Jersey travelled midweek to Tadley Calleva for the third time in two seasons, but for the first time for a league game. Jersey had won 2-1 and 3-0 in their previous cup tie visits but it had ended 0-0 at Springfield in early October. This season Tadley lie seventh, three places behind Jersey, having played a game more.

Jersey fielded a stronger side than that that had won the second round league cup tie 3-0 in December. They had then withdrawn before the next round which had been due at Holyport on 7^th February. Tadley included two new wide midfielders, Jack French and Brody Peart, who had not been in their October or December squads.

Jersey made three changes to the side that lost at Newport Pagnell in the F.A. Vase last 16. Sammy Sutcliffe, Joe Kilshaw and Fraser Barlow replaced Frank Tobin, Kamen Nafkha and Francis Lekimamati. Tobin and Lekimamati were on the bench along with Jonny Le Quesne, Jack Steel and Harry Scott. Miguel Carvalho was unavailable as he was on trial with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

A lovely sunset preceded an increasingly cold (5C) and damp night which was not suitable for a romantic Valentines evening outing. Jersey won the toss and opted to changed ends leaving Tadley to kick-off attacking the clubhouse end.

Tadley were quickly out of the blocks and after only 65 seconds King brought a smart save out of Euan Van der Vliet. Jumping to his right he pushed away the cross shot from the edge of the area. Bickley broke down the left channel on the three occasions and from the third drew a save from Tadley skipper Craig Atkinson although the shot was from a narrow angle so had little chance of success.

Jay Giles almost broke the deadlock after 19 minutes. Poised over a free-kick thirty-five yards out he saw Atkinson move to the left post for the anticipated cross. A quickly taken attempt to the other corner had Atkinson scrambling across but the ball went just wide.

Tadley brought on their usual captain, Tom Walsh, for Stow, after the break and he took over the armband from Atkinson too. Passes continued to be misplaced by both sides as Tadley sat deep soaking up the occasional Jersey attack.

After the hour Lekimamati replaced Barlow and Tadley had an opportunity only for Kalum Cousins to put a weak header wide of the right post. Le Quesne came on for Kilshaw before Sammy Henia-Kamau’s shot hit a bobble and flew high and wide.

With quarter of an hour to go Ben Wright was sent to the sin bin for dissent leaving Jersey facing ten players for ten minutes. However, it was Tadley who almost immediately scored. Peart broke down the right, rounded Van der Vliet, and his byline cross was only just reached by James Queree before Kinge could finish off.

Adam Trotter suffered another bobble as he lined up a shot before Watson put a header wide as the teams replicated their Springfield result despite over seven minutes of added time. After the final whistle there was some jostling between the players and Van der Vliet was “sin binned” for comments he made to the referee to end a match that will not live long in the memory.

Tadley Calleva 0, Jersey Bulls 0

Attendance – 84

Programme – T.B.A.

Tadley Calleva – Craig Atkinson, Dean Stow, Louie Chambers, Brad Neal, Jordan Goater, Ousman Darboe, Jack French, Scott Kinge, Kalum Cousins, Ben Wright, Brody Peart
Substitutes – 12. Sheldon Wright (for Cousins 70), 14. Chris Horton (not used), 15. Alex Fragata (not used), 16. Tom Walsh (for Stow 46), 17. Alex Miller (for Peart 86)

All Yellow; GK Royal Blue

Ben Dillon (Joint Manager), Joe Lawler (Joint Manager), George Coffin (Coach), Barrie Awberry (Coach), Caz Tuttle (Physio.)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, James Queree (c), Jay Giles, Sammy Sutcliffe, Luke Campbell, Joe Kilshaw, Fraser Barlow, Adam Trotter, Lorne Bickley (wore 16), Luke Watson, Sammy Henia-Kamau
Substitutes – 12. Frank Tobin (for Sutcliffe 90), 14. Jonny Le Quesne (for Kilshaw 68), 15. Francis Lekimamati (for Barlow 62), 18. Jack Steel (not used), 20. Harry Scott (for Henia-Kamau 84)

Red/White/Red; GK All Green

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Paul Renton (Coach)

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

Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 6; 7-8-10-11; 16

Referee – Simon Weston (Hook) his first Jersey match

Assistants – Louis George-Vaughan (Reading) (dug outs side) and Ian Warner (Hook) (far side) also both officiating their first Jersey match

Cautions – none

Sin Bins – B. Wright (TC) 74, Van der Vliet (JB) 90+9 (after final whistle)

Corners – Tadley Calleva (1) 4; Jersey Bulls (1) 1

Player of the Match Award – Adam Trotter