A FIRST win in five for Jersey Bulls “released a lot of tension” according to their captain.
James Querée’s side required a penalty in the dying embers of their fixture at Epsom & Ewell to earn their first league win in nearly two months.
Talisman Lorne Bickley stepped up to slot the spot kick home, for his second on the night in a 2-1 victory over the relegation struggling Surrey side.
“It was a huge three points,” said Querée.
“I don’t think people realise how much we care at times.
“There has been criticism over our performances of late, but sometimes there is a lack of understanding as to how much we put in and sacrifice as a club from top to bottom.
“We set high standards and are really hard on ourselves if we don’t reach those.
“The win against Epsom & Ewell released a lot of tension and we need to use the three points as the start of a good run.”
Jersey dominated the match, but in the end were fortunate to win it.
Miguel Carvalho regularly created chances and it was he who seized on a poor rollout by ‘keeper Toby Colwell. The winger was quicker to it than defender Reece Tierney and laid the ball across to Bickley at the far post to tap in and give Jersey an early lead.
Epsom equalised with a “scruffy” goal after half an hour. Luke Miller on the right played in new signing Carl Oblitey near the penalty spot.
Oblitey scuffed his shot into the ground but it span up awkwardly and Pierce Roche, at full stretch, tipped it on to the bar only for Oblitey to beat Querée to the rebound and hit his shot into the ground again. This time though it was enough to bounce the ball up and over the still-grounded Roche.
Bulls huffed and puffed, but it was debutant Odinaka Nwokoro’s first touch that led to the winner.
His looping cross from the right was misjudged by Tierney, who missed his header and the ball bounced up on to his arm.
Bickley, rather than usual penalty taker Luke Campbell, took responsibility and gave Colwell no chance.
An assured performance at full-back from 17-year-old Fergus Boyle – who was briefly hospitalised after a first-minute injury the previous evening playing for the Jersey U18s – came in for Will Byers and seized the opportunity on his way to a man-of-the-match award.
“We started really well, much like we have for the last few weeks,” added the captain.
“We grabbed the early goal and really looked in control.
“It’s hard to put my finger on it, but we seemed to put ourselves under added pressure.
“We are very aware that the results haven’t been there for us of late and that probably made us overthink a bit.
“It was another sloppy goal that we conceded and they drew level in a game where we should have been comfortably in command.
“I was really proud of the group. Second half we created a lot of chances and the goal didn’t seem like it was coming.
“But, despite the clock counting down, we remained patient and we were very glad to get the goal late on to secure three points.
“We are still right there among the play-off spots.
“It’s certainly not all doom and gloom.
“There is room to improve and we will aim to use this win as a springboard to better performances.
“That starts on Saturday. We aim to get a win in front of our home fans and give them something to be proud of.”
Jersey return to Springfield to face Colliers Wood this weekend, with the London-based side currently propping up the Combined Counties Premier Division South table.
CCL Premier Division South
P W D L GD PTS
Farnham Town 20 20 0 0 68 60
Knaphill 22 15 4 3 33 49
Abbey Rangers 24 14 3 7 6 45
Jersey Bulls 22 13 5 4 25 44
Alton 24 12 4 8 9 40
Croydon Athletic 21 12 3 6 16 39
Balham 23 12 2 9 -3 38
Redhill 20 11 2 7 20 35
Fleet Town 22 11 1 10 5 34
Sandhurst Town 27 10 4 13 -9 34
Tadley Calleva 19 11 0 8 -1 33
Tooting & Mitcham 22 9 3 10 -1 30
Horley Town 22 7 6 9 2 27
Camberley Town 24 7 6 11 -8 27
Cobham 22 6 7 9 -5 25
Spelthorne Sports 24 6 6 12 -17 24
Guildford City 25 7 3 15 -27 24
Epsom & Ewell 24 5 2 17 -27 17
Sheerwater 26 4 3 19 -53 15
Colliers Wood 25 3 4 18 -33 13
Epsom & Ewell (5-4-1): Toby Colwell, Ethan Brazier, Ethan Nelson-Roberts, Nick-Aaron Inwugwu, Reece Tierney, Nicholas Wilson (c), Luke Miller, Thompson Adeyemi, Carl Oblitey, Tigani Eshilokun (Jaan Stanley 87), Lewis Pearch (Sirak Negassi 87). Unused: Jerry Antwi, Tommy Williams, Harvey Keogh.
Jersey Bulls (4-2-3-1): Pierce Roche, James Queree (c), Fergus Boyle, Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha (Joe Kilshaw 71), Francis Lekimamati, Luke Watson (Ruben Mendes 88), Lorne Bickley, Fraser Barlow, Miguel Carvalho (Odinaka Nwokoro 88). Unused: Ben Le Rougetel.
