The Bulls, on their travels again, met Redhill. The town is situated on the junction of the north-south A23 (London to Brighton) road and the east-west M25. The pitch itself is hemmed in between the A23 to the west and the London to Brighton railway line to the east.

The football club were relegated from the Isthmian League Division 1 South to the Combined Counties Premier Division in 2015. Another relegation immediately followed but they bounced straight back and this is their fifth consecutive season in the Premier Division with the last three seeing “lower middle” placings. This season has seen them start well with only four league and cup goals conceded, two of those being to Walton & Hersham in their only defeat. Like the Bulls they have also survived the first two rounds of the F.A. Cup.

The Bulls made just the one change to their starting line-up with Joe Kilshaw replacing Ruben Mendes-Pestana in midfield with James Carr continuing for the injured Jay Giles. On the bench were skipper James Queree, returning after two weeks away, Kieran Lester, plus Daryl Wilson and Toby Ritzema. The latter two both making their debuts this season, albeit Wilson was an unused sub. v Horsham.

Jersey started the match defending the Southern (Three Arch Road) end and so were kicking in to the strong breeze. The “Lobsters”, supposedly so called because in their early days their red and white striped shirts bled in to one another leaving a pinkish outcome, were missing four players to injury. They were still difficult opposition to break down on a “sticky” pitch that did not help the Bulls’ slick passing game, nor did a referee who failed to let the game “flow”.

It turned out to be a match of few chances and emphasised that at this higher level you need to take the few that come your way. Lorne Bickley struck a well hit half volley from twenty yards, on the turn, after 11 minutes but Jack Minchin in the Redhill goal saved well, low to his right, at the expense of a corner.

Another dozen minutes passed before Bickley flicked the ball on to Luca Margaroli. who lobbed Minchin, only for the ball to graze the wrong side of the bar. Fraser Barlow looked to have an opportunity just before the half hour, only to be flattened by Minchin, but not even a free kick was awarded.

Redhill’s Derik Hayford had a chance just before the interval when he profited from hesitancy between Luke Campbell and Jack Griffin at the back. He was less than five yards out but the narrow angle was too much for him and he only found the side netting. Margaroli had another half chance but put his shot just wide to leave the first half scoreless.

Hayford opened up the second half as he ended the first. Having been set up by the ever-dangerous Danyall Iqbal, Euan Van der Vliet’s legs came to the rescue at the expense of another fruitless corner.

Minchin again rescued Redhill when he saved another Margaroli shot at full stretch before Van der Vliet had to be alert to tip over a powerful header from Joe Dyett, the Lobsters’ captain.

Jersey had another corner just after the hour when Bickley’s shot rebounded off Minchin’s head before Margaroli smashed another half chance out of the ground.

The last twenty-five minutes produced little of note until the relatively subdued Sol Solomon put a shot over in the last ten minutes. With time almost up debutant substitute Toby Ritzema, who had received a late call to the squad, had an opportunity. His chance was blocked by Tom Drinkwater, a tower of strength in the Redhill defence, and he put the rebound wide, to leave the match a draw, Bulls’ first ever.

Redhill 0; Jersey Bulls 0

Attendance 100 (exactly)

Programme £2, 26 pages laminated cover

Redhill – Jack Minchin, Jaden Edwards, Nat Kenlock, Arlie Talboys, Tom Drinkwater, Joe Dyett (c), Oreofe Bello, Joe Jarrett, Derick Hayford, Sam King, Danyall Iqbal

Substitutes – Josh Phillips (for Bello 66), Nathan Upton (not used), Abdul-Aziz Sankoh (not used), Alfie Huckle (for Jarrett 76), Nathan Hogan (for Hayford 86)

Officials – Harrison Williams (Manager), Tom Cope (Assistant), James Deacons (Coach), Anthony Reynolds (Physio.), Callum MacLeod (GK Coach)

Redhill – Red & White Stripes/Red/Red; GK Light Blue/Light Blue/Black

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, James Carr, Jack Griffin, Luke Campbell (c), Kamen Nafkha, Fraser Barlow, Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, Luca Margaroli, Sol Solomon

Substitutes – James Queree (for Le Quesne 68), Daryl Wilson (for Bickley 87), Kieran Lester (for Margaroli 66), Toby Ritzema (for Barlow 78) (only four subs)

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

Blue/Blue/White; GK – All Yellow

Referee – Paul Andrews (Feltham)

Assistants – Richard Marus (Worcester Park) and Dean Banks (Croydon)

Cautions – King (R) 36, Jarrett (R) 54

Corners – Redhill (1) 4; Jersey Bulls (2) 3

Player of the Match Award (commentator) – James Carr (Jersey Bulls)