In September Jersey beat A.F.C. Croydon Athletic at Thornton Heath with an added time winner that had led to their joint managers, being “relieved” of their duties the following day. After an unsuccessful approach to one of the nearby Crystal Palace youth coaches they had “poached” Jermaine McGlashan from league rivals Fleet Town as their new manager just before the return match at Springfield in mid-October. Fellow Cheltenham Town“old boy” Chris Zebroski joined as his assistant.

At that point they were lying 16th with a 2-2-4 11-18 record and had just brought in four new players. They won 1-0 at Springfield that day to start their progression up the table to 5th and a play-off place clinched in their penultimate match on 25th April and a final record of 22-4-12 93-55, the second highest scorers in the division.

Jersey made four changes to their starting line-up. Will Byers replaced Fergus Boyle and Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha and Jonny Le Quesne were available again. They replaced Ben Le Rougetel, Ruben Mendes and Miguel Carvalho who were all on the bench along with James Carr and Francis Lekimamati. The sun shone brightly but a south-easterly wind (F3) kept the temperature down to 17C as A.F.C. Croydon Athletickicked off attacking the Robin Hood End in front of a four-figure crowd.

Jersey took the game to the visitors who were not prepared to give the hosts any space by fair means or foul which resulted in five of them in the referee’s notebook by half time. However, the first half chance fell to Croydon skipper Brandon Pierrick who from the left shot just too high and wide. Jersey retaliated with a glancing Lorne Bickley header from a Le Quesne free-kick which Jordan Olds held low down.

Croydon took the lead shortly afterwards when a Reece Hannam free-kick from the left sideline was met by central defender Michael Phillips seven yards out who directed a firm header into the bottom right corner.Jersey had a golden opportunity to restore parity as the half neared its end. Olds mis-controlled a back pass, was robbed by Bickley and then fouled Fraser Barlow on the edge of the area. The ball ran to Bickley who scuffed his shot at an open goal but after consulting his senior assistant the referee awarded a penalty. Bickley took it and placed it bottom right but Olds went the correct way and pulled off a relatively simple save. The equaliser came in added time when Barlow took a free-kick from the left which he lifted to the far post where “birthday boy” Luke Campbell headed into the top right corner.

After the break Bickley had a shot saved before Pierrick had his shot saved by Pierce Roche’s legs after he broke away. Against the run of play a Jersey defensive mix up handed Croydon the winner. A long ball forward to the right edge of the box led to Byers attempting to head back to the advancing Roche who could only parry it and substitute Olalekan Osideko hooked it back from the byline into the penalty area. Fortunately for Croydon it ran to Richard Pingling who planted it past the two covering defenders. Osideko also broke clear only forRoche to keep Jersey in with a chance but Croydon refused to buckle and naturally celebrated wildly come the end.

Jersey Bulls 1 (Luke Campbell 45+5); A.F.C. Croydon Athletic 2 (Michael Phillips 24, Richard Pingling 69)(Lorne Bickley penalty saved 43)

Attendance – 1,025

Programme – 32pp, £3.50

Jersey Bulls – Pierce Roche, James Queree (c), Will Byers, Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, Jonny Le Quesne, Luke Watson, Lorne Bickley, Adam Trotter, Fraser Barlow
Substitutes – 12. Ben Le Rougetel (not used), 15. James Carr (for Byers 75), 16. Francis Lekimamati (for Barlow 75), 17. Miguel Carvalho (for Nafkha 65), 18. Ruben Mendes (for Le Quesne 82)

Red/White/Red; GK All Green

Gary Freeman (Manager), Kevan Nelson (Assistant), Dan Seviour (Coach), Richard Hebert (GK Coach), Steve Martin (Physio.)

A.F.C. Croydon Athletic – Jordan Olds, David Boateng, Reece Hannam, Ben Cheklit, Michael Phillips, Darryl Siaw, Andre Coker, Kervant Serbonij, Richard Pingling, Tom Collins, Pierrick “Brandon Pierrick” Keutcha (c)
Substitutes – 12. Cian McCarthy (for Collins 82), 14. Junior Savane (for Hannam 73), 15. Olalekan Osideko (for Coker 46), 16. Michael Kamara (not used), 17. Adam Ahmed (for Serbonij 61)

Navy Blue (Yellow shoulders)/Navy Blue/Yellow; GK Pink/Green/Green

Jermaine McGlashan (Manager), Chris Zebroski (Assistant), Michael Kamara (Player/Coach), Denis Lawton (Physio.), Olivia Boulton (Assistant Physio.)

Formations
Jersey Bulls (4-2-3-1 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 8-6; 7-10-11; 9
A.F.C. Croydon Athletic (4-4-2 R to L) 1; 2-5-6-3; 7-4-8-11; 9-10

Referee – Nigel C. M. Owen (East Molesey) 47, qualified in 2010 and progressed through the Surrey leagues and now in his 10th year with the Combined Counties. At Springfield once before in April 2022 v Beckenham Town. Also in the middle for our away matches at Tooting Bec (F.A. Vase) in 2021-22, A.F.C. Croydon Athletic in both 2021-22 & 2022-23, Redhill 2022-23 and at Farnham Town in February 2024.

Assistants – Anthony Browne (Tottenham) on the dug outs side on his first Jersey fixture. Qualified in 2021 and in his second Combined Counties season. Nick Phipps (Windsor) who was also on the line when Jerseyhosted Epsom & Ewell in September. His 4th season, initially with the Thames Valley and Berkshire Leagues before joining the Combined Counties League in January 2023.

Cautions – Andre Coker (AFCCA) 8, Kervant Serbonij (AFCCA) 28, Tom Collins (AFCCA) 31, Jordan Olds (AFCCA) 42, Richard Pingling (AFCCA) 45, James Queree (JB) 80

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 2; A.F.C. Croydon Athletic (1) 2

Player of the Match – Adam Trotter

Added Time – 7.55 & 8.00 (15.55)