Jersey embarked upon three away games in eight days with a visit to Tadley Calleva, who like Jersey lost in the play-off semi-finals last year. This season they lie 6th with a 12-4-6 43-37 record but with some ground to make up if they are to reach the play-offs again. Of their six defeats five have been against the teams above them and they avoided a relative upset at Sandhurst Town last week by coming back from 2-4 down with six minutes to go to win 5-4 with an added time winner.

Jersey made two changes to their starting XI with Francis Lekimamati and Adam Trotter elevated from the bench and swapping roles with Karl Hinds and Toby Ritzema respectively. Jay Giles and Kieran Lester were also substitutes. Lorne Bickley who played the last half hour last week did not make the trip. Tadley, who were beaten 3-0 at Springfield in mid-November, only had four starters that had begun that match two months ago.

On a damp and bumpy pitch the early play switched from end to end epitomised by Tadley gaining the first of their many corners in the fifth minute. Euan Van der Vliet went “route one” with his clearance and Lekimamati latched on to it. He rounded Craig Atkinson but was forced wide and Dan Williamson was able to get back and clear his cross shot off the line.

Lekimamati was not to be denied and opened the scoring a dozen minutes later.Jonny Le Quesne played a ball forward down the right channel and a deft touch on by Rai Dos Santos was well read by Lekimamati and at full stretch he beat Williamson and Brad Neal to the ball and diverted it past Atkinson.

Three minutes later it was two. Trotter threaded the ball down the middle where Le Quesne played in Lekimamati who again reacted quicker than Williamson. Closeddown by Atkinson he fed the ball diagonally to his right where Joe Kilshaw had not stopped running and so had an easy tap in to the unguarded net.

It could have been three five minutes later when Williamson inadvertently helped on a Van der Vliet goal kick. Lekimamati on the left seized on the opportunity and passed inside to Dos Santos unmarked near the penalty spot. Atkinson charged out and managed to block the shot with his right leg.

The third came just before half time and was instantly recognisable as a goal of the season contender. Le Quesne dispossessed Andrew Charsley in the left corner and quickly played the ball inside to Dos Santos who in turn laid the ball off to Trotter on the edge of the box. Trotter’s first touch lifted it over the attempted Williamson tackle, his second kept it off the ground as he moved forward and his third lobbed it over the advancing Atkinson all without the ball touching the ground. Wonderful to watch.

Tadley probably felt hard done by to be three adrift at the interval and came back into the match in the second half particularly in the final quarter. Jersey had to defend with the experienced James Queree and Luke Campbell making numerous interceptions and blocks as the hosts attempted a miraculous escape to match their efforts of last week.

They eventually got some reward for their efforts with ten minutes remaining. A long throw from Brad Neal was flicked on and rebounded off Kieran Lester to Charsleyeight yards out and his first time shot found its way through the mass of bodies in front of Van der Vliet. Tadley kept up the pressure and seven minutes later a half chance fell to Brad Neal but he was unable to direct his shot away from the ‘keeper.

Tadley Calleva – Craig Atkinson (vc), Dan Williamson, Joe Cummuskey, Brad Neal, Andrew Charsley, Jordan Goater (c), Alex Fragata, Aime Kamdem, Brett Denham, Ash Neal, Adam Everiss
Substitutes – 12. Scott Costello (for Goater 54), 14. Sheldon Wright (for Kamdem62), 15. Alex Miller (for Williamson 62), 18. Aaron Parfitt (not used), only four substitutes

Yellow/Black/Yellow: GK Grey/Grey/Black

Joe Lawler (Manager), George Coffin (Assistant), Caz Tuttle (Medical)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis, Fraser Barlow, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Jonny Le Quesne, Joe Kilshaw, Rai Dos Santos, Adam Trotter, Francis Lekimamati
Substitutes – 15. Kieran Lester (for Lekimamati 63), 18. Jay Giles (for Dos Santos 81), 20. Karl Hinds (for Trotter 73), 21. Toby Ritzema (not used), only four substitutes

White/Light Blue/White; GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Dan Garton (Assistant), Adam Lester (Coach)

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

Match Officials – Ahmad Rafique (Hayes), Craig Boyles (Reading) dug outs side, Anthony Lane (Hook) grandstand side

Cautions – Brad Neal (TC) 24, Francis Lekimamati (JB) 27, Fraser Barlow (JB) 34, Adam Trotter (JB) 41, Jordan Goater (TC) 49, Andrew Charsley (TC) 66, Joe Kilshaw (JB) 87, Van der Vliet (JB) 90+4

Corners – Tadley Calleva (5) 13, Jersey Bulls (1) 1

Assists – Dos Santos 1st & 3rd, Lekimamati

Player of the Match – James Queree

Added Time – 2.20 & 6.30 (8.50)