The long-awaited Co Co “Classico” against high flying rivals Badshot Lea who won 1-0 at Springfield on Grand National Day seven months ago when Jersey were “not at the races”. This avenged Jersey’s 2-0 win with goals from Luke Campbell and Ruben Mendes at their ground in Wrecclesham last October. The teams eventually finished level on points in fourth and fifth places with Jersey edging ahead on goal difference.

Badshot Lea played on their village Recreation Ground until 2007 when reaching the Hellenic League Premier Division and their facilities were not deemed of a high enough level. They then began a dozen nomadic years sharing at Farnborough, Godalming Town, Ash United and finally Camberley Town. Eventually they managed to acquire the former Farnham R.F.U. ground at Westfield Lane, Wrecclesham. This is to the south-west of Farnham, although Badshot Lea is to the north-east of the town. The ground was developed to meet the ground grading requirements and opened with a friendly against nearby Aldershot Town in August 2019.

Badshot Lea transferred to the Combined Counties League in 2008 where their best finish is the fifth of last season which improved upon their sixth of 2011. They were relegated to Division 1 in 2017 but bounced straight back with a third-place position. Their best run in the F.A. Cup was the third qualifying round in 2012-13, the same as Jersey’s last season. In the F.A. Vase they reached the third round “proper” in 2009-10. That is the same round that Jersey play in next week.

This season they lie second to Raynes Park Vale but with games in hand. They are top on points per games with a 11-1-1 43-10 record with Jersey lying second using that system. Badshot Lea went out at the first or second hurdle in the F.A. Cup, F.A. Vase and Combined Counties League Cup this season, two of them on penalties, but remain in the Aldershot Senior Cup. They have beaten two of the other top sides in Raynes Park Vale and Colliers Wood United but surprisingly only drew at home to strugglers Banstead Athletic and lost their unbeaten league record at Camberley Town a fortnight ago. They bounced back from that defeat to beat A.F.C. Croydon Athletic 6-1 last week after falling behind. Malachi Thomas, who scored the goal that beat Jersey, scored a hat-trick.

Jersey made four changes to the side that met Knaphill last week. Jay Giles, Joe Kilshaw, Francis Lekimamati and Jake Prince coming in for John Lloyd, Ben Le Rougetel, Harrison Moon, and Sammy Henia-Kamau respectively with all those “deposed”, except Lloyd, being on the bench.

Jersey were wearing for the first time since its recent launch their new “third kit” of an orange & brown design. Many spectators in the Bull Pen were wearing French themed outfits. This was in response to the “banter” from Badshot Lea supporters in April that Jersey Bulls were in fact French!

A breezy afternoon greeted the visitors who kicked off attacking the Robin Hood end.

Jersey gained the start they needed when Jake Prince gave them the lead with an impudent back-heeled flick from seven yards out. The move started with Frank Tobin feeding Francis Lekimamati on the right wing. He cut in and beat a couple of men before putting in a low cross that was just behind Prince but it was not to matter as the striker scored with a “Solomonesque” touch.

Five minutes later Jonny Le Quesne had a twenty-yard swerving shot pushed away with a defender just beating Lekimamati to the rebound. Within a minute Badshot had equalised with anything but a “bad shot”. Dean Rule brought down a loose ball on the edge of the centre circle and advanced before unleashing a twenty-five yard shot into to the top left corner which even the home support had to applaud.

On 26 minutes Badshot could have taken the lead. Tane Caubo played a diagonal pass putting Thomas clear in the right channel. A heavy first touch did not help him and from the narrowing angle he scuffed his shot just wide of the left post. Just after the half hour Lorne Bickley fought off two defenders to get in a shot from ten yards but he could not keep it down.

After the interval Frank Tobin earnt a caution for a foul on the grandstand side. From the free-kick Macauley Ford’s curler saw Euan Van der Vliet, under pressure from George Hedley, push the ball away. However, it hit Caubo and rebounded towards the left post where George Frise’s effort was blocked but the ball then fell to George Hedley to force home and give Badshot Lea the lead.

Jersey could have equalised three minutes later when a forty-yard Giles free-kick found Luke Campbell unmarked on the six-yard line but his volley went across the goal rather than towards it much to the relief of the visitors.

With twenty minutes to go Jersey spurned another glorious chance. Adam Trotter put Prince clear in the right channel on the edge of the box. Instead of shooting he seemed to “pass” the ball just wide of the left post as though he expected Bickley to be running on to it.

Jersey brought on Henia-Kamau for Lekimamati and with twelve minutes left wasted another chance when Bickley headed on a corner to James Queree at the far post. However, under pressure from two defenders the Jersey captain could not find the equaliser.

Jersey continued to pile on the pressure by winning a couple more corners. However, from the first of these the ball was cleared to Badshot Lea substitute Harrison Livingstone to run clear down the left channel from his own half before Tobin and Trotter, chasing back, managed to curtail his progress.

Harrison Moon was brought on for Tobin for what turned out to be ten minutes when added time was included but no more chances were to come Jersey’s way. Badshot successfully ran down the clock, including a couple of substitutions, to earn a crucial victory in their quest to win the one automatic promotion spot that is available.

Jersey Bulls 1 (Jake Prince 11), Badshot Lea 2 (Dean Rule 17, George Hedley 58)

Attendance – 894

Programme – £2, 24pp

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Frank Tobin, Jay Giles, James Queree (c), Luke Campbell, Joe Kilshaw, Francis Lekimamati, Adam Trotter, Lorne Bickley, Jonny Le Quesne, Jake Prince

Substitutes – 12. Sammy Sutcliffe (not used), 14, Ben Le Rougetel (not used), 15. Harrison Moon (for Tobin 86), 16. Jack Steel (not used), 17. Sammy Henia-Kamau (for Lekimamati 72)

Orange & Brown design/Navy Blue/White; GK All Luminous Yellow

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

Badshot Lea – Harvey Rackley-Hayes, Harvey Griffiths, Nick Medcraft, Dan Walster, George Hedley, George Frise, Kane Fitzgerald, Macauley Ford (c), Tane Caubo, Malachi Thomas, Dean Rule

Substitutes – 12. Josh Pound (not used), 13. Adam New (for Livingstone 90+3), 14. Josh Eatwell (for Rule 90), 15. James Whiting (for Ford 59), 16. Harrison Livingstone (for Thomas 76)

Yellow & Green design/Green/Yellow & Green hoops; GK Royal Blue

Gavin Smith and David Ford (Joint Managers), Lee Dyson (Coach), Dan Bailey (Coach), Ryan Weeks (GK Coach), Vic Ocansey (Squad Member), Chris Applegarth (Physio.)

Formations

Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1 R to L) 1; 2-4-5-3; 6; 7-8-10-11; 9
Badshot Lea (4-4-2 R to L) 1; 2-5-4-3; 7-6-8-11; 10-9

Referee – Shawn Barclay (Woking)

Assistants – Steven Williams (Hatch End) on the dug outs side and Reece Woodham (Bracknell) on the grandstand side

Cautions – Macauley Ford (BL) 20, Adam Trotter (JB) 35, Frank Tobin (JB) 57, Luke Campbell (JB) 65, Malachi Thomas (BL) 66, Dean Rule (BL) 67

Corners – Jersey Bulls (1) 6, Badshot Lea (2) 5

Player of the Match Award – Jake Prince