Jersey travelled to King George V Field at Tolworth for their return match withCorinthian-Casuals whom they defeated 2-0 at Springfield six weeks ago.

When they visited Jersey they were 9th, before the defeat, but since then have played 9 league matches, 6 of them at home, winning 5 and drawing 2. That has elevated them to 6th with a record of 10-3-9 38-39 having played more league matches than any other club in the division.

With Fraser Barlow still on holiday Jersey welcomed back the newly engaged James Queree in place of James Carr on the left defensive flank. Karl Hinds replaced Jake Prince on the bench with the injured Jay Giles also nominally included although hismain duties revolved around the application of the “magic sponge”.

The hosts included five players that had not played in Jersey. Sami Nabbad, Jonathan Gjoshe, Matt Kellett-Smith, Warren Morgan and Diogo Da Silva all being encountered for the first time. They made for a formidable unit on a pudding of a pitch, sanded in places, after the ravages of “Storm Bert” over the weekend.

The heavy wet pitch was not conducive to Jersey’s passing game and the first 85 minutes mostly saw long balls with Lorne Bickley sorely missed up front, if only for his physical presence. However, the last 12 minutes will live long in the memory.

Jersey got the early break they needed when an opposition pass inside only found Joe Kilshaw who swept the ball on to Francis Lekimamati overlapping on the right.

He advanced and slipped the ball past the advancing Nabbad to put Jersey ahead.

With Jersey’s recent impressive defensive record, it was hoped that might be sufficient but midway through the half Corinthian-Casuals equalised to upset thebalance of power. It came from a Jersey corner that was scrambled off the line.

Da Silva broke away from just outside his own box and was fortunate when Kilshaw lost his footing beforeDa Silva reached the centre circle. That left Queree backpeddling in front of him but he sidestepped the skipper and although Da Silva lost possession Shea Cascoe-Rogers who had been following up was able to lift the ball over the prostrate Euan Van der Vliet and ball trickled into the bottom left corner.

Jersey immediately responded with a Rai Dos Santos break and shot that went just wide of the right post. Before the interval Jonny Le Quesne was lost to injury and was replaced by Sammy Sutcliffe. Corinthian-Casuals also lost their captain Ben Cheklit and he was replaced by Kiyo Brown at the break.

In the second half in a rare Jersey foray a Toby Ritzema flick on saw Kieran Lester’s volley blocked by Nabbad as well as the rebound. Just after the hour Lekimamati had a shot blocked with a flying tackle which Luke Campbell replicated at the other end just as top scorer Keiron Cadogan was just about to pull the “trigger”.

Jersey had another narrow escape with twenty minutes to go when a back post header by Matt Kellett-Smith from a corner eluded the long reach of Van der Vliet but came back off the bar.

The pressure eventually told with five minutes to go as Jersey were hit by another counter attack. Ritzema had a shot charged down, Cadogan flicked the rebound on to Michael Onovwigun and his slide rule pass found substitute Reyon Dillon in the right channel. Dillon took the ball around Van der Vliet and did well to get it on target from a narrowing angle past a couple of covering defenders.

Jersey responded by bringing on young striker Seaney McColgan to replace Kilshaw and within a minute he had brought the scores level. Ritzema wriggled past a tackle on the right and his low cross was met first time by the fresh legs of McColgan who tucked the ball into the bottom tight corner.

Ritzema was unfortunate that a firm tackle on the half way line was not only penalised but “earnt” him a caution. From the resultant free-kick Kellett-Smith headed goalwards and from the resultant melee on the goal line Cadogan back heeled Corinthian-Casuals back into the lead from a yard or so.

“They think it’s all over” is a memorable football phrase from the 1966 World Cup final and the hosts understandably celebrated a “victory” but successful teams usually have a strong spirit and so it proved.

In the third added minute Queree put in a cross from the left which was inadvertently helped on by a defender’s head. This looped it on towards the far post where Campbell put in a trademark header to bring the teams level once more. As Jersey celebrated the referees whistle made them think the goal had been disallowed for some reason, but it was a spat that had developed between Harry Curtis and Nabbad that saw both players cautioned.

Campbell also gained a caution for time wasting as Corinthian-Casuals looked to keep pressing. However, he was to have the last laugh when Jersey gained a free-kick on the left flank. Lekimamati chipped it to the far post where it just eluded Cadogan, and Campbell headed it home, possibly with the help of Cadogan’s right shoulder.

There was still time for Corinthian-Casuals supporters to shout loudly for a penalty

when substitute Jerson Dos Santos was just beaten to the ball by Lekimamati as the hosts launched a final attack before the final whistle sounded on a thrilling finish.

Corinthian-Casuals – Sami Nabbad, 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 – 12. Ryan Green (for Morgan 83), 14. Jerson Dos Santos (for Cascoe-Rogers 74), 15. Kiyo Brown (for Cheklit 46), 16. Emerson Pilonetto (for Cadogan 90+1), 17. Reyon Dillon (for Da Silva 81)

Chocolate & Pink halves/Navy Blue/Navy Blue; GK Light Blue/Light Blue/White

Mu Maan (Manager), Mo Maan (Assistant), Gabriel Odunaike, Richard Blackwell and Josh Lukwata (Coaches), Carly Doyle (Medical)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, Jonny Le Quesne, James Queree (c), Harry Curtis, Luke Campbell, Luke Watson, Francis Lekimamati, Joe Kilshaw, Rai Dos Santos, Toby Ritzema, Kieran Lester
Substitutes – 12. Sammy Sutcliffe (for Le Quesne 42), 14. Seaney McColgan (for Kilshaw 86), 15. Jay Giles (not used), 20. Karl Hinds (for Lester 60), only 4 subs

Red/White/Red: GK All Yellow

Elliot Powell (Manager), Karl Benest (Kit) Jay Giles (Player/Medical)

Formations (R to L)

Corinthian Casuals (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-5-4-3; 6; 11-8-10-7; 9
Jersey Bulls (4-1-4-1) 1; 2-4-5-3; 6; 7-8-10-11; 9

Match Officials – Oliver Hind (Leatherhead), Ashley Carley (Roehampton) dug outs side and Martin Etheridge (Walton on Thames) clubhouse side

Cautions – Jonathon Gjoshe (CC) (pulling) 75, Toby Ritzema (JB) (reckless) 89, Sami Nabbad (CC) (delaying) & Harry Curtis (JB) (aggresive) 90+4, Luke Campbell (JB) (delaying) 90+5, Gabriel Odunaike (CC coach) (dissent) 90+9

Corners – Corinthian-Casuals (4) 9; Jersey Bulls (2) 3

Assists – Joe Kilshaw, Toby Ritzema, James Queree, Toby Ritzema

Player of the Match – Toby Ritzema

Added Time – 4.00 & 7.25 (11.25)