Not having entered the competition last season Jersey returned to it with a trip to Kent. They met Sittingbourne at The Woodstock Stadium, the hosts home since 2013. It was a damp (16C) and windy day with Jersey wearing their new white kit with a light blue and pink diagonal trim.

Sittingbourne play one level above Jersey in the Isthmian Division 1 South-East but by finishing 11^th last season they did not gain the exemption from this round that only went to the top eight in the division. It meant Jersey had one of the hardest draws in the round which consisted of 208 ties in total.

Jersey made three changes to their starting line-up against Stenhousemuir. James Carr, Lorne Bickley and Miguel Carvalho coming in for Francis Lekimamati, Darryl Mvalo and Jake Mulholland respectively. Sittingbourne who had listed 9 triallists in their squad v Gillingham on Tuesday were a large and physical side.

Sittingbourne kicked off attacking the changing room end and within the first minute had an opportunity when a Correy Davidson free kick just outside the right corner of the box only just eluded his team mates at the far post. Four minutes later Davidson “scored” from the left corner of the box with a low diagonal first time shot from a cross field pass from Mitchell May. Unfortunately for him Bruno Tavares had strayed offside in the centre and Stuart Nixon’s flag was promptly raised.

Sittingbourne continued to have the majority of the possession but the better of the chances fell to Jersey. The first of these was in the 25^th minute when a Luke Watson cross from the left deflected off the Brickies captain, Bagusan Graham, to Carvalho rushing in at the far post. The deflection gave the ball a high bounce and Carvalho from five yards out was unable to keep the ball down.

Twelve minutes later Jersey gained their first corner and when it was knocked down Jonny Le Quesne’s pass was charged down by Luke Woodward’s outstretched arms. Luke Campbell stepped up for the spot kick but blasted it over the bar.

Carvalho broke clear before the interval with half-hearted penalty claims made and in added time Jones glanced a header wide of the left post in a similar situation to the one in the opening minute.

The physical battle continued in the second half and it was half an hour before Carr and Jonny Le Quesne carved out a chance for Bickley which went straight to Bobby Mason in the home goal. Sittingbourne’s long ball tactics continued and they also had a half-hearted penalty appeal denied.

With two minutes of “regular” time left Scott fed Bickley whose shot was deflected by Jones but a back-peddling Mason did well to produce a fingertip save and push it over the bar to ensure the sides would have to return to the same venue on Tuesday

Sittingbourne 0, Jersey Bulls 0

Attendance – 214

Programme – 24pp, £2

Sittingbourne – Bobby Mason, Donvieve Jones, Correy Davidson, Luke Woodward, Bagusan Graham (c), Joe Tyrie, Darnell Kithambo, Gabriel Piokowski, Mitchell May, Jake Goodman (wore 18), Bruno Tavares
Substitutes – 12. Casey Nolan-Samuels (not used), 14. Vince Follea (for May 90+6), 15, D’Sean Theobalds (not used), 16. Toch Singh (not used), 17. Alfie Bloomfield (for Kithambo 71), 19. Ayman El Moghaebel (for Tavares 60) 21. (sub GK), Dion Curtis-Henry (not used)

Red & Black Stripes/Black/Red & Black Hoops; GK Light Green/Lime/Lime

Ryan Maxwell (Manager), Che Stadhart (Assistant), Billy McMahon (Coach), Hannah Pring (Physio.)

Jersey Bulls – Euan Van der Vliet, James Queree (c), Jay Giles, Ben Le Rougetel (wore 19), Luke Campbell, Kamen Nafkha, James Carr, Jonny Le Quesne, Lorne Bickley, Luke Watson, Miguel Carvalho
Substitutes – 15. Adam Trotter (for Nafkha 73), 16. Jake Baker-Mulholland (for Carvalho 65), 17. Harry Scott (for Carr 83), 18. Joe Kilshaw (not used), only four substitutes

White with Light Blue & Pink diagonal stripes across the chest/Light Blue with White side panels/White: GK All Dark Green

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

Formations
Sittingbourne (5-2-3 R to L) 1; 2-6-18-5-3; 8-4: 7-9-11
Jersey Bulls (4-3-3 R to L) 1; 2-19-5-3: 8-6-10; 11-9-7

Referee – Matthew Pointer (Benfleet)

Assistants – Stuart Nixon (Basildon) on the dug outs side, Ayden Gillespie (Maidstone) on the covered side.

Caution – Luke Woodward (S) 86

Corners – Sittingbourne (3) 5; Jersey Bulls (2) 3

Player of the Match – Luke Watson