Jersey Bulls – 2
Kilshaw 13’, Barlow 54’
Cobham – 1
Murray 70’
Attendance: 1,801
JEP Player of the Match: James Carr
Bookings: Marklew 39’ (COB), Le Quesne 83’ (JSY), Stanislaus 89’ (COB)
HISTORY has been made!
Jersey Bulls have achieved promotion from the Combined Counties Premier Division South [Step 5] to the Isthmian League South East [Step 4] for the first time in their history, following a 2-1 victory at Springfield Stadium in the playoff final over Cobham FC.
To say nerves were a little on edge would be putting it lightly, as the match held huge stakes for Jersey’s premier club. Those stakes only heightened given the Bulls’ recent situation, where their title win and guaranteed promotion was stripped following the fielding of an ineligible player, so anything other than victory would have been a great disappointment.
There was no illusion how evenly matched the finalists were, with their last two encounters ending 0-0. Any concerns that the reds might succumb to the pressure were immediately dispelled, as midfielder Adam Trotter showed his intent with a blistering shot over the bar within the first minute.
Such a display of intent, so early in the game, surely put the visiting Hammers on high alert, as they tightened up defensively to impede Jersey’s advances.
What ensued was a hard-fought midfield battle in the following ten minutes, as both sides linked well but just lacked that final touch. Trotter was truly a standout in the middle of the park, relentlessly applying pressure to win back possession and create opportunities.
Efforts were rewarded in the 13th minute, as Bulls’ top scorer Joe Kilshaw found himself in familiar territory. After Carvalho had expertly controlled a wayward pass on the wing, he squared it to Kilshaw, who neatly slotted the ball into the bottom right from close range to put Jersey 1-0 up. Kilshaw has been a talisman for the side, with that being his 17th finish this season.
Taking the lead so early in the game didn’t induce complacency, as Lorne Bickley fired in a rocket of a diagonal shot from distance which crept wide in the 16th minute.
Even though Jersey Bulls were in the driving seat, Cobham’s Elijah Simpson showed they weren’t to be overlooked just yet, the ball finding his feet from Luke Campbell’s header.
Despite a well-taken shot from Simpson at the edge of the box, it narrowly curled over the top-right corner, much to the home fans’ relief. Facing a tight scoreline, the boys in yellow and black amped up the intensity in their search for an equaliser, taking the front foot offensively.
Their pressure got to the Islanders in the 32nd minute, giving away a dangerous free kick in the Bulls’ half. Cobham’s Patrick Murray delivered a pinpoint ball into the box, forcing a headed clearance from skipper James Querée for a corner.
A corner is always dangerous at any level, but Jersey Bulls defended successfully, with James Carr breaking free after executing a nifty turn. That attack was short-lived, however, as Cobham once again had possession in the 39th minute, pushing for goal.
What followed had the fans on the edge of their seats, as this passage of play was an absolute roller-coaster. The Hammers’ persistence in pushing forward paid off, as Louis Downey collected the ball in Jersey’s box and shot for goal.
Although it blazed past Euan Van Der Vliet, right-back Jonny Le Quesne remained composed, making a pivotal goal-line clearance to maintain the lead. His block went straight back into Cobham’s feet and this time Simpson gunned for goal. However, nothing got past Le Quesne, as he made yet another clearance.
Simpson was a weapon for Cobham in the opening 45 minutes, making several forward runs to be a real thorn in Jersey’s side. He almost broke through in the half’s dying embers, but Querée wasn’t messing about as he put it safe to close out the half, with Jersey Bulls still 1-0 up – just.
Jersey’s finest didn’t slow down during the break, picking up where they left off in the second half. Just four minutes from the restart, Fraser Barlow received the ball from Carvalho in a strong position for a cross, but he couldn’t keep it down and it flew over.
Once again, the Bulls were on the front foot, with many sensing another goal wasn’t far away.
The fans’ prayers were answered in the 54th minute, as Fraser Barlow flicked in the finish after a remarkable bit of play from Bickley allowed a perfect assist to double the lead.
Throughout the match, Jersey Bulls’ stalwart defence was unbreakable, clearing all danger.
Six minutes after doubling their lead, fans rose as the Bulls had three consecutive attempts at a third goal which went awry. After Bickley’s shot was deflected from Cobham’s Conrad Knight, Luke Watson’s blocked subsequent shot bounced to Kilshaw, whose effort was cleared off the line.
The side from Surrey replied in kind just a minute later, making a quick push upfield to see a header just over the Jersey crossbar.
Barlow was a problem on the left wing, using his brilliant positioning to constantly find the ball, and once again received a cross from Bickley in the 66th minute. However, it wasn’t meant to be this time around, volleying wide at the back post.
Shortly after making a save in the 67th minute, semi-final penalty shootout hero Euan Van Der Vliet gave the home crowd a fright as he stayed down, then hobbled around in clear discomfort. Thankfully, he was able to make a quick recovery.
Just two minutes later, drama rung around the ground as the referee blew for a Cobham penalty after a poor challenge from Carr downed Murray. The aforementioned Murray fired away the penalty, but, in a stroke of brilliance, Van Der Vliet dived correctly once again to stop the shot, prompting a mammoth roar from the crowd.
Those roars were short-lived however, as Murray regained the ball from the save and headed it in, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.
After nabbing their first, Cobham had a taste for goal and substitute Marco Haigh’s deflected shot had to be cleared with a brave Querée slide in the 71st minute.
Haigh wasn’t finished impacting the game, with his shot stopped by Van Der Vliet in the 81st minute, after a skillful, winding run.
Trotter was instrumental in midfield, showing off a bit of trickery late on to play Bickley through with a neat flick three minutes later. The ball ended with Francis Lekimamati, whose shot was deflected away after a defensive block.
Pressure was boiling over, as the assistant referee announced six minutes of added time.
In the first minute, Cobham looked to upset the odds and equalise, as Louis Toussaint offered a daring cross in to Reis Stanislaus at the back post, but the Surrey side’s number nine couldn’t steer it in.
Despite Cobham’s late efforts, it was too little too late, as the Jersey Bulls took a well-earned 2-1 victory. As fans stormed the field and James Querée lifted the trophy, it finally felt like a season’s hard graft had paid off and justice had been served for Elliot Powell and his men.
Jersey Bulls FC
Euan Van Der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, James Querée (c), Luke Campbell, James Carr, Luke Watson (off 74′), Adam Trotter, Joe Kilshaw, Miguel Carvalho (off 77′), Fraser Barlow (off 86′), Lorne Bickley.
Substitutes: Pierce Roche, Paul McKay (for Watson, 74’), Francis Lekimamati (for Carvalho, 77’), Kieran Lester (for Barlow, 86’), Karl Hinds
Cobham FC
Conrad Knight, Ryan Maclean, Remi Meyers, Jacob De Sa, Hakeem Gbadmassi, Charlie Alexiou (c), Patrick Murray, Ryan Marklew, Reis Stanislaus, Louis Downey (off 67′), Elijah Simpson (off 59′).
Substitutes: Marco Haigh (for Simpson, 59’), Louis Toussaint (for Downey, 67’), Kallum Peart, Theo Huey Walker, Rourke Pickford.
