JERSEY Bulls will be hoping to avoid any Halloween scares as they look to continue their 12-match unbeaten streak against Chipstead tomorrow.
Fresh off the back of setting their record-breaking unbeaten run, the in-form Bulls will welcome a struggling Chipstead side to Springfield Stadium, aiming to take advantage of games in hand over their promotion rivals.
Skipper James Querée said: “The message from the coaching staff this week has been that this game is an opportunity to continue to build on the momentum we have created over the past few weeks.
“To have built such a strong start to this campaign gives us big confidence.
“However, we know we can still improve. We want to continue to create and convert our chances going forward and a fixture at home is a good chance for us to do that.
“One thing we have noticed this season is the player strength in depth for the clubs lower down the league is stronger than in previous years.
“This Chipstead side may be lower down in the league, but they’ve recorded good results as well.
“They landed a good win over Sheerwater last time out, a game we failed to win in, so we know how capable a side they can be and that they can cause us problems.
“We cannot let anything drop from our perspective. We have our goals that we want to achieve this season and these are the type of games we want to be winning to help us get there.
“We have had a couple of names like Harry Curtis and Jonny Le Quesne back in training, which is massive for us.
“We’re all looking forward to tomorrow now and getting back out in front of our home fans and putting on another show for our supporters.”
Elliot Powell’s Bulls sit comfortably in the play-off spots in fourth, having two games in hand over both Redhill and AFC Whyteleafe, and three over Knaphill.
They remain one of only two sides in Premier Division South who are still unbeaten, sharing that honour with seventh-placed Fleet Town.
The Islanders’ latest fixture, a tough 0-0 draw away at fellow play-off potentials Cobham, marked their sixth clean sheet in a row, an astonishing performance for a squad still riddled with injuries.
Many players have been forced to play in unfamiliar positions this season, such as Fraser Barlow and Joe Kilshaw filling in in the wing-back roles.
Powell and his coaching staff have been missing key names such as experienced defender Luke Campbell, versatile midfielder Jonny Le Quesne and now, still awaiting the results of an MRI scan, star striker Lorne Bickley.
Credit must be given to Powell and his staff for being able to manage and maintain a formula capable of 12 games unbeaten and six clean sheets consecutively, with players out of position and key names absent.
On the contrary, Chipstead face very different challenges, currently sitting down in 16th, having lost eight of their opening 13 games.
They did pick up a victory in their last game, a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Sheerwater – a game that the Bulls only managed a draw in. However, this followed a run of three consecutive defeats for Chipstead.
Despite missing Lorne Bickley, Jersey have found goals from other sources this season, with Joe Kilshaw finding the target regularly and the returning Karl Hinds getting to grips with this level immediately.
Bulls will feel confident to welcome Chipstead in the knowledge their opposition have already shipped 36 goals.
Compare that with the Bulls who, in 12 games, have conceded just six – equal only to Fleet Town for fewest conceded in the league.
Elliot Corbel – Predicted Bulls XI: Some new faces grace the Bulls squad for tomorrow’s clash at home to Chipstead. However, many names still keep their spot for me considering current form. Euan Van Der Vliet keeps his spot considering his magnificent recent form: six consecutive clean sheets speaks for itself. Sammy Sutcliffe played well on his return in recent weeks, but in his absence I have gone for Harry Curtis to partner captain James Querée as the two centre backs. Fraser Barlow continues at left back, however, due to absences in the midfield; James Carr will slot in at right back and the impressive Joe Kilshaw will return to midfield.
Luke Watson stays as the rock at CDM, but Karl Hinds joins the midfield alongside Kilshaw. The exciting young pair of Miguel Carvalho and Rai Dos Santos continue their electrifying work on the wings, leaving space up top for the young Seaney McColgan to step in for Lorne Bickley. Crucially, Bulls fans will be delighted to see Jonny Le Quesne back on the bench after a lengthy injury-related absence. With his versatility, he could slot in almost anywhere on the field if needed, but it could be too soon for a start just yet.
Jersey Bulls Squad: Connor Lloyd, Euan Van Der Vliet, Fraser Barlow, Harry Curtis, James Carr, James Querée (c), Joe Kilshaw, Jonny Le Quesne, Karl Hinds, Luke Watson, Miguel Carvalho, Rai Dos Santos, Seaney McColgan, Tomas Goncalves, Will Byers, Pierce Roche
