AFTER a “fair outcome” against Sheerwater in the sixth game of their Combined Counties Premier Division South campaign, an injury-plagued Jersey Bulls side are set to welcome Guildford City tomorrow, in just their second home game of the young season.
Having a couple of home games ahead of them in the coming weeks, Elliot Powell’s Bulls will be looking to take full advantage of the opportunity for home support that they have so sorely lacked this season.
“It’s always nice to play at home,” said Jersey Bulls captain James Querée. “We avoid all the travel, the delays, we actually get to prepare for the game how we want to and, obviously, it’s great to play in front of the fans.”
Considering the physical and psychological challenges that come with the absence of home games in their early league schedule, the Bulls have impressed as they are yet to sample the bitter taste of defeat.
Regardless, the Islanders are beginning to fall behind as, while unbeaten, they have managed to claim only three wins, meaning they are sat on 12 points from a possible 18.
The likes of AFC Whyteleafe and Knaphill, sitting in second and third respectively, have accrued a total of 18 and 17 points, albeit having played two and three games more than Jersey respectively.
Further ahead again are Redhill, who boast 21 points after an impressive seven wins out of as many games, laying down the gauntlet to the rest of Premier Division South.
Worryingly, a dwindling number of fit defensive players potentially bodes ill for Powell as the gap between his men and the league’s foremost teams widens.
Tuesday’s game against Sheerwater saw defensive-powerhouse Jonny Le Quesne injured following a heavy challenge.
Already lacking Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell and Jay Giles, the attacking talent of Fraser Barlow was forced to assume a full-back role against the Sheers.
Querée admitted: “I guess you could say we’ve lost three out of our back four, and they are not only defenders but they are leaders as well.
“They’re all big losses but, on the flip side, Elliot [Powell] has brought in a big squad from the outset of the season.
“When these things happen, it creates an opportunity for the other, often younger, players.
“It’s a chance for them to make the shirt their own.”
Ahead of the game against Guildford, the captain is confident in his charges’ abilities.
“I back the quality we have in the squad. It’s just a matter of making sure we go and do what we’re capable of,” added Querée.
“Whoever comes in is capable of playing and contributing.
“Eleven players aren’t going to win you a league, it’s the whole squad.
“So we’ll absolutely be looking to maintain that unbeaten start, and, hopefully, build on it.”
Guildford City will be an interesting test for the Caesareans as they currently sit one place below the Bulls on the table, albeit they have played significantly more games.
City have played nine games, 33% more than Jersey Bulls’ six, while still only managing to claim the same number of wins.
Last season, the west Surrey side scraped the bottom of the barrel, finishing in a lowly 18th position and the Bulls managed to best them twice with a two-goal margin.
However, Querée is not expecting it to be plain sailing for the local side.
“We need to get better at home,” the captain explained.
Previously the Bulls have struggled offensively at home and, when they played their first game this season, they got off to a slow start against Alton going 2-0 down. “I’m sure most teams look forward to when they come over to face us.”
“We always tend to get their best performance as it’s always a bit of a cup final for them.
“They come over, play in front of a few hundred fans on a great surface, and obviously have their trip supported by the club.
“So I think they raise their performance as an outcome of that.”
The captain also reflected on his team’s recent form ahead of their second Springfield clash of the season:
He continued: “We’ve conceded a number of sloppy goals, so we need to tighten up at the back.
“And that’s that’s not just the defence, that’s a collective from Lorne [Bickley] at the top.
“We need to solidify at the back out of possession, and make sure our shape and structure is right to not concede these kind of sloppy goals that we have been.”
With the game against Guildford, and another Springfield-based game in two weeks against Abbey Rangers, Powell and his men will look to take full advantage, building on their solid start to the 2024/25 season and placing themselves in contention for the league’s pole position.
Jersey Bulls Squad: Euan Van Der Vliet, Kieran Lester, Will Yates, Sammy Sutcliffe, James Querée (c), JJ Lloyd, Toby Ritzema, Luke Watson, Karl Hinds, Joe Kilshaw, James Sunley, Miguel Carvalho, Fraser Barlow, Lorne Bickley
