The Bulls nominally entered their first team for this competition but it always understood that the under 23s would actually be fielded. They were drawn away to Tadley Calleva in the first round which was played on a mild but damp and breezy evening in North Hampshire. Tadley is six miles north of Basingstoke with the Calleva suffix acknowledging the Roman settlement of Silchester, two miles to the east.

Tadley had worked their way up through the divisions of the Wessex League and had spent the last three in the Premier Division. However, the F.A. re-structure had seen them shunted in to in the Combined Counties League for this season. They now ply their trade in the Premier League North where they had started poorly with a 0-2-9 record before bringing in new management. Joe Lawler and Ben Dillon moved across from Cove and had overseen victories in both their opening games. This included a 6-1 victory over second placed St. Panteleimon which has moved them up to fifteenth, of the eighteen clubs.

Jersey made four starting changes to last week’s U23 match against Chatham with Luke Duncan making his debut in goal in place of Robbie Scott. Elsewhere Josh Coutanche, Max Rivers and Rai Dos Santos replaced James Carr, Kushal Frankson and Jake Prince respectively.

Tadley kicked off attacking the tree lined, Winkworth Lane End, but neither side made much impression on the other in the first half hour. It was then that James East sent in a curling shot to the far post which debutant Duncan did well to push away. Duncan made another good save just before the break which arrived goalless.

After the interval Tadley had a shot cleared off the line before Duncan “saved” another that hit him in the face as it came through a ruck of players. Two minutes later and Jordan Goater hit the Jersey post.

Suddenly the match changed as Jack Lumsden played a long ball forward. Jay Dos Santos, having kept himself onside, beat Craig Atkinson, the Tadley ‘keeper, to it and put Jersey ahead. A bad tackle by Tadley substitute, Lucas Burt, midway through the half, saw a mass confrontation. Almost immediately after this Tadley had a golden chance that they somehow spurned, after a mix up in the Jersey defence.

Tadley continued to hunt the equaliser but with a minute to go Wilf Morris had a chance for Jersey only for the ball to be deflected just wide. He was not to be denied as from the resultant corner he sent in a powerful shot that went in off the far post.

It was just as well he did as two minutes in to added time Josh Drew reduced the arrears after a loose ball pinged around the Jersey box. Fortunately, there was too little time left for Tadley to try to take the match to “penalties”.

Tadley Calleva 1 (Josh Drew 90+2); Jersey Bulls 2 (Jay Dos Santos 62, Wilf Morris 90)

Attendance – 125

Programme – 24 pages, £1

Tadley Calleva – Craig Atkinson, Aiden Harris, Tom Walsh (c), Andrew Charsley, Darren Turner, Ousman Darboe, Connor Thorne, Max Elward, Brett Denham, Jordan Goater, James East

Substitutes – Brad Neal (for Turner 68), Callum Leary (for Elward 54), Scott Kinge (not used), Josh Drew (for East 68), Lucas Burt (for Harris 38)

All Yellow; GK Turquoise

Joe Lawler (Manager), Dean Hutchins (Coach), George Cuffin (Coach), Darren Heath (GK Coach), Matt Waite (Squad Member), Caz Tuttle (Physio.)

Jersey Bulls – Luke Duncan, Luke Appleton, Josh Coutanche, Joe Kilshaw (c), Jack Lumsden, Toby Ritzema, Max Rivers, Robert Martins-Figueira, Rai Dos Santos, Jay Dos Santos, Sol Solomon

Substitutes – Kushal Frankson (for M.Rivers 68), Wilf Morris (for R. Dos Santos 84), John “J.J.” Lloyd (not used), only three substitutes

Red/White/White; GK All Green

Paul Renton (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Richard Hebert (Coach)

Referee – Alec Ovens (Guildford)

Assistants – Matthew Barrett (Binfield) & Adam Jackson (Basingstoke)

Cautions – Coutanche (JB) 35, East (TC) 57, Burt (TC) 65

Corners – Tadley Calleva (2) 5; Jersey Bulls (2) 3

Player of the Match Award (commentator) – Luke Duncan