HE might have been absent from the dugout, but even a trip to Poznan could not prevent the “professional” Elliot Powell from tuning in to watch his Jersey Bulls record a remarkable fifth clean sheet in-a-row with a 2-0 home victory over Corinthian-Casuals.
Managerial duties on day fell to assistant Dan Garton, who admitted to feeling “a little bit of pressure” with Jersey Bulls’ longest unbeaten streak at Step 5 level on the line.
However, it was a performance that the Jersey faithful have become rather accustomed to this campaign.
An unchanged 11 from Tuesday’s 2-0 away win at Alton, looked far from leggy, and with a pair of goals either side of the break from Rai Dos Santos and Karl Hinds, it was three more points on the board for a squad still plagued by injury.
“There was definitely a little bit of pressure,” said Garton. “He [Powell] is in a bar in Poznan and has been messaging non-stop.
“He can’t switch off, but that’s just who he is.
“He’s a top professional, but he’s delighted with the result today.
“You’re not sure if the lads are going to drop their standards because the gaffer isn’t around, but full credit to them.
“They dug deep and didn’t let those standards from the last few weeks slip.”
Despite entering the break with a narrow advantage, after Dos Santos’ goal in the fifth added minute of the half, Garton felt a touch “disappointed”.
“We were a little bit off it, and we had those conversations at half-time.
“I thought they rectified that really well and were much stronger and more professional in the second-half.
“I’m so happy for Rai and Karl.
“They’ve had to battle hard in two attritional away games before this, and they got their reward with a pair of goals.
“It’s been testament to their character, because most the last two games, it’s been a battle off the ball and they’ve had to run their socks off.”
The early stages of the season have seen Luke Watson assume the famed ‘number six’ role in front of the defensive bank of four.
However, against the Casuals, Toby Ritzema started there, and the home side chopped and changed throughout the contest, something which Garton said the coaching staff likes to see.
“We want all three of the guys in there heart of midfield to be fluid and free.
“If one goes up then another fills in and obviously having Jack [Boyle] back after a long-term injury has been a massive lift.
“Each player offers so much in there and just rotating them around helps us when we are trying to hold onto the ball a little more.”
Perhaps the most remarkable statistic of Bulls’ young season, is how defensively resolute they have been despite missing an entire back line in the shape of Luke Campbell, Jay Giles, Jonny Le Quesne and Harry Curtis.
Players have had to slot in, most notably Fraser Barlow and Joe Kilshaw out of position at wing-backs.
Despite this, the Islanders have amassed seven clean sheets in 11 games, with five in-a-row, conceding just six goals in the process.
Euan Van Der Vliet is the last line of defence and after being sidelined through injury last campaign, the goalkeeper lost his spot to Pierce Roche.
Now back, and firmly cemented as Powell’s number one, the goalkeeper is back to his very best.
“I missed it a lot last season,” he said.
“I had an injury and then wasn’t able to get my spot back afterwards, which is fair enough – that’s football.
“But it was a fresh start. We had a great pre-season. New management came in and it’s been full on, but I think we are reaping the rewards of those efforts now.
“The lads who have come in have been brilliant.
“We have probably been more defensively focused because of the injuries, but I think it’s helped us.
“We have developed a really solid base and just built from there.
“Clearly it’s difficult when you are missing so many great players, but the squad is so competitive and deep.
“They have competed and now the returning players will have to fight for their spot.
“That’s what you want and that level of competition is needed if you want to get promoted.”
