FORMER Guernsey FC man Frank Tobin returns to action for Jersey Bulls tonight as one of seven defenders enlisted for duty at Banstead Athletic.
Manager Gary Freeman has recruited 16 for the trip to Surrey, to face a club that claimed all three points when they last locked horns.
Banstead finished in the relegation zone last season but pulled off a surprise victory over the Islanders when the sides met at the home of Wycombe Wanderers in March. The 3-2 defeat came in the midst of a difficult period for the Bulls, which featured just one win in eight games as they worked through a fixture pile-up across a 25-day period. Seven of those matches were played on the mainland as renovation works at Springfield continued.
With fixtures coming thick and fast for Jersey this month – they will be six games in by the time September arrives – captain James Quérée and Co have a chance to build on their unbeaten start and make an early statement at the top of Combined Counties Premier South.
But, in the same breath, they will understand that high hurdles can be constructed quickly.
Athletic, who finished seven points adrift of safety, were saved from the drop by a league restructuring process over the summer and could face another difficult season. However, they will be determined to kick-start their campaign tonight, having lost twice so far this term without scoring a goal. A 1-0 league loss to AFC Croydon on Saturday followed an identical result at Sheerwater earlier this month, in the FA Cup extra preliminary round.
Tobin returns after missing Bulls’ home win against Guildford City and offers Freeman a pacey option at the back, while midfielders Jonny Le Quesne and Kieren Stephens are also recalled. Max Thompson, who made his debut off the bench three days ago, is absent, while Fraser Barlow and Jake Prince – who scored one and assisted another on Saturday – also drop out.
The match [7.30pm kick-off] is due to be streamed live online. Visit www.jbfc.ticketco.events for more information.
