AFTER a brief return to Springfield for their home opener, Jersey Bulls are back on the road tomorrow to face table-toppers Cobham.
There is a caveat to that statement, given that The Hammers have played five games already, compared to Redhill and Bulls, who have both played just three and sit one and three points adrift respectively.
Following two comfortable wins to begin the Combined Counties Premier Division South season, Elliot Powell and his side had to fight to earn a point last weekend, having fallen two goals behind within the opening 25 minutes against Alton.
Goals from Joe Kilshaw and Rai Dos Santos either side of the break kept the unbeaten record intact, but the Islanders will be keen to get straight back to winning ways against a side also enjoying a promising start to their season.
The Surrey side managed to put defeats to both Uxbridge in the FA Cup Qualifying round and in their league opener against Knaphill behind them, with three wins and a draw since then in league action.
Bulls coach Adam Lester, who has formed part of a brand new backroom team under Powell, said: “Coming back from two goals down against Alton last weekend has allowed us to keep that momentum into the trip to Cobham.
“Despite falling behind, we always felt like we were the better side and kept confidence in ourselves, and I thought we had by far the better chances.
“On another day, we could have easily scored two or three more and taken maximum points from that game.
“The lads have been really sharp in training and the turnout has been brilliant.
“There has been plenty of work on some of the aspects we felt needed improving from the Alton match and the lads have been really receptive.
“We know Cobham are top of the table and it will be a challenge, but we have played a couple of games less than them and will be fully focused on bringing three points back home.”
What Lester and Powell will be tested with week after week during a lengthy campaign, is availability issues.
Especially around summer time, non-league outfits can feel the pinch with holidays and other commitments from squad members.
In that vein, the captain from last week, Jonny Le Quesne, is missing from the squad, along with centre-back Ben Le Rougetel, as are a trio of wingers in the shape of Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho and Fraser Barlow.
In come Jack Lumsden, JJ Lloyd and James Carr, all of whom have a chance to play their first minutes of the season – while there is also a spot for Jay Dos Santos.
Despite the lack of natural wide options, Lester is confident that his side have the personnel to adjust.
“Obviously we have been a big threat down the wings over the first three games, but we have players who are able to adapt into slightly different roles,” added the coach.
“James Sunley has the ability to drift in and out of those spaces, as do others in the midfield.
“There is an option there for players to drop in and out of spaces, as opposed to the more natural wide players.
“The great thing is that we can be fluid in our formation, as there is no harm veering away from our shape to suit how the game develops.”
JEP predicted XI
Game number four of the new season and Elliot Powell will be keen to start the game much stronger than his side did against Alton. Rai Dos Santos picked up an unfortunate injury in training this week and, with Miguel Carvalho and Fraser Barlow also unavailable, options on the wing are scarce. I expect the only natural winger available in Kieran Lester to occupy Carvalho’s spot on the left, while the multi-faceted James Sunley can fill the space on the right. Evergreen Luke Watson should assume his usual role in front of the defence, with current top scorer Joe Kilshaw and Toby Ritzema ahead in the centre of midfield. Lorne Bickley will lead the line and I fully expect the prolific number 9 to get back on the scoresheet tomorrow. In defence, I think Harry Curtis, who impressed me last season, will get his first start of the season at centre-back alongside Luke Campbell. Jay Giles will start left and I believe captain James Querée will shift to right-back to cover for the missing Jonny Le Quesne.
Jersey Bulls: Euan Van Der Vliet, Harry Curtis, Jack Lumsden, James Carr, James Querée (c), James Sunley, Jay Dos Santos, Jay Giles, JJ Lloyd, Joe Kilshaw, Kieran Lester, Lorne Bickley, Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Toby Ritzem
