Jersey have had great success against Sheerwater since gaining promotion with five wins and a goal aggregate of 27-2 with the two matches at Sheerwater totalling 15-0.

Sheerwater improved towards the end of last season and avoided relegation by finishing 16th. This season they were looking over their shoulders once again lying in 19th position with a 5-3-22 37-93 record. It may all come down to their final fixture at the only club below them, Colliers Wood United, whom they lost to ten days ago.

Jersey were without six players; Lorne Bickley after picking up a knock against Guildford on Saturday, Fergus Boyle suspended after being dismissed at Farnham last week, plus Will Byers, Ben Le Rougetel and Kamen Nafkha who all have employment that prevents them travelling midweek. Fraser Barlow was also a late withdrawal. In their places Sammy Sutcliffe, Ruben Mendes and Odinaka Nwokoro were added to the squad as well as potential debutant Callum Gilroy. Sheerwater in their attempt to avoid relegation had appointed their third manager of the season, Tony Barbato, and only four of the group that had travelled to Jersey in November were still in the home squad. So far this season Sheerwater had used over 80 different players under their three different managers.

On a chilly (4C) evening the teams changed ends and Sheerwater kicked off attacking the changing rooms end. George Sellick gave Jonny Le Quesne a difficult time all evening down the left flank and after only four minutes his low cross was not well dealt with which saw George Mackie have a close in chance bundled away by a combination of defenders defending the rearguard. Jersey broke to the other end and Nwokoro, who was making his first Jersey start, hooked in a cross from the right. Luke Watson in the centre nodded it down and Carvalho at the near post did well to wriggle clear of his marker and score with a low cross shot. Carvalho was later cautioned for his second “enthusiastic” tackle and he was fortunate his third missed.

Just after the half hour Adam Trotter closed down a defender on the right and the loose ball ran to Francis Lekimamati who returned it to the advancing Trotter to “pass” into the net from fifteen yards, his third goal in two games. Another procession seemed on the cards but Sheerwater got themselves back into the game on the stroke of half time with their first home goal in three attempts against Jersey. Captain Michael Milne made progress down the right channel before finding George Mackie who cut in past Luke Campbell and his shot caught Campbell’s leg as the defender slid in which gave the attempt the top spin required to loop it over Pierce Roche.

In the second half Nwokoro was thwarted by Alfie Mickley and Lekimamati twice went close with twenty-five yard free-kicks from the left. The first clipped the top of the bar and the second found the side netting. Gilroy came on for Nwokoro with twenty minutes remaining and in the dying moments had a gilt edged chance to open

his senior account. Laid on a plate for him by Lekimamati he side-footed wide left from eight yards. A second more difficult opportunity shortly afterwards went wide right but Jersey gained the three points although Sheerwater belied their position.

Sheerwater 1 (George Mackie 45), Jersey Bulls 2 (Miguel Carvalho 5, Adam Trotter 33)

Attendance – 76

Programme – 32pp, £2

Sheerwater – Alfie Mickley, Matt Bryant, Callum Mackie, Louis McGrane, Ben Portbury, Liam Avery, George Mackie, Zac Jervis, Elliot York, Michael Milne (c), George Sellick
Substitutes – 12. Michael Leech (for Portbury 13), 14. Morris Musselwhite (for Jervis 81), 15. Josh Toya-Nero (for York 76), 16. Jack Tomlinson (not used), 17. Braydon Tanner (for G. Mackie 64)

All Royal Blue; GK Dark Pink

Tony “T.J.” Barbato (Manager), Sean Wallace (Assistant), Gary Taylor and LukeStone (Coaches), Ryan Wisson (Physio.)

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, Jonny Le Quesne, James Queree (c), Sammy Sutcliffe, Luke Campbell, Joe Kilshaw, Francis Lekimamati, Luke Watson, Odinaka Nwokoro,Adam Trotter, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 15. Harry Curtis (for Sutcliffe 46), 16. Ruben Mendes (for Kilshaw 64), 18. Callum Gilroy (for Nwokoro 73), 19. Kevan Nelson (not used), only four substitutes

Red/White/Red, GK All Yellow

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

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

Referee – Connor Fanelli (Chobham)

Assistants – Kevin Guy (Sunbury) on the dug outs side and Keith Gardner (Woking)on the stand side

Cautions – Miguel Carvalho (JB) 23, Sammy Sutcliffe (JB) 39

Corners – Sheerwater (3) 4, Jersey Bulls (1) 1

Player of the Match – Miguel Carvalho

Added Time – 1.10 & 4.20 (5.30)