THE Jersey Bulls steam train continues to motor on after another 1-0 win on Tuesday night against Camberley Town, but tomorrow’s test against play-off rivals Knaphill presents another tough challenge.
The ever-dependable Jonny Le Quesne was the hero against Camberley, his first-half strike sealing another important win to help them close the gap to leaders Redhill to just six points.
The midfielder commented: “Camberley was another good win on the road, it wasn’t the prettiest of games for us or fans watching, but at this point of the season it is just about finding ways to get results in difficult conditions.
“We had a game plan, stuck to it and managed to get the reward.
“Tomorrow will be another difficult test. Knaphill are one of our ongoing rivals who always give us a real challenge and have a lot of quality.
“It’s another away game within a short space of time, however we are used to this by now.
“Luckily we have a full strength squad and have the benefits of being able to rotate the team around to keep fresh and maintain a high quality starting 11 with great options to come off the bench.
“It’s the business end of the season now, so all focus is on ourselves and maintaining the levels of performance and aim for another three points. One game at a time.”
Knaphill sit just one place outside the play-offs, but have just one league win from their last six matches.
With current leaders Redhill not playing this weekend, this is another golden opportunity to close the gap.
Bulls assistant manager Adam Lester added: “We’re building back our best momentum at the moment. The feeling in the group is great at the moment and we’re all really excited.
“Tuesday was a really tough game, particularly with the testing pitch conditions.
“It was not a game for the neutral, but we had to dig deep and find a way of winning, which we have consistently done this campaign.
“Knaphill will come at us and try and play, we know this, but we know how we can exploit that.
“If we can find the pockets of space, catch them in transition on the counter-attack then we can get the job done.”
With the top three teams in the division closely bunched, it’s increasingly likely that goal difference will play an important and decisive role come the end of the season.
The Bulls have by far away the best goal difference in the league, having scored 77 goals and conceded an astonishingly low 15 – the fewest in the division.
Powell’s men maintain an outstanding unbeaten away record this season, which looks to tilt this fixture in their favour.
However, anyone from the Bulls set-up will tell you this league is not to be assumed in such a way.
The win over Camberley Town was a hard-fought slog, despite the disparity in league position of the two sides.
Fellow assistant manager Dan Garton said: “It was vital to get the three points from Camberley.
“As mentioned in the pre-match interview, it was always going to be a horrible game on an awful pitch.
“We ground out the three points and that’s all that matters, especially as it was a game in hand on our rivals.
“Whilst Knaphill haven’t had the best season, they’re still dangerous on their day and we expect a tough challenge.
“The squad are in a good shape at the moment. It’s tough to pick a 16 never mind the 11 that start, which is a good problem to have.
“We have strong options from the bench to change games, which we haven’t always had and that’s a massive positive.
“Hopefully we can string together a title-winning run and goal difference won’t matter, but it’s credit to our defensive unit too, they’ve been outstanding with 17 clean sheets to complement the other units.”
Action tomorrow from Brookwood Country Park is set for a 3pm kick-off.
Provisional Jersey Bulls squad to face Knaphill: Euan Van Der Vliet, Harry Curtis, James Querée (c), Luke Campbell, Jay Giles, Fraser Barlow, Luke Watson, Paul McKay, Joe Kilshaw, Toby Ritzema, Kieran Lester, Jonny Le Quesne, Adam Trotter, Rai Dos Santos, Miguel Carvalho, Karl Hinds
Elliot Corbel’s Predicted XI:
Selection for tomorrow’s match was made yesterday evening after fitness tests on a couple of players. However, I shall assume that all members are available for selection.
With Van Der Vliet continuing his sensational season in net, the back line will remain the same for me as the last couple of games. Fraser Barlow at left back, Harry Curtis on the right with the experienced duo of Luke Campbell and skipper James Querée in the middle.
Luke Watson will start in the defensive midfield role, with Joe Kilshaw ahead of him, and next to him could be either Paul McKay, Adam Trotter, Toby Ritzema or Jonny Le Quesne, no easy pick! Assuming fitness is no issue, I will go with Jonny Le Quesne in the middle with Kilshaw, leaving new signing McKay on the bench.
Miguel Carvalho and Toby Ritzema start on the wings for me, if fully fit, with the impressive Karl Hinds leading the line in the absence of Lorne Bickley and leaving Rai Dos Santos on the bench.
This may prove very wrong if fitness tests are now passed but, either way, the strength in depth on the bench will be enormous.
