JERSEY BULLS have five games left to cement their place in the play-off positions for promotion from the Combined Counties Premier Division South. Of those five games, all but one of their opponents are currently sitting in the bottom half of the table.
But the odd one out, sixth place Abbey Rangers, host Bulls tomorrow with their own hopes of squeezing into the play-off spots, adding a little spice to this must-not-lose encounter.
“They’re an experienced team, with older players, who know how to get results, so it’s a different sort of challenge,” said Bulls manager Gary Freeman.
“We’ve got to make sure we don’t lose the game, so we’ll be approaching the game with a bit of caution.
“It’s another team we can push away from us and get us where we want to be, then focus on hopefully trying to get as close to [second-place] Knaphill as we can.
“I actually prefer it when we play the tougher teams. I think it suits us and it does set us up in a certain way that we’re going to need to be set up like in the play-offs.
“We want to be in a position where hopefully we’re comfortable and can push for what we would love, that second spot.”
Towards the end of previous campaigns, Freeman has had a threadbare squad to work with, due to injuries and a general burnout of players. However, he goes into the final stage of the season with his squad in rude health and back to full strength, with the return to fitness of goalkeeper Euan Van der Vliet and full back Jay Giles. It presents Freeman with a welcome selection headache, with 20-plus expected at training last night.
“We’re where we want to be in terms of numbers,” added Freeman. “In previous years, we probably gone into these games with just 13 or 14. They’ve put their bodies on the line for long periods but we’ve tried to rotate a little bit, we have rested players. It’s going to be a tough squad to select, as it is every week at the moment.
“Euan is back fit and he’s obviously pushing for a spot but Pierce [Roche] has done well. Again, it’s another tough decision for us, but I’ve got to credit Euan’s attitude in training. It’s been fantastic. But Pierce has also come in and shown his quality. We’re lucky to have two very good goalkeepers.”
Kick off tomorrow is at 3pm.
Jersey Bulls last five games
Tomorrow A v Abbey Rangers
Sat, 13 April A v Tooting & Mitcham Utd
Tue, 16 April H v Horley
Sat, 20 April H v Fleet Town
Sat, 27 April H v Spelthorne Sports
