Promotion-chasing Jersey Bulls Prove Too Good for City

Published on: 4 Mar, 2024
Updated on: 4 Mar, 2024

The midfield battle in Jersey

Jersey Bulls (2) 2, Guildford City (0) 0

By Barry Underwood

Fittingly for March 2nd it was a spring-like day at St Helier’s Springfield Stadium where a large crowd had gathered to watch the Island side maintain their promotion push.

With players returning from injury Jersey’s side had a strong look about it, and from kick-off they pushed forward with confidence.

Down both flanks the home side looked dangerous, and it was no great surprise when the Bulls took the lead on nine minutes via a low cross from the right. Mac Chisholm could only parry the ball low down and Adam Trotter was on hand to fire the loose ball into the roof of the net.

City were struggling to get their passing game together; too often possession was turned over cheaply.

Guildford did have occasional forays forward. Early on Jack Phillips sent Ben Mitchell into space on the right where he advanced into the penalty area. Under pressure from a defender, he went down but the referee waved away claims for a penalty.

Later Mitchell ran through again from Owen Sims’ pass, but his attempt to lift the ball over the advancing goalkeeper was brilliantly thwarted by Pierce Roche in the home goal.

Jersey still dominated and from another cross an attempt was scooped over the bar, and from a fine Trotter run Lorne Bickley’s piledriver was well saved by Chisholm.

Goalkeeper Mac Chisholm bravely defending the City goal in front of Jersey Bull’s well-populated stand.

On 31 minutes the dam broke again. A fine move on the edge of the box left Adam Trotter in plenty of space to slide the ball home.

Late in the half Jersey twice more came close, and City players and management alike breathed a sigh of relief that the half-time interval had arrived with just a two-goal margin.

Guildford improved significantly in the second period. Their passing was crisper and, albeit with some last-ditch defending, they looked more secure at the back.

In fact, City came mighty close to getting back into the game within minutes of the restart. Ben Mitchell showed strength to shake off a defender and race into the box where his low effort beat Roche but smashed against the inside of the far post and rebounded back out. Fine margins!

Mac Chisholm saved bravely at Lorne Bickley’s feet, and later saved a long-range effort. City had more of the game but couldn’t fashion clear chances on goal.

As the game came towards its close, City substitutes Luca Le Page and Keoindre Ellis-Vassell entered the fray. Both players still play for City U18s and have played for City Juniors since they were seven years of age.

For 17-year-old Le Page it was a poignant moment making his City first-team debut at Jersey’s home of football. Hailing from a Guernsey family he became the third generation Le Page to play (and lose) at the Springfield Stadium!

Team: Mac Chisholm, Lewis Taylor (Shane Johnson 65), Jake Heighes (Leon Dadey 68), Tolu Ajayi- Obe, James Glover, Niall Stillwell, Jack Phillips (James Whiting 65), Owen Sims, Ben Mitchell, Conor Stillwell (Luca Le Page 81), Anthony Ogbanufe (Keoindre Ellis-Vassell 84).

Referee: Peter Georgiou
Attendance – 646

Next match: City vs Balham at 7.30pm, Wednesday, March 6 at Spectrum.

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