THE downside of living on an island reared its ugly head again last Saturday for Jersey Bulls, after adverse weather led to the cancellation of their flight to face Cobham.
However, the Caesareans have the immediate opportunity to get back to the mainland this evening, squaring off with Horley Town.
The Surrey side’s home faithful are yet to see their men win at New Defence this campaign after a turbulent start to the 2024/25 season, with losses against Cobham (3-5), Fleet Town (1-2) and league leaders Knaphill (3-2) last time out.
Their lone win came away to Combined Counties Premier South newcomers Chipstead (2-5), leaving them lurking near the foot of the table in 16th.
Jersey meanwhile, remain undefeated.
Following two commanding away wins over Spelthorne Sports (1-6) and Epsom & Ewell (0-2), Elliot Powell’s team were forced to dig deep last time out against Alton, falling two goals behind, before goals from Joe Kilshaw and Rai Dos Santos kept their unbeaten start to the season in tact.
While the campaign is very much still in its infancy, the stronger outfits are starting to take shape, with Redhill sitting pretty on four wins from four, while newcomers Whyteleafe have won four from five, reaping the benefits of wholesale changes in the summer.
But for Jersey, in a brand new era of their own, the signs are positive.
The new management staff have shown clear intent to play on the front foot against teams they feel they’re stronger than, and I fully expect that this evening.
Horley finished some 39 points adrift of the Islanders last season and I expect something similar come the conclusion of this time around.
In terms of personnel, there is a key addition to tonight’s squad, with St Clement FC marksman Karl Hinds coming back into the fold.
Powell took a liking to the forward when in action for Jersey, and there was a clear telepathy between Hinds and all-time Bulls top-scorer Lorne Bickley.
If the two combine as well as that in Jersey Bulls colours, then perhaps Powell and his management team would have found the missing piece to their promotion puzzle.
Jersey Bulls squad: Euan Van Der Vliet, Connor Lloyd, Fraser Barlow, Harry Curtis, James Querée (c), James Sunley, Jay Giles, JJ Lloyd, Joe Kilshaw, Jonny Le Quesne, Karl Hinds, Lorne Bickley, Luke Watson, Toby Ritzema.
JEP predicted Bulls XIGK: Euan Van Der Vliet LWB: Jay Giles CB: Harry Curtis CB: James Querée (c) RWB: Jonny Le Quesne CDM: Luke Watson CM: Joe Kilshaw CM: Toby Ritzema LW: James Sunley ST: Lorne Bickley RW: Fraser Barlow
Not quite a rinse and repeat of my predicted line up from the weekend, with a few notable faces back in the squad. Fraser Barlow returns and with that I think he slots in at right wing, with Rai Dos Santos still absent. Miguel Carvalho is also missing, therefore I think James Sunley will operate on the left wing, with a license to roam. Jonny Le Quesne was not part of the travelling squad for Saturday, but is back this evening, therefore I think he will resume duties at right wing-back. There is no Luke Campbell, so Harry Curtis and captain James Querée should start in the heart of defence, with the strong trio of Luke Watson at CDM with Joe Kilshaw and Toby Ritzema just in front. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Karl Hinds’ introduction if Jersey struggle to get a foothold and break the will of Horley in the first 55/60 minutes.
