Sheerwater were met for the second time this season after a 2-2 draw there in early September, the second Sheerwater goal being the last conceded for 948 minutes.That was the first point they had taken off Jersey who had scored heavily against them previously. They finished next to bottom last season but escaped relegation as only one team went down. This season they lay 13th with a 5-5-12 34-49 record but with all the teams below them having three or four games in hand.

Since the meeting in September they have played 14 league games, winning against Epsom & Ewell, Sandhurst Town and Guildford City as well as draws against Knaphill, Cobham and Balham, but they handed bottom club Spelthorne Sports their first league win last Saturday. Sheerwater have also been eliminated from four cup competitions, three of them by shoot outs, but they are still in the Surrey Senior Cup after yet another shoot-out.

Jersey made two changes to their starting XI with James Carr replacing the injured Jonny Le Quesne and Karl Hinds coming in up front for the holidaying Rai Dos Santos. Jake Prince, Fergus Boyle and Harry Gladdish joined the bench. Luke Campbell made his 150th appearance and Joe Kilshaw his 100th. Sheerwater made three changes with Dylan Martins and Brooklyn Hyseni elevated from the bench and Roje Grant introduced, to replace Idris Gbadamosi, Jack Tomlinson and Harvey Valter, the latter on the bench.

After the seven goal excitements of the previous two matches this was back down to earth as Sheerwater once again proved obdurate opponents. Whilst they offered little up front they were difficult to break down with five in midfield. A Kilshaw twenty yarder brought a fine save out of Fabio Suarez after only four minutes and it was Kilshaw who scored the only goal of the game when flick on’s from Hinds and Toby Ritzema put him clear near the penalty spot. Suarez got a touch on the ball as Kilshaw rounded him but the rebound fell nicely for him to evade George Mackie on the line. After half an hour Hinds had a similar chance but over-elaborated.

After the interval the pattern continued with Kieran Lester often just failing to reach Hinds flicks before Suarez did. The nearest Jersey came to adding to their lead was a minute from the end of normal time when Ritzema cut in from the left and curled a twenty-yarder on to the right post. Kilshaw also had a shot deflected wide with Suarez stranded. The win keeps Jersey third as the top five are breaking clear.

Jersey Bulls - Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis, James Carr, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Francis Lekimamati, Joe Kilshaw, Karl Hinds (wore 20), Toby Ritzema, Kieran Lester
Substitutes – 12. Sammy Sutcliffe (for Hinds 90+2), 14. Seaney McColgan (for Lelimamati 75), 15. Fergus Boyle (not used), 18. Jake Prince (for Lester 75), 21. Harry Gladdish (sub GK, not used)

Red/White/Red; GK All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Andy Dewhurst (Coach), Dylan Buesnel (Analyst), Karl Benest (Kit), Steve Martin (Medical)

Sheerwater (squad numbers) – 1. Fabio Suarez, 3. Callum Mackie, 4. Jake Horn, 6.Liam Avery (c), 7. George Mackie, 9. Elliott York, 10. Kareem Foster, 14. Dylan Martins, 15. Brooklyn Hyseni, 17. Mikhail McLaughlin, 19, Roje Grant.
Substitutes – 8. Chris Adams (not used), 18. Harvey Valter (not used), 20. Byron Mitchell (for Hyseni 75), 21. Joel Onu (for Martins 82), 22. Ryan Wisson (for Grant 90+2)

All Royal Blue; GK All Dark Green

Tony Junior “T.J.” Barbato (Manager), Sean Wallace (Assistant), Luke Stone, James Louison and Chris Adams (Coaches), Teagan-Christine Brown (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-3; 6; 7-8-10-11; 9

Sheerwater (4-5-1) 1; 7-17-19-3; 10-4-6-14-15; 9

Match Officials: Joe Robert Thomas Alborough (Teddington). A 28 year old initially from Essex making his second visit to Springfield, having officiated the Knaphill game just over a year ago in his first season at Level 4. He also lined three away games the previous season. Qualified in 2012 initially officiating in his home county and then in Sheffield whilst at university there. His 6th Combined Counties season.

David Edward Lofgren-Bangs (Hanwell) on the dug outs side. Of Swedish heritage, qualified in 2013, initially with the Amateur Football Alliance, third season with Combined Counties, first visit to Springfield. Kacper Alexander Ignatiuk (Edgware)on the grandstand side. Of Polish heritage, qualified in 2019, initially with the Middlesex League, second season with Combined Counties, first visit to Springfield.

Cautions – Liam Avery (S) delaying 43, Luke Campbell (JB) foul 90+2, Euan Van der Vliet (JB) delaying 90+5

Corners – Jersey Bulls (2) 7; Sheerwater (0) 0

Assist – Toby Ritzema

Player of the Match – Joe Kilshaw

Added Time – 2.00 & 4.20 (6.20)