Jersey did not have James Carr and Adam Trotter from their starting team at Sheppey, nor Daniel Jinadu and Harry Mackenzie who had been on the bench. Fraser Barlow and James Sunley were elevated to the starters with Luke Watson becoming a substitute where he was joined by Jonny Le Quesne, returning from injury, and teenager Ewan Brodie. Jersey had played at Three Bridges before when they hosted Colliers Wood United there in a 1-1 draw when Springfield was being upgraded in March 2022.
Three Bridges in 2nd (7-1-1 30-11) had a perfect home record from five league matches, the fifth on Saturday when they defeated Deal Town 3-1. They made one change, bringing back captain Noel Leighton who had been suspended after being dismissed against Merstham. That pushed Kevin Rivera to the bench where Nabel Ghannam was also added with Tresor Munca-Difika and Destiny Ojo ousted.
Early on Three Bridges gave ample demonstration of why they are title contenders as they were very quick going forward with Hayden Velvick particularly threatening. Several balls were lofted into the box which were attacked with gusto by his team- mates. However, it was Jersey who took the lead. Fraser Barlow lofted a right channel free kick towards Lorne Bickley who went down under a challenge from Hayden Neathey. Three Bridges understandably protested but James Queree sent Sam Roberts the wrong way as he went bottom left.
Faversham responded midway through the half when Reece Hallard blasted over but Jersey might have had a second when Miguel Carvalho got on the end of a Rai Dos Santos cross from the left. He got direction but not much power and Roberts was able to stick out his right hand to affect the save. Dos Santos on the edge of the box swivelled on a cross just after the half hour but this time it was power but not direction and it whistled just wide of the right post. If Three Bridges felt hard done by with the penalty decision, they were fortunate that Leighton was only cautioned after being spoken to a third time before the interval for leaving his boot in.
2 / 3Early in the second half Velvek found the side netting when an unmarked Leighton was screaming for the cross. Shortly afterwards Rivera was introduced, and he soon made a telling contribution. A dinked cross from the left edge of the box to the far post saw Leighton attack the ball ahead of Luke Campbell and Barlow to nod home the equaliser from close in.
Velvek provided another headed chance for Leighton but this time he glanced it wide of the left post. Jersey regained the lead with an excellent goal from Bickley. Dos Santos found him on the right side of the box but he ducked his left shoulder and beat Roberts with a powerful left footed shot that cleared the ‘keeper but dipped under the bar. Five minutes later Bickley might have had another when a long clearance found him in space. He attempted to lob Roberts from distance but this time it cleared the bar.
Three Bridges poured forward, and Jersey racked up the cards as they desperately defended their slender lead. But, as at Sheppey, Jersey conceded a late goal. Ade Adeyinka found Reece Hallard in the left channel fifteen yards out and his well hit first time shot was good enough to beat Euan Van der Vliet even though he got both hands to the ball as he dived to his left. It brought an entertaining end to end match to a close as Jersey managed to put a dent in the hosts perfect home record.
Three Bridges – Sam Roberts, Dan Ferreira, Josh Hallard, Ade Adeyinka (wore 14), Sam Bull, Hayden Neathey, Charlie Bennett (wore 20), Bryan Villavicencio, Noel Leighton (c), Hayden Velvick (wore 17), Reece Hallard
Substitutes – 4. Harvey Woollard (not used), 7. Nabeel Ghannam (for Velvick 65), 10. Kevin Rivera (for Villavicencio 52), 16. Ben Holden (not used), 18. Billy Irving (not used)
Amber/Black/Black; GK All Light Purple
Jamie Crellin (Manager), others TBA
Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jamie Watling (wore 15), James Sunley (wore 20), James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Toby Ritzema, Fraser Barlow, Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley (wore 19), Rai Dos Santos (wore 18), Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 2. Jonny Le Quesne (for Sunley 66), 16. Luke Watson (not used), 17. Ewan Brodie (not used), only three substitutes

White(Lilac trim)/White(Lilac trim)/White; GK All Green

Elliot Powell (Manager), Karl Benest (Kit), Dylan Buesnel (Analyst), Steve Martin and Nikki Nicolle (Medical)

Formations (R to L)
Three Bridges (4-4-2) 1; 2-6-5-3; 11-14-8-20; 17-9
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 4-15-5-7; 6; 11-8-20-18; 19
3 / 3
Officials – Tom Price (Worthing), Mark Spence (Littlehampton) (dug outs), Jamie Cogdell (Seaford) (grandstand)

Caution(s) – Luke Watson (kicking the ball away when off the pitch) (JB) 45+2, Noel Leighton (TB) 45+3, Toby Ritzema (JB) 72. Jonny Le Quesne (JB) 78, Joe Kilshaw (JB) 85, Fraser Barlow (JB) 89

Corners – Three Bridges (1) 6, Jersey Bulls (0) 1

Assist(s) – Lorne Bickley, Rai Dos Santos

Player of the Match – Rai Dos Santos (honourable mentions for Miguel Carvalho and Jamie Watling)

Added Time – 3.25 & 5.05 (8.30)