Match Report: Play Off Semi Final

Jersey Bulls 1 Fleet Town 1 (Jersey Bulls Win 3-0 on Penalties)

The delayed Play Off Semi Finals were finally played on Saturday 24th May, the line ups only being confirmed on Wednesday 21st when the points deduction for Redhill had been agreed by the FA, giving the sides only  a few days notice to prepare.

Fleet Town had the better start to the game, with good build up play from Billy Oram, Leo Decabo, Tom Smith and Nick Medcraft produced chances for Chike Kandi and Tane Caubo which were saved or blocked. With both sides not having any competitive action for four weeks, there was an element of rustiness in the play, with Jersey in particular looking off their game.
The game probably should not have gone to a shootout but the hosts failed to take their chances, especially during the first half as Lorne Bickley, Miguel Carvalho and Fraser Barlow all went close, firing wide or high, when they forced an opening, Fleet Town’s build up play was good until they reached the penalty area, when Jersey’s defenders were able to cut out most of the crosses and balls into the box. Fleet were more than holding their own and had a couple of spells where they played Jersey off the park, but both sides kept each other out and the game reached half time still scoreless.

Bulls finally took the lead 13 minutes into the second half when a hopeful long ball from the back was launched in the direction of Fraser Barlow, but Ross Stepney reached the ball first, but could not control his touch and lifted the  ball over Finlay Purcell into his own net. But Fleet upped the pressure as Bulls tried to consolidate their lead and were rewarded when Tom Smith levelled in the 88th minute to send the fixture into a shootout. This was probably the last time that Liam Pestle will be seen on the pitch as Fleet’s club captain is planning to retire from playing.

“I’m a pessimist, so I thought ‘well, we’ve had the worst ending ever to a season, we might as well top it off with a penalty defeat’,”

Jersey Bulls manager Elliott Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.

Fleet Town started the penalty shoot out, but were thwarted by Jersey keeper Euan Van der Vliet, who guessed correct and dived the right way every time to reach all of Fleet’s kicks which were all placed towards the corners of the goal. Paul McKay, Kurtis Guthrie and Francis Lekimamati all scored from the spot with Fleet keeper Finlay Purcell only diving the right way once, he reached the ball but it had been hit too strongly for him to keep it out.

In the end despite the outcome, this was probably the best showing that Fleet have put up against the strong Jersey Bulls outfit that have been at or close to the top of the table for three years.

Fleet added

“The boys and the management are a credit to the club and we can’t thank them enough for their performance today and the whole season.”