Jersey met table toppers Raynes Park Vale for the second time in a fortnight. In the meantime the match at Colliers Wood United three days previously had been called off when the exceptionally high winds of Storm Noa (sic) meant that the squad sat in Jersey airport for five hours before the proposed flight was eventually cancelled.

This season Raynes Park Vale have led from the start and apart from losing twice to Badshot Lea have carried almost all before them. A surprising home defeat to strugglers Guildford City and three goalless draws on their travels are the only other league points they have surrendered. Their current record is 28-3-3 88-28.

Jersey made two changes to the starting team that had defeated Fleet Town last Saturday. The Bulls welcomed back Frank Tobin and Fraser Barlow in place of Sammy Sutcliffe and Sammy Henia-Kamau. They were on the bench alongside midfielders Joe Kilshaw, Kamen Nafkha and Miguel Carvalho. Jonny Le Quesne made his 100^thappearance, the fifth Bull to reach that landmark recently.

On a fitfully sunny (11C) afternoon Raynes Park Vale kicked off attacking the bottom (Grand Drive) end.

Lorne Bickley shot across the face of the goal from a narrow angle early on before mid-way through the half Aaron Lamont at full stretch volleyed over from close in.
Lamont put another shot over the bar and Barlow just missed a cross from the left before Raynes Park Vale took the lead with an excellent goal after the half hour.

A long ball forward was headed clear by Tobin, Brad Sweeney seized upon it and from twenty-five yards out, after a quick look up, curled the ball into the top right corner past a despairing Euan Van der Vliet’s left hand. Jersey almost equalised five minutes before the break when Bickley met a Jay Giles cross from the left near the penalty spot. His glancing volley struck the right post and bounced back out.

Bickley managed to beat ‘keeper Billy Bishop to the ball after five minutes of the second half but there was not enough on his shot and a defender was able to get back and clear. Jersey continued to look for the equaliser and had series of shots blocked before Raynes Park Vale scored a second. Jermaine Green broke down the right channel and his shot deflected off Luke Campbell causing Van der Vliet to push the ball only as far as Jake Gallacher ten yards out and he found the left corner.

The hosts scored a glorious third just before the end when a Jake Gallacher long crossfield ball found namesake Jordan who curled in a shot to the top right corner and in added time he added a fourth from the spot after Campbell fouled Archer.

It was Grand National Day and unfortunately it was Raynes Park Vale who proved to be “Mr. Incredible” and the “Big Dog” as those “Carefully Selected” from the players “Born by the Sea” had their “Lifetime Ambition” crushed – “Ain’t that a Shame”.

Raynes Park Vale 4 (Brad Sweeney 33, Jake Gallacher 72, Jordan Gallacher 87 & 90+2 pen); Jersey Bulls 0

Attendance – 302

Programme – 24pp, £2

Raynes Park Vale (squad numbers) – 1. Billy Bishop (c), 2. Archie Harland-Goddard, 3. Callum Hope, 4. Jordan Sterney, 5. Nathan Lewis, 7. Brad Sweeney, 12. Aaron Lamont, 13. Jake Gallacher, 15. Jermaine Green, 20. Charlie Penny, 23. Dan Moody
Substitutes – 6. Reece Hannigan (not used), 9. Timmy Obisanya (for Moody 80), 10. Jordan Gallacher (for Green 74), 11. Ethon Archer (for Sweeney 62), 30 Callum McAllister (for Lamont 68)

All Royal Blue (all with Red trim); GK All Orange

Josh Gallagher (Manager), Anthony Panayi (Assistant), Chris Williams (Fitness), Dan Canning (Physio.)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Frank Tobin (wore 12), Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Francis Lekimamati, Adam Trotter, Lorne Bickley (wore 16), Jonny Le Quesne, Fraser Barlow
Substitutes – 14. Joe Kilshaw (not used), 15. Kamen Nafkha (for Watson 78), 17 Miguel Carvalho (for Le Quesne 57), 19. Sammy Henia-Kamau (for Barlow 74), 23. Sammy Sutcliffe (not used)

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Dan Seviour (Coach), Richard Hebert (GK Coach

Formations
Raynes Park Vale (4-4-2 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 23-13-12-7; 20-15
Jersey Bulls (4-4-2 R to L) 1; 12-4-5-3; 10-6-8-7; 16-11

Referee – Tolga Inanc (Lambeth)

Assistants – Steve Hart (Ashford) on the dug outs side, Lewis Walmesley-Browne (Brixton) on the grandstand side.

Cautions – Jay Giles (JB) 37, Brad Sweeney (RPV) 42, Luke Watson (JB) 66, Jermaine Green (RPV 66), Francis Lekimamati (JB) 79, Lorne Bickley (JB) 85

Sin Bin – Kamen Nafkha (JB) 80

Corners – Raynes Park Vale (x) x, Jersey Bulls (x) x

Player of the Match Award – Adam Trotter