JERSEY BULLS 1 (3) – Stepney 58′ (O.G)
FLEET TOWN 1 (0) – Smith 88′
Player of the Match: Euan Van Der Vliet
Attendance: 1147
THEY didn’t make it easy on themselves, but Jersey Bulls are one step closer to promotion, after penalty shootout hero Euan Van Der Vliet saved three consecutive spot-kicks to send his side through to the final.
“We’re all feeling a bit relieved right now,” said the victorious captain, James Queree.
“It’s been such a long period off the pitch, you could probably tell, second half we didn’t play how we wanted to, but credit to the lads and Euan, we found a way to get through and book our spot in the final.”
Odds were certainly in the hosts’ favour, after Jersey Bulls dominated their past encounters against Fleet Town 4-0 and 4-1. However, Fleet Town proved they weren’t to be underestimated from the off, threatening goal in the opening few minutes.
The Bulls weren’t expected to be at their league-topping best following the lengthy layoff from action.
“This wasn’t our best display, but it’s embarrassing for the Combined Counties to expect a spectacle after being out of action for so long,” said Bulls manager, Elliot Powell.
“The whole process over the last six weeks has been an absolute omnishambles, it’s been a disgrace.”
Despite an early scare, it wasn’t long before the Bulls found their groove, as a Lorne Bickley volley flew just wide in the ninth minute.
Bickley continued to run Fleet ragged with his positioning and pace, especially in the following five minutes.
After a bit of brilliance from Miguel Carvalho opened up space on the right flank, Bickley blazed his way through to set up a deadly grounded cross, however the prime opportunity went begging.
From there on out, the hosts clicked in attack, as they seemingly lived in Fleet’s half for the following 30 minutes.
Fraser Barlow found himself a chance in the 24th minute, but blasted the ball just over from the left of the box.
Just five minutes later, a brilliant ball from Barlow cut through the middle of the visitor’s high line, seeing Carvalho one-on-one with keeper Finley Purcell. However, a poor touch from the winger let the chance go begging.
The boys in red got their best chance in the 31st minute, as Bickley once again made his presence known in the attacking third. Unfortunately, he could not convert from Joe Kilshaw’s pass, as his grounded effort went straight to the keeper.
Even though play was dominated by the Islanders, Fleet Town’s Luke Chike Kandi gave the home crowd a fright when his effort hit the right-side netting of Van Der Vliet’s goal in the 41st minute.
Bulls top scorer Kilshaw was painfully close to putting the Bulls ahead just before half time from a pinpoint Barlow cross, but he just couldn’t curl it in with the outside of his foot, which meant it was all level going into the break.
Fans were desperate for Jersey Bulls to break the deadlock after knocking on the door several times, but play remained contentious from the restart as both wrestled for momentum in the first ten minutes.
However, in the 58th minute, James Carr delivered a remarkable ball along the left wing out of nowhere, looping over Fleet’s full-back to find Barlow in space. Before he could stab the ball home though, Fleet’s Ross Stepney managed to get his foot in. Instead of clearing to safety, Stepney’s intervention deflected the ball over his own keeper, giving the Bulls a 1-0 lead.
Falling behind in such brutal fashion could have killed the visitors’ spirits, but Billy Oram’s ambitious shot showed they weren’t tapping out just yet, sailing just over from outside the box nine minutes later.
Even though they were leading, the local outfit seemed to take their foot off the gas a little bit in the final twenty minutes, allowing Fleet Town more time in the attacking third.
The pressure proved too much in the end, as Fleet’s Tom Smith slammed home an excellent volley from the left edge of the box in the 88th minute equaliser as the Bulls’ players slumped to the floor in disappointment.
Knowing a deadlock would result in a penalty shoot-out, fans were desperate for the reds to seal a winner.
Prayers were almost answered in the first minute of added time, after James Carr passed out wide to Kurtis Guthrie, but his shot curled just wide from the left.
As the final whistle blew, the 1-1 scoreline meant a climactic penalty shootout would be required to separate the sides.
What followed was nothing short of legendary, as Bulls goalkeeper Euan Van Der Vliet stepped up to the mark.
“All the pressure is on the taker really, the keeper doesn’t really have any,” said the goalkeeping ace.
“Dylan Buesnel, one of our researchers, managed to figure out a couple of Fleet’s penalty takers, so thankfully that paid off on the second penalty.
“It’s an amazing feeling personally to contribute like that, and I’m so glad to alleviate some of the pressure on our takers and get over the line.”
Nerves were at an all-time high around Springfield Stadium, as Fleet’s Kandi stepped up to take the first penalty. Van Der Vliet was unfazed by the pressure however, as he dived left to save.
Paul McKay put the Bulls ahead, delivering on all fronts as he neatly slotted it in the bottom left corner.
Fleet’s Leo Decabo had the pressure all on his shoulders, keen to turn the tables. But Van Der Vliet produced again, diving the same way to stop the effort.
Guthrie put Jersey 2-0 up, smashing it into the top corner, but only via a deflection from a diving Purcell’s glove.
In a last-gasp attempt at redemption, Joshua Stepney readied himself to take Fleet’s third spot-kick. However, Van Der Vliet remained resolute, this time diving to the right and saving a third consecutive penalty.
Powell was brimming with pride for his premier shot stopper, saying: “When you have a personality like Euan, you’ve got more than a chance.
“Every credit to him, he stood up in a big moment, he’s done it in Muratti’s and now he’s done it in a Bulls shirt so I’m over the moon for him.”
Such herculean efforts from their stand-out shot stopper set Jersey Bulls up perfectly, as Lekimamati coolly finished his penalty to seal victory and cap off a flawless 3-0 penalty shootout.
“What’s got us over the line is a lot of steely nerves, especially to bounce back from the late goal and win the shootout,” said Powell.
“The team stuck together as they’re great blokes, the togetherness of that changing room is incredible.”
In the other playoff semi final, Cobham managed to secure their own spot in the final, as they too claimed a penalty shootout win over Redhill, following a goalless draw at Kiln Brow.
Looking ahead, Powell is keen to seal promotion, saying: “First thing’s first, we have to celebrate moments like this, there hasn’t been anything to smile about for the last five or six weeks.
“I’m really looking forward to making history next week, with a second chance at securing promotion.
“You never know in this league, anything can happen, but we’ll be ready.”
Jersey Bulls: Euan Van Der Vliet, James Carr, James Queree (C), Paul McKay, Jonny Le Quesne, Luke Watson, Joe Kilshaw, Adam Trotter, Miguel Carvalho, Fraser Barlow, Lorne Bickley. Substitutes: Francis Lekimamati (for Carvalho, 77′), Kurtis Guthrie (for Barlow, 64′), Will Yates, Karl Hinds (for Bickley, 87′), Sammy Sutcliffe.
Fleet Town: Finley Purcell, Nicholas Medcraft, Tom Smith, Liam Pestle (C), Ross Stepney, Joshua Stepney, Billy Oram, Leo Decabo, Dean Rule, Tane Caubo, Luke Chike Kandi. Substitutes: Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb (for Caubo, 70′), Matthew Surmon, Brad Manning, Ryan Case (for Oram, 77′), Luke Phair.
