Jersey met their highest ranked opponents for a competitive match, Worthing of the National League South. They have been in the top four in each of the last three seasons, losing in the play-offs every time. This season they lie 10th with a 3-3-2 15-11 record and continuing to increase their average home gate which is now 1,800+

Jersey made three changes to their team with Jonny Le Quesne (back from honeymoon), Toby Ritzema and Lorne Bickley coming in for James Carr, Fraser Barlow and Francis Leimamati who were all on the bench along with Daniel Jinadu, Will Yates, Luke Coutanche and Harry Mackenzie.

Worthing retained the squad that had won 5-2 at Dagenham and Redbridge last week with the only change being Toby Byron starting instead of Odei Martin-Sorondo

Worthing adopted the “Jackie Charlton” method of obstructing the goalkeeper at corners, so Euan Van der Vliet did very well to push over a header from Toby Byron in only the second minute.

Jersey were kept pinned in their own half for long periods as Worthing probed for an opening but against the run of play they took the lead. Jay Giles advanced down the left flank and a flick on by Lorne Bickley gave Rai Dos Santos the opportunity to weave into the box. He sent Sam Beard the wrong way and Beard’s trailing leg brought Dos Santos down. James Queree stepped up for his third penalty of the season and this time went bottom right with Seb Stacey gambling wrongly.

Play continued in the same vein for the rest of the half but in the last five minutes or so Miguel Carvalho started to give Byron a torrid time as he three times looked to make openings for those in the middle. Revenge for Bryron clattering him into the surrounds early in the game. From the third of them Dos Santos put in a header which drifted just wide of the left post.

Jersey extended their lead with a wonderful move early in the second half. Dos Santos broke down the left sideline and as Harry Ransom came across to body check him Dos Santos flicked the ball on to the overlapping Ritzema. The midfielder swept on and centred with the outside of his boot just behind Bickley but the striker made light of this as he flicked it home.
The game swung on an unpopular refereeing decision. Dos Santos and Nicky Wheeler both went for a loose ball in the right channel five yards outside the box.
2 / 2Dos Santos emerged with it but was deemed to have committed a foul. Razzag Coleman stepped up for the free kick and expertly curled it into the top right corner.

Ten minutes later Worthing levelled with another piece of good fortune. Temi Babalola outpaced Jay Giles after a Coleman flick on. Giles managed to get a toe on to the ball but only managed to deflect it on to the striker’s legs from whence it rolled past Van der Vliet and into the bottom right corner.

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, Jay Giles (wore 14), James Queree (c), Jamie Watling (wore 15), Toby Ritzema, Luke Watson (wore 16), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 3. James Carr (not used), 7. Fraser Barlow (for Watson 74), 13. Daniel Jinadu (sub GK, not used), 17. Will Yates (for Ritzema 61), 20. Harry Mackenzie (for Carvalho 90+5), 21. Francis Lekimamati (for Dos Santos 78), 22. Luke Coutanche (for Bickley 90+5)
Red/White/Red: GK All Green (new kit, different shade of red)
Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Dave Kennedy & Andy Dewhurst (Coaches), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)
Worthing – Seb Stacey, Joel Colbran (c), Sam Beard, Harry Ransom (wore 12), Joe Cook, Toby Byron (wore 18), Razzaq Coleman-DeGraft, Sam Packham (wore 16), Temi Babalola (wore 14), Matt Burgess (wore 20), Nicky Wheeler
Substitutes – 4. Kwaku Frimpong (not used), 8. Odei Martin-Sorondo (for Burgess 70), 9. Nathan Odokonyero (not used), 13. Taylor Seymour (sub GK, not used), 17. Bailey Smith (for Beard 78), 21, Bradley Dologhan (for Byron 46), 22. Danny Jordan
(not used)

All Black; GK All Purple

Chris Agutter (Manager), Dean Hammond (Assistant Manager), Ben Cornelius (Coach), John Keeley (GK Coach), Matt Miller & Olly Hills (Medical)
Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-14; 16: 11-8-6-10: 9
Worthing (4-2-3-1) 1; 2-5-12-18; 16-3; 11-20-7; 14

Officials – Adam J. Merchant (Epsom), Thomas C.W. Berry (Cobham) (dug outs), Teddy J. Osborn (Bromley) (grandstand), Gulam A. Damji (Wallington) (4th official)

Caution(s) – Rai Dos Santos (JB) 57, Sam Beard (W) 77

Corners – Jersey Bulls (0) 0; Worthing (8) 11

Assist(s) – Rai Dos Santos, Toby Ritzema

Player of the Match – Rai Dos Santos

Added Time – 4.50 & 6.50 (11.40)