TO SAY it was a night of frustration in deep Sussex for the Bulls would be an understatement.
This was an opportunity for the Islanders to build on their recent good form, and it was two errors – let’s be frank, both were catastrophic – that undid them here.
Their hosts in Broadbridge Heath are no mugs at this level, but given the Isthmian South East division is awash with clubs with plentiful resources, Heath, respectfully, are not in that clutch of clubs.
However, in manager Chris Simmons, they are led by a man who has vast experience of not only Sussex football, but this division also, leading his side to two very creditable mid-table finishes since their promotion just over two years ago.
And, when those Bulls mishaps unfurled in front of them, they were unforgiving.
Adam Trotter has been a magnificent servant for the Bulls ever since their inception but it’s a mark of his character that he was the first to acknowledge he was under-par on the night.
An under-hit pass back towards his goalkeeper was never going to make its intended target, Heath’s Zac Young sensing his moment instantly.
With Euan van der Vliet off his line, the Heath forward took the opportunity to strike with his first touch, leaving the Bulls stopper no chance.
That mistake will have caused Elliot Powell double-grief, given the Bulls start.
Rai dos Santos, James Sunley and Lorne Bickley had all kept Alfie Hadfield in the Heath goal on his toes, and the visitors enjoyed plenty of ball in the opening quarter.
At the other end, van der Vliet played his part by keeping out Young, although once Young did get the better of him, Heath established a foothold which they were able to build from.
After a cagey opening to the second period, it was that man Trotter who was again making the headlines, for the wrong reasons.
As Heath’s Louis Evans drove into the penalty area, you had the feeling the plentiful Bulls shirts around him would snuff out the danger. Trotter, though, is a man who plays on the edge and this time, that led him over a cliff.
He took the gamble of going off his feet to try and stop Evans, the resulting challenge clumsy and messy. Referee Wayne Pocock didn’t need to think twice, Young making no mistake from the spot for his second of the game, and 15th of the campaign.
Away from home, two goals down, the weather abysmal. Many sides would have thrown in the towel at that point, but that isn’t in the Bulls DNA.
They were given a lifeline when Luke Staight went through the back of dos Santos in his own box, Pocock having to make a more difficult decision given the stationary nature of the defender in question.
From the second he pointed to the spot, James Queree was never going to miss, the Bulls captain as cold as the weather as he reduced the arrears.
There was a lot of toil, huff and puff in the final 20 minutes from Powell’s men, but they couldn’t quite prise open the door as Heath defended not only in numbers, but quality. Lewis Hyde and Brad Peters, at the heart of their defence, were outstanding.
So, not that it needs underlining to Powell, the night’s takeaway was that just when you are feeling comfortable, this league will remind you there are dangers at every corner.
Play-off chasers Deal Town and Margate visit Springfield before the month is out, those ties sandwiching a trip to struggling Hastings United.
Powell, as always, only does measured and while he couldn’t hide his disappointment, he opted to err on the side of optimism.
“It’s a deflated changing room tonight and I can understand why. We’ve been the architects of our own downfall, and that’s tough to take, especially when we’ve given so much going the other way,” he said.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. We got away with mistakes at previous levels we’ve played at, with all due respect, but in this division, against these teams, the likelihood is they’ll trample all over you if you let them.
“This isn’t a case of digging anyone out, but we know we must be far cleaner in our work, especially in the danger area of in and around our penalty area. You take their two goals away, and there is nothing between the sides.
“Look, we didn’t let ourselves get carried away over these last few games when things were going our way and we are certainly not going to beat ourselves up over one result.
“And there are some great opportunities coming our way. Deal and Margate will both have ambitions to be right up there come the end of the season and they are the tests we want, especially at home.”
Squads
Broadbridge Heath – Alfie Hadfield, Luke Staight, Charlie Gibson, Salvatore Marino, Lewis Hyde, Brad Peters, Callum Dowdell (c), Charlie Connell, Zachary Young, Louis Evans, Emmanuel Abudiore
Substitutes – 12. Elliott Romain (for Marino 82) 14. Luke Bejashvili (for Young 80), 15. Jake Lawrence (for Abudiore 71), 16. Neo Wooster (for Connell 88), 17. Bailey Cotton (for Staight 80)
Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, Jay Giles (wore 14), James Querée (c), James Sunley (wore 20), Luke Watson (wore 16), Adam Trotter (wore 12), Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley (wore 19), Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 13. Daniel Jinadu, 18. Sonny Cassidy (for Kilshaw 74), 21. Francis Lekimamati (for Sunley 58), 22. Harry Mackenzie (for Le Quesne 86)
