up from the bench, the latter for his first start, and Miguel Carvalho returned. Jamie Watling was thrown straight in to central defence for his debut and the “retired” Karl Hinds featured on the bench, along with Toby Ritzema returning from injury and teenager Harry Mackenzie.

V.C.D. started well with slick inter-passing moves, particularly down the right flank.The first Jersey corner revealed a new training ground move with the ball delivered to the near post by Giles for Lumsden to attempt to flick in. The first was a little under hit and the stooping Lumsden could only direct it into the side netting. Dos Santos broke through the middle but under pressure from Ben Fitchett his shot was deflected for a corner by ‘keeper Frankie Leonard. The training ground routine bore fruit five minutes later with the goal initially credited to Lumsden but closer inspection showed he had missed it and it had cannoned in off V.C.D. striker Charlie Heatley.

Yates had a good opportunity to mark his first start with a goal but, after Dos Santos set him up, he failed to lift the ball over Leonard from ten yards. Dos Santos hit the outside off the left post with a twenty-yard cross shot and two minutes later he twice miskicked before putting his third attempt over the bar.

The second goal should have come just before half time after Adam Trotter was felled by Connor Dymond as he broke the left channel. Luke Watson took the spot kick and went for power. It went straight down the middle hit the bar and rebounded some twenty-two yards such was the ferocity of the kick. Which meant that the interval arrived with Jersey only a goal to the good.

Before the restart V.C.D. made a double substitution in attempt to get more men forward and it succeeded in as much as they equalised just before the hour. Heatley was again involved and initially credited with touching Nathaniel Olawole’s left wing cross beyond Pierce Roche. However, drone coverage showed no touch but

it was enough to put off Roche as the ball eluded his left hand.

Luke Coutanche and Hinds came on up front for Jersey and with ten minutes left a lob forward by Giles found the latter who held off Fitchett and lobbed Leonard only for the ball to drop agonisingly wide of the right post. Yates placed another shot well wide of the right post before Watson’s header was hooked off the line by a defender which turned out to be Jersey’s last chance of gaining the win.

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, Frank Tobin, James Carr, Jay Giles (wore 14), Jamie Watling, Luke Watson (wore 18), Jack Lumsden (wore 16), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Will Yates (wore 19), Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 4. Toby Ritzema (for Trotter 82), 8. Harry Mackenzie (not used), 15.Luke Coutanche (for Carr 59), 20. Karl Hinds (for Dos Santos 71), 21 Daniel Jinadu (sub GK, not used)

Red/White/Red; GK All Green

Dan Garton (Manager), Dave Kennedy (Assistant), Jan Bentley (Fitness), Dylan Buesnel (Analyst), Steve Martin (Medical) (Elliot Powell suspended for this match)

V.C.D. Athletic – Frankie Leonard, Harry Lawrence, Eric Schulz, Connor Dymond, Ben Fitchett (c), Michael Fenn, Bethel Gboda, Lee Bird, Charlie Heatley, Alfie Evans, Nathaniel Olawole

Substitutes – 12. Zak Byron (for Dymond) 46, 14, Fynley Rutherford (for Gboda 85), 15. Henry Griffin (for Schulz 46), 16. Richard Pingling (for Evans 64), 17. Yassin Fares (for Olawole 64)

All Royal Blue; GK Yellow/Black/Black

Danny Joy (Manager), Ross Baker and Martin McCarthy (Assistants), Barry Bell (Coach), Molly Sawyer (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-16-5-14; 18; 11-19-12-3; 10
V.C.D. Athletic (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-5-6-3; 4; 7-10-8-11; 9

Officials – Jonathan M. Wilks (Shoreham), Peter M. Andrews (Hassocks) (dug outs), Greig Walker (Newhaven) (grandstand)

Cautions – Lee Bird (VCD) 12, Jay Giles (JB) 25, Nathaniel Olawole (VCD) 53, Michael Fenn (VCD) 73, Zak Byron (VCD) 76, Bethel Gboda (VCD) 78, Charlie Heatley (VCD) 90+2

Corners – Jersey Bulls (3) 8, V.C.D. Athletic (3) 5

Assist(s) – Jay Giles

Player of the Match – Miguel Carvalho

Added Time – 1.00 & 4.35 (5.35)