AS the festive period rolls ever closer, the Jersey Bulls welcome Margate to Springfield Stadium tomorrow in interesting circumstances.
Since their promotion to the Isthmian League South East Division, the Bulls have more than proved they belong at this level.
Their first game of the season saw them face none other than tomorrow’s opponents, Margate, a seasoned club at this level, where a Fraser Barlow strike earned them a celebrated 1-1 draw.
Since then, the Islanders have played 15 further league games, with a record of six wins, six draws and four defeats.
They currently sit almost perfectly mid-table in 12th place on 24 points, ten points off the play-off spots, but with a crucial three games in hand over most of the rest.
Margate, conveniently, are the side currently sat in fifth spot, the final play-off position, and have enjoyed a strong first half of the season.
Through their 19 games to date, they have recorded nine wins, seven draws and just three defeats, as well as being the third highest scorers in the league with 48.
Elliot Powell’s side do boast an impressive record however, as the only side this season to remain undefeated at home, their six home contests this campaign bringing three wins and three draws.
Games in hand are always a good conversational piece regarding league standings, but Powell will know they are only useful if you win them.
The Christmas period is never easy in football, as proved in the Bulls schedule. Tomorrow’s welcome of “The Gate” to Springfield is one of nine games the Bulls have over the next 36 days.
Powell’s men enter tomorrow’s game in middling form, with three wins and two defeats from their last five outings, including their disappointing defeat last weekend to Hastings United 1-0 in a performance Powell described as “pathetic”.
However, Springfield witnessed a thriller just two weeks ago in their last home game, when a Rai Dos Santos outstretched toe snatched them a 2-1 win over Deal Town.
Although Margate have lost only once at home in ten outings this season, you never know which Jersey Bulls will turn up. With the likes of Miguel Carvalho, James Sunley, Rai Dos Santos and Lorne Bickley on the field, the goalscoring prowess is there for all to see.
One man who has enjoyed an extraordinary season in front of goal is centre back and captain, James Querée, who has scored a remarkable eight goals this season, second only to striker Bickley on ten.
The skipper himself gave his thoughts on tomorrow’s clash, admitting he wants his side to “get back to themselves” tomorrow.
“Our performance last Saturday was pretty lacklustre, certainly the first half was. We not only let ourselves down but we let Powelly down. I think any coach wants their team to be a reflection of them and we certainly weren’t that last week.
“Tomorrow is an opportunity for us to bounce back. I thought we lacked effort and a bit of character at times last week at Hastings so tomorrow is the perfect opportunity for us to put those things right in what is a huge game for us.
“The thing with this league is it’s very intense. Every game we’re coming up against is going to be difficult.
“I think there was probably a slight sign of complacency going into the game last Saturday if we’re being really honest and we flagged it internally. We know we cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal in any game this season.
“Margate, they’re sat in the play-off spots for a reason, they’re a top side. They’re currently where we want to be so we’ve made sure we’ve done our due diligence and prepared for them the best we can this week.
“But I think tomorrow is more about us, making sure that we are playing to our standards, playing to the levels that we require of each other.
“We’re excited to be back at home, it’s always exciting to be playing in front of our home fans and we’re looking forward to showing them not only the quality of the players but also the character of the group as a whole.
“There’s a good bunch there in a variety of ages and I’m sure certainly from tomorrow onwards you will not be seeing a Bulls team that get outworked.”
Action from Springfield Stadium is set to kick off tomorrow at 2pm.
