LOCAL fans have patiently waited for the third game of the new season to see their side at Springfield – but that opportunity comes tomorrow when Elliot Powell and his men welcome Alton.
Life under the new regime has begun well, and, after a sluggish start to the previous campaign, the Islanders would love to make it three wins in succession this time around,
If more motivation was required, victory would take them to the top of the Combined Counties Premier Division South.
However, expectations might need to be tempered somewhat, as both the sides Bulls have beaten thus far occupy the bottom two spaces in the table, but there are early suggestions that this team will be able to trouble the best teams in this flight.
Meanwhile, Alton also enter tomorrow unbeaten, following an opening day draw at Tadley Calleva before a slender 1-0 home victory over Camberley Town.
The men from Hampshire finished seventh last season, some 14 points adrift of Jersey, but they were just one of two teams to leave Springfield with all three points.
“The lads feel a great sense of pride playing in front of our home fans,” said Powell.
“It’s something the entire team and also us as a new management group are really looking forward to.
“Even though the game against Epsom & Ewell wasn’t as comfortable as our first game in terms of the scoreline – we created numerous chances and dominated possession.
“That is the type of front-foot game we want to play and hopefully that style is something which will make us a little bit more entertaining to watch at home this season.”
Both of Jersey’s fixtures so far have been played on grass, but a return home means a return to the artificial turf at Springfield.
“Obviously it brings a slightly different challenge back on the plastic,” continued Powell.
“We just need to ensure that the tempo is there that we have had in those first couple of games. We can’t let that be absorbed by the surface.
“The temptation at times when you go 1-0 up is to slow the game down and rely on being defensively sound.
“We want to get the ball down, play high and keep the ball up the pitch.
“At home, that is certainly the way we want to play. It is well known that teams come here and take it as a bit of a cup final, being an offshore fixture for them, but we will match the physicality and the challenge they will bring, which is vital if we are to be successful again.”
There are no fresh injury concerns from the Islanders off the back of Tuesday’s win, which leaves Powell with the unenviable task of selecting tomorrow’s team.
In terms of personnel Kieran Lester, Rai Dos Santos and Luke Campbell come in to replace Jay Dos Santos, Seaney McColgan and Luke Coutanche, from the group that brought three points back from Tolworth on Tuesday.
Jersey Bulls: Euan Van Der Vliet, Benjamin Le Rougetel, Harry Curtis, James Querée, Luke Campbell, Jonny Le Quesne, Jay Giles, Luke Watson, James Sunley, Joe Kilshaw, Toby Ritzema, Fraser Barlow, Kieran Lester, Miguel Carvalho, Rai Dos Santos, Lorne Bickley
