Jersey travelled to runaway leaders Farnham Town who since being financed by entrepreneur Harry Hugo had a player budget that dwarfs all the other clubs at this level and many above. This being typified by their recent signing of the Kingstonian captain, Mark Waters, due to make his debut tonight. Their league record was 23-0-0 87-12 and they were stated to have set a record with the 22nd win, although that overlooks Jersey’s 27 in the abandoned 2019-20 season, or 31 if you include the following season too. However, they have suffered single goal home defeats in the F.A. Cup (Chesham United 1-2), Combined Counties Cup (Rayners Lane 4-5) and F.A. Vase (Bridgwater United 1-2). The last of these being the most surprising after they were installed as favourites to lift the trophy. They were now aiming to win all 38 league matches but they faced a tricky run of fixtures.

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The pitch passed a 10a.m. inspection after the heavy rain of the last few days had put the match in doubt. This was a mixed blessing for Jersey who had nine players (James Queree, Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, Will Byers, Jay Giles, Calvin Weir, Euan Van der Vliet, Frank Tobin and James Carr) missing as they faced their stiffest task of the season. Teenagers Fergus Boyle and John “J.J.” Lloyd were added to the squad, the latter for his first game of the season. Lorne Bickley was also given the captain’s armband for the first time.

On a mild evening (9C) Jersey kicked off attacking the Town End on a pitch heavily sanded in the middle of the Lower End. Light rain returned briefly for the latter part of the first half but the already heavy pitch did not worsen markedly as a consequence.
Farnham were looking to play long balls forward to their front men whilst Jersey were reliant on finding Bickley or trying to break down the impressive Farnham defence.

There was little goalmouth action as Jersey defended resolutely with Farnham having the majority of the possession. Trotter put a ball across the face but no one was there to apply the coup de grace and Le Quesne hit a superb twenty five yard shot that the ex Everton youth ‘keeper, Patrick Nash, did well to push away.

After the break Waters was introduced for his debut and midway through the halfcame nearest to breaking the deadlock when his rising shot hit the bar after one of the few corners in the game. Jersey were only rarely getting into the Farnham half but in the last ten minutes a couple of questionable decisions from the otherwise well organised referee had a marked effect on the outcome of the match.

With eight minutes left substitute Kai Tanner and Harry Curtis tussled for the ball neat the corner flag with Curtis ending up hitting his head on the hoardings at the side of the pitch. It appeared accidental but Tanner was dismissed and Curtis cautioned. Three minutes later Owen Dean made a break from midfield but tumbled in the area with Fergus Boyle the nearest to him. A spot kick was awarded and the already cautioned Boyle was dismissed. Harry Cooksley went bottom left as usual and only just beat the dive of Piers Roche to maintain Farnham’s 100% record.

Farnham Town 1 (Harry Cooksley penalty 86), Jersey Bulls 0

Attendance – 372

Programme – Yes

Farnham Town (squad numbers) – Patrick Nash, Jack Dean, Max Meaton (26), Joe Jackson (14), Ryan Kinnane (c), Lamar Koroma (19), Owen Dean, Harry Cooksley, Dean Rule (21), Adam Liddle (46), Shamal Edwards
Substitutes – 3. Tom Smith (not used), 4. Mark Waters (for Koroma 54), 9. Charlie Postance (for Rule 79), 13. Lewis Flatman (not used), 20. Kai Tanner (for Edwards 65)

Claret (Sky Blue shoulders)/Claret/Claret; GK Black and Dark Green design/Dark Green/Black and Dark Green wide hoops

Paul Johnson (Manager), Jimmy Hibburt, David Givens and Paul Barry (Coaches), Nathan Kim-Sing (Physio.)

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, John Lloyd, Fergus Boyle, Harry Curtis, Ben Le Rougetel, Luke Watson, Fraser Barlow (wore 19 in second half), Adam Trotter, Lorne Bickley (c), Jonny Le Quesne, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 14. Joe Kilshaw (not used), 15. Ruben Mendes (not used), 16. Francis Lekimamati (for Barlow 68), 19. Sammy Sutcliffe (not used), only four substitutes

White/Sky Blue/White; GK All Yellow

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Richard Hebert (GK Coach)

Formations
Farnham Town (4-4-2 R to L) 1; 2-5-26-14; 7-8-46-19; 11-21
Jersey Bulls (4-2-3-1 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 6-8; 7-10-11; 9

Referee – Nigel Owen (East Molesey)

Assistants – Richard Lines (Alton) on the dug outs side and James Morris (Fleet) on the clubhouse side

Cautions – Dean Rule (FT) 45, Jonny Le Quesne (JB) 45+1, Fraser Barlow (JB) 53, Fergus Boyle (JB) 66, Adam Liddle (FT) 79, Kai Tanner (FT) dismissed 82, Harry Curtis (JB) 82, Fergus Boyle (JB) second caution and dismissed 85

Corners – Farnham Town (1) 2, Jersey Bulls (1) 2

Player of the Match – John Lloyd

Added Time – 1.20 & 3.30 (4.50)