Jersey had met Tooting in their opening home match of the season and now met them on their last trip. That 0-1 loss meant Tooting were the only team that could possibly do the double over Jersey. It was also, with hindsight, Jersey’s worst loss, the other four all coming against play-off contenders or better.

Tooting had been relegated from the Isthmian Division 1 South Central section after finishing bottom last season with just five wins. Tooting had played in the Isthmian League continuously since 1956. They lost 2-4 in a F.A. Cup replay at home to Athletic Newham after a 3-3 draw and in the F.A. Vase went out 1-2 at Selsey of the Southern Combination First Division. In the league they had had patches of form but these had been negated by equally poor runs. They had started with three wins in August, lost the four matches before Christmas but won five of six in January and February only to then lose five in a row before winning at Guildford City last week.
They now lay 12th with a 14-3-16 58-61 record.

The match pitted the division’s two top scorers against one another with Tooting’s Shay Brennan with 32 league goals in 29 appearances having scored over half of Tooting’s tally. In opposition was Lorne Bickley with 24 in the same number of outings. They were the only two players to have hit the 20 mark so far this season.

Jersey made one change to the team that had won at Abbey Rangers with Ben Le Rougetel coming into midfield to replace Kamen Nafkha. Miguel Carvalho returned to take Le Rougetel’s spot on the bench. Tooting made changes to their defence and only had three players in their squad that had also appeared at Springfield in August.

On a pleasantly sunny (20C) afternoon with a strong south-westerly breeze Tooting kicked off attacking the north-west end of a ground only a mile to the east of the St. Helier area of Sutton. The development there having been named in honour of Lady St. Helier, wife of Francis Jeune, the First (and only) Baron St. Helier (1843-1905).

The pitch was firm but it made for a high bounce which was not conducive to much good football being played with most of it being an attritional midfield battle. Bickley was high and wide with an early chance. Pierce Roche saved a header from Eddie M’Bango and a shot from Brennan before Adam Trotter had the best opportunity of the half just before the half hour which Jack Minchin deflected for a corner. Brennan had a weak shot saved and Jay Giles put a free-kick just wide in added time.

The match had an end of season feel to it before Bickley changed the complexion of the game with a contender for goal of the season. Collecting a Giles clearance twenty-five yards out he cut inside before curling a shot into the top right corner which left Minchin rooted to the spot. Substitute Carvalho scuffed a good chance with ten minutes left and another substitute, Ruben Mendes, nearly caught out Minchin with a swirling 35 yard free-kick with five minutes left. Jersey finally clinched the points when yet another substitute, Francis Lekimamati, crossed from the right to an unmarked Carvalho at the far post to volley home off Minchin’s right arm

Tooting & Mitcham United 0, Jersey Bulls 2 (Lorne Bickley 68, Miguel Carvalho 90+3)

Attendance – 269

Programme – Yes

Tooting & Mitcham United – Jack Minchin, Sid Dack, Johnny Akoto, Andy O’Brien, Lewis Goncalves, Deji Adeosun, Eddie M’Bango, Noah Kelo, Shay Brennan (c), Conor Melody, Mario Quiassaca
Substitutes – 12. Jean-Paul Munoz-Henao (for Melody 87), 14. Otitololuwa Ojo (for Kelo 81), 16. William Caulton (not used), 17. Jayden Hutchings (not used), 18. Blake Loyza (for Quiassaca 76)

Black & White stripes at front with plain White backs/Black/Black; GK All Light Green

Jamie Byatt (Manager), John O’Connor (Assistant), Mark Hams (Coach), Dale Byatt (Fitness Coach), Bruno Silva (Physio.)

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, James Queree (c), Jay Giles, Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Ben Le Rougetel, Jonny Le Quesne, Luke Watson, Lorne Bickley, Adam Trotter, Fraser Barlow
Substitutes – 15. Fergus Boyle (not used), 16. Francis Lekimamati (for Barlow 80), 17. Miguel Carvalho (for Le Rougetel 59), 18. Ruben Mendes (for Le Quesne 71), only four substitutes

Red/White/Red, GK All Green

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Richard Hebert (GK Coach),

Formations
Tooting & Mitcham United (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 2-5-4-3; 6; 7-10-8-11; 9

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

Referee – Ross Mortimer (Sidcup)

Assistants – Isaac Nsubuga (Croydon) on the dug outs side, Michael Hill (Merton) on the open side

Cautions – Lewis Gonsalves (TMU) 45, Isaac Quiassaca (TMU) 75

Corners – Tooting & Mitcham United (1) 2; Jersey Bulls (1) 4

Player of the Match – Pierce Roche

Added Time – 1.20 & 5.20 (6.40)