“THIS group just keeps going, and going, and going, and going. I’ve never been involved in a game like that before. Incredible.”
Jersey Bulls boss Elliot Powell is seldom a man sucked in by emotion, but even he was somewhat lost for words after witnessing a breathless conclusion to their encounter against Corinthian-Casuals in the nation’s capital, coming out on top, courtesy of two Luke Campbell goals at the death.
With the tie locked at 1-1 and just nine minutes remaining, no one would have predicted what was to unfold.
If you wanted entertaining on a miserable Tuesday night in London, you needed to get to Tolworth. Who knew?
Two goals deep, deep into added on time from Campbell capped a quite remarkable denouement to a game which was, to all intents and purposes, heading for a stalemate.
But, let’s recap. Francis Lekimamati, who was outstanding in the win at Sandhurst last weekend, gave the Bulls the perfect start, sliding home early on.
At that point, thoughts might have turned to another comfortable evening, but Casuals – one of the most famous names in the non-league pyramid – were not about to roll over.
Shea Cascoe-Rogers drew them level before the half-hour mark and, despite a couple of half-chances for Bulls, it was reflective of the action, neither side able to deliver a decisive blow.
Powell’s men lost their way a little either side of the break – a serious looking injury to Jonny Le Quesne a source of significant worry – and when factoring in a sponge of a pitch, this was never going to be aesthetically pleasing.
Campbell had to intervene in his own penalty box as Casuals squeezed the play and the game moved into its final third, but there was still no sign of what was about to unfold.
Reyon Dillon nudged his group ahead six minutes from time, though the lead was short-lived.
Seaney McColgan, introduced from the bench barely a minute earlier, grabbed a leveller and, from there, the gloves came off.
Kieron Cadogan restored the Casuals lead two minutes later and, just as it seemed Bulls were down and out, that wiliest of campaigners in Campbell leapt – quite literally – to his side’s defence.
Two trademark back-post finishes from one of Bulls longest-standing servants left mouths agape around Casuals famous stomping ground.
Powell, though, once he had a chance to breathe, was quickly into business mode.
“I’m disappointed at the manner of some of the goals and yes, it’s not a great pitch, but we expect more of ourselves in that area,” he said.
“What is incredibly satisfying, though, is that we are finding answers to all sorts of different questions.
“You probably want guys like Adam Trotter, James Sunley and Lorne Bickley in your corner tonight, given the conditions, but others have stepped up.
“To concede three goals away from home, and still win – that’s a very good night’s work.
“Even after we’d scored at the end they might have had a decent shout for a penalty, so that shows you what sort of threat we had to deal with late on. I couldn’t be more proud of the unity the lads showed.
“We’re off the back of a short turnaround again, low on numbers, and we’re asking a lot of them.
“It’s a top night, yes. Now we must put things into perspective, and so it’s all about Sheerwater. We keep going.”
Corinthian-Casuals: Sam Nabbard, Jonathon Gjoshe, Hakeem Adelakun (vc), Marcos Dos Santos, Matt Kellett-Smith, Warren Morgan, Ben Cheklit (c), Michael Onovwigun, Kieron Cadogan, Diogo Da Silva, Shea Cascoe-Rogers. Substitutes: Ryan Green (for Morgan 83), Jerson Dos Santos (for Cascoe-Rogers 74), Kiyo Brown (for Cheklit 46), Emerson Pilonetto (for Cadogan 90+1), Reyon Dillon (for Da Silva 81)
Jersey Bulls: Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, James Querée (c), Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Francis Lekimamati, Joe Kilshaw, Rai Dos Santos, Toby Ritzema, Kieran Lester. Substitutes: Sammy Sutcliffe (for Le Quesne 42), Jay Giles (unused), Seaney McColgan (for Kilshaw 86), Karl Hinds (for Lester 60)
