JERSEY Bulls U23s enter tonight’s cup clash short of experience but with plenty of incentive to do well.
With the senior side in league action last night against Knaphill, and university students busy with assignments, Paul Renton’s team will be a young side keen on making an impression, with first-teamers Sol Solomon, Joe Kilshaw and Jake Prince all unavailable.
They face a trip to Hillingdon Borough FC in the second round of the Esoteric Recordings Division One Challenge Cup having dispensed of London Samurai Rovers 4-0 in this competition back in January.
The U23s also remain active in the Mike Bidmead Suburban League Challenge Cup, with a semi-final against Sheerwater on the horizon.
‘It’s going to be a young side,’ said Renton.
‘I’m quite looking forward to it, going in with a young group the challenge for those boys is there’s a semi-final coming up in April, they have a good opportunity to stake a claim for that.’
Hillingdon are expected to be at a similar level to London Samurai – their first teams clashed last week with Rovers coming away with a 3-1 victory.
Renton’s message has been consistent this season.
‘The boys know how we are going to play, we aim to be competitive, and if they win, then there’s another game in the competition.’
The U23s are more than familiar with the pressure of knock-out football, having started off in three cup competitions.
‘I’m not surprised with how we’ve done. We’ve got 20 or so good players. Did I think we’d get to a semi-final? Maybe not, but we’ve deserved with our performances to get to the semi-final of the other competition. We have another good chance to progress, but it will be a big challenge for us.’
The U23s have provided players for the senior Bulls side, something that Renton says can be counted as a success.
While the Bulls are in a sticky patch results wise in the league, for the U23s every game is a must win to simply get another match.
‘We need to attack, to score goals, that’s the way the team is set up. So far, so good.’
Kick-off at the Middlesex Stadium is 7.45pm.
Jersey Bulls U23s: Luke Duncan; Luke Appleton; Jay Dos Santos; Sammy Henia-Kamau; Sammy Sutcliffe; Leandro Vieira; Josh Coutanche; Patrick O’Toole; Jack Lumsden; Darryl Mvalo; Kushal Frankson; Max Rivers; Olly Rivers; Rai Dos Santos.
