JERSEY BULLS – 3 (Bickley 5′, Carvalho 80′, Ritzema 88′)
Hastings United – 0
Attendance: 1,501
HT Score: 1-0
Player of the Match: Luke Campbell
THERE was no sign of the in-form Jersey Bulls dropping the ball in the Isthmian League South East division’s final game of the regular season, as they dictated the pace and controlled the game, en route to a commanding 3-0 victory.
This wasn’t just another win for the local outfit, as this strong result sealed third place on the table for the Bulls – beating Guernsey FC’s fourth-placed finish 12 years ago to see the Caesareans finish in the highest-ever place by a Channel Islands side in the English league system.
To add another cherry on top, the Jersey Bulls had a big treat in store for the attending fans, as the Islanders debuted the club’s brand-new kit for the 2026/27 season.
The atmospheric crowds of Springfield Stadium didn’t have to wait long for their beloved home side to commence the scoring, as Lorne Bickley rocketed the Bulls to an early lead in the fifth minute, picking up Sunley’s through ball from the left flank to then cut in and smash it past the keeper from 12 yards out.
Bickley continued to be a threat, as another opportunity presented itself five minutes before half-time, but he curled it just wide.
Due to the harsh conditions of the heat – especially on the surface of Springfield’s 3G pitch – play certainly mellowed a bit. However, impactful substitutions kicked the game up a gear, as Toby Ritzema and Miguel Carvalho ran riot in the final third.
Their immense impact on the game was perfectly exhibited when they combined for the Bulls’ second goal in the 80th minute. After a remarkable run down near the left sideline, Ritzema delivered a pinpoint grounded cross to his fellow super-sub in Carvalho, who neatly tapped it away to double the lead.
Ritzema wasn’t finished with his account of the game, as he charged down the left flank once again eight minutes later to then find the bottom right corner from the outside of his right foot, making it 3-0 in style for the Jersey outfit.
The Bulls did everything they could to jump up to second place at one point, but a late 2-2 equaliser from AFC Croydon Athletic against Sheppey United meant that the UK side held onto their spot.
Jersey’s premier side did manage to leapfrog familiar foes in AFC Whyteleafe however with the latter’s 2-2 draw to mid-table Herne Bay – ensuring that the Bulls will have the home field advantage in Tuesday’s play-off semi-final, where they’ll host AFC Whyteleafe at Springfield Stadium.
Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Harry Curtis, Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Fraser Barlow, Joe Kilshaw, Lorne Bickley, James Sunley, Francis Lekimamati. Substitutes – Toby Ritzema (for Sunley, 71), Rai Dos Santos (for Bickley, 58), Miguel Carvalho (for Lekimamati, 54), Adam Trotter (for Giles, 58), Jamie Watling (for Campbell, 78)
Hastings United – Harry Haines, Freddie Legg, Sonny Causton, Jack Saunders, Eugene Asike, Sam Pidgeon, Damien Theodore, George Taggart, Max Walsh, Jordan Mase (c), Finlay Chapman Substitutes – Bradley Barry (for Legg, 90), Elijah Shute (for Chapman, 70), Hayden Skerry (not used), Charlie Brown (for Haines, inj. 88), Oliver MacDonald (for Taggart, 80)
