Jersey played only their second home league of the season hosting Guildford City over whom they had done the double last season. Guildford had gone to the top of the table by winning six of their first seven league games. Soon after that, in late October, Jersey visited and won 4-2 (Lorne Bickley 3 and Luke Campbell). By the time of the return in early March which Jersey won 2-0 with two Adam Trotter goalsGuildford had plummeted down the table. They eventually just avoided the drop, finishing 18th with only two further victories to add to those initial six.

A new manager, Carl Taylor, formerly of Banstead Athletic had seen a player clear out. This season they were lying a place below Jersey in ninth with three wins and two draws from their nine league matches. They had gone out of the F.A. Cup 1-3 at newly promoted A.F.C. Croydon Athletic but were still in the F.A. Vase after a 3-1 home win against Worthing United of the Southern Combination Division One.

Jersey made two changes to their starting XI and one positional one. Jack Lumsden was moved from central defence to right back to replace Jonny Le Quesne who had been injured at Sheerwater. Sammy Sutcliffe came into central defence for his first match of the season and Karl Hinds replaced Joe Kilshaw in the attacking midfielder role. It was Hinds first start of the season after twice coming off the bench. Kilshaw was on the bench with Kieran Lester and youngsters Will Yates and Harry Gladdish, the latter recently signed on as a reserve goalkeeper.

Jersey overcame a battling well organised Guildford City side by the only goal of the game but it could have been the reverse in a match where goalmouth action was at a premium. Bickley put a long shot well over before Guildford debutant Reece Robins, brother of substitute Freddie, did the same at the other end.

Midway through the half Robins also played in a low cross from the left which gave Manny Acheampong an opportunity. He did not catch it well but still brought a low save from Euan Van der Vliet diving to his left. Just beyond the half hour Bickley spotted Jacob Terry off his line and attempted an impudent forty-five yard shot but in getting the distance he dragged the ball wide left.

Toby Ritzema also tried from twenty yards but again the shot was well over. The midfield battle continued without either side threatening anything further before the interval.

A turning point came five minutes after the break. A Darnell Jon-Peter corner from the right fell to the quickly reacting Acheampong whose shot from five yards struck Van der Vliet’s legs. Robins powerfully volleyed the rebound from a similar distanceand somehow Van der Vliet stuck out a strong left arm to prevent the opening goal. That alone was good enough to win him the Player of the Match award.

Seven minutes later Bickley picked up the ball on the right flank cut across field and fed James Sunley on the opposite side. Sunley’s cross was just too high for Bickley now on the six-yard line but his glancing touch was enough to take it away from his covering defender and the opportunistic Hinds was on hand at the far post to stick out a boot and convert from three yards.

A quarter of an hour later Hinds almost grabbed a second. Played in again by Sunley
he curled a twenty-yard shot towards the top right corner only for Terry to pull off a spectacular flying save to push it away for a corner.

With seven minutes left as Ritzema was being cautioned Guildford made a double substitution. From the re-start Robins floated in a free-kick from thirty-five yards. It was met by Ben Drake eight yards out but his header lacked both power and direction and a grateful Van der Vliet was able to clutch Guildford’s last chance to his chest.

The narrow win moved Jersey up to 4th to head the pack chasing the trio of high flyers, Redhill, A.F.C. Whyteleafe and Knaphill, all of whom are already five or more points better off, albeit having played more games. With blank dates on the next two rounds of fixtures the gap will be greater by the time Jersey next play – at home to Abbey Rangers in a fortnight.

Jersey Bulls - Euan Van der Vliet, Jack Lumsden, Fraser Barlow, James Queree (c), Sammy Sutcliffe, Luke Watson, Toby Ritzema, Karl Hinds (wore 20) (14. Joe Kilshaw 74), Lorne Bickley, James Sunley (17. Will Yates 90+2), Miguel Carvalho (15. Kieran Lester 87). Unused – 21. Harry Gladdish (sub GK), only four substitutes

Red/White/Red; GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Adam Lester & Dan Garton (Assistants), Andy Dewhurst (Coach), Steve Martin (Medical), Karl Benest (Kit)

Guildford City – Jacob Terry (wore 13), Tobi Falodi (14. Keoundre Ellis-Vassell 83), Benji Gambrah, Ben Drake, Nik Krokhin, Alex Stingelin (c), Jake Brown (12. Freddie Robins 71), Malachai Cole (15. Luca Le Page 83), Darnell Jon-Peter (wore 19) (17. Josh Adjei 74), Manny Acheampong, Reece Robins. Unused – 16. Joe Atkin

Yellow/Blue/Yellow; GK All Turquoise

Carl Taylor (Manager), Brad Graham (Assistant), Cornelius Nwadialor (Coach), Warren Le Page (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-5-4-3; 6; 11-7-20-10; 9

Guildford City (4-1-4-1) 13; 2-5-8-3; 4; 10-7-8-11; 19

Match Officials: Craig Mark Griffiths (Addlestone). His 15th season, all with the Combined Counties. On the line at Badshot Lea in February 2023 and on the line at Springfield in August 2023 for the Tooting & Mitcham United fixture. Promoted to Level 4 and “middles” for this season. Luke Stephen Partington (Ealing) dug outs side. Qualified in 2011 initially with the Middlesex County League and now in his fifth season with the Combined Counties. Paul Michael Isles (Chiswick, ex Bognor Regis) grandstand side. Qualified in 2003 usually with the Southern Combination but this season temporarily in Chiswick so has transferred to the Combined Counties.

Cautions – James Sunley (JB) 31, Tobi Falodi (GC) 77, Toby Ritzema (JB) 82, Sammy Sutcliffe (JB) 84, Josh Adjei (GC) 89, Nik Krokhin (GC) 90+1

Corners – Jersey Bulls (2) 5; Guildford City (1) 6

Assist – Bickley

Player of the Match – Euan Van der Vliet

Added Time – 3.10 & 4.10 (7.20)