JERSEY BULLS celebrated securing their spot in the Combined Counties Premier Division South play-offs on Tuesday night, but welcome Fleet Town to Springfield tomorrow still with a job to do to secure their goal of second place.
The 3-0 home win over Horley Town secured Gary Freeman’s side’s place in the play-offs, but also moved them into second place in the league on 73 points, with rivals Knaphill just one point behind on 72.
Bulls manager Freeman said: “Securing our play-off spot has been the aim for a long time now, so it’s very pleasing to have ticked that aim off the list.
“We are carrying good form into the back end of the season, but for us, securing that second spot is massive right now.”
With just two games remaining and a home play-off semi-final already in the bank, Freeman is set on ensuring his side maintain that second spot. If successful, they will seal, should they reach it, a massive home play-off final.
“That’s absolutely top priority for us now, finishing second,” the Bulls manager continued.
“If we get there, a home play-off final would be amazing to see and something our fans would absolutely cherish. We know how big the Island would get behind us for an occasion like that and we want to make that moment a reality.
“Over the last four of five weeks we’ve been focusing on making sure we’re going into games on the front foot and I think we’ve done that really well.
“We turned out some great results of late, it’s been especially pleasing to have kept five clean sheets in a row.
“We’ve got ourselves into a great position, we just need to see the job through and safely into the play-offs now.”
Opponents Fleet Town have had an up and down season, currently sat right in the middle of the table in tenth spot. But a change of manager has brought new life to the club and they have secured some excellent results of their own of late, including a surprise 3-0 win over Bulls’ second-place rivals Knaphill a few weeks ago.
Fleet Town held the Bulls to a 1-1 draw at The Mustard Seed Stadium in Fleet back in February, something Freeman noted on.
“Fleet Town are a good side,” he continued.
“They’ve had some disruption this season but have picked up massively since changing managers. They gave us a good game at their place and I’m sure they’ll be right up for this one as well.”
Jersey’s opponents are, however, after four wins on the bounce, currently recovering from three consecutive losses, including a humbling 4-1 away defeat on Tuesday night against struggling Epsom & Ewell.
The Islanders, on the other hand, boast arguably the most in-form striker in the league at the moment in Lorne Bickley. His two goals against Horley Town took his season tally to 30, with 27 of them coming in the league. He now sits second in the league’s top goalscorer charts and just three goals behind Tooting & Mitcham’s leading man, Shay Brennan.
Freeman added: “When you’ve got a guy like Lorne up front who’s in such great form, it gives everyone a boost.
“He’s an excellent player and there’s been times this season where he’s dipped in and out of that scoring form.
“But it’s massive for us that he’s hit this purple patch at the key stage of the season. His goals have gone a long way to helping us secure a play-off spot.
“As a team, we have been growing in confidence more and more of late, especially with our injury list reducing massively.
“The whole squad is going to be massive come the play-offs and we have two more league games to give guys minutes in the legs and also give them a chance to stake their case for a starting spot in that play-off semi-final.
“The spirits are high in camp and I want to see the guys continue our good momentum tomorrow with another solid performance and hold onto the second-place spot.”
Jersey Bulls against Fleet Town is scheduled for a 4pm start at Springfield Stadium tomorrow.
Jersey Bulls squad to face Fleet Town: Pierce Roche, Fergus Boyle, Harry Curtis, James Querée (c), James Carr, Jay Giles, Luke Campbell, Will Byers, Adam Trotter, Ben Le Rougetel, Jonny Le Quesne, Kamen Nafkha, Luke Watson, Ruben Mendes, Francis Lekimamati, Fraser Barlow, Lorne Bickley, Miguel Carvalho
