AFC Stoneham 0 Jersey Bulls 2

6 October 2026

OK so this really isn’t from the usual playbook.  But Brock had no midweek game for the first time since forever, and we wanted to watch some football.  Quick scour of the reasonable options given our respective locations, and this was the one that appealed the most – Stoneham’s an easy trip, the ground is a bit soulless but they’ve always been very welcoming and, after all, we accompanied them to Wembley for the Vase final last season.  But they’ve found it tough this season at Step 4 – might this evening bring their first win in the Southern League?

A close-fought game for sure, and definitely a yard faster than we’re used to at Step 5.  Players a bit sharper, shape a bit tighter, but the best side from last season’s Wessex Premier didn’t quite have enough on the night against the Jersey Bulls, playing tonight in pale grey.  The visitors deserved their win, even if they had to battle for it.  In Jamie Watling they had the game’s best player, to my eyes, and they always looked just the more likely.  6 minutes, Sammy Henia-Kanau tried to slip a pass through to Lorne Bickley but they were on different wavelengths…  the Purps did have their moments, one fine break from Kyle Tooze but a cross which didn’t go close to a teammate (who hadn’t caught up with the play)… Henia-Kanau again for the Bulls, pace to burn down the left, cutting inside but seeing his near-post effort saved by Ross Casey.  Jersey were using their wingers to great effect, regularly beating the offside trap, and on 28 minutes they capitalised – the impressive Casey Nixon getting to the byline, and then pulling the ball back for James Sunley to score from about 12 yards.  They could have extended their lead – another powerful shot from Henia-Kanau, well saved by Casey; and then again when Bickley drove a shot from 10 yards, excellent block Casey, rebound over the bar.   HT 0-1

Stoneham had some early second-half scares: Jay Giles got in behind, but Casey blocked the shot and Nagle hooked clear, and then Nixon found space for a shot from a tight angle, saved by Casey, rebound from Sunley blocked… and then a lovely move on the break, great flick in midfield sent Henia-Kanau clear but a Jersey striker was adjudged to have blocked one of the defenders who was trying to get back, the whistle blew and in the end Henia-Kanau was booked for playing on long after the whistle.   But then the hosts grew into the game, with Lewis Nagle increasingly influential.  64 minutes, a sublime defence-splitting pass, Tooze beat the keeper to the ball and lofted it... against the bar.  That was as close as they came: Martins saw a late header clip the outside of the post, but the Bulls were mostly comfortable.  Stoneham were probably guilty of taking too much time in possession: they had several chances to break but as soon as someone put their foot on the ball, six Bulls had got back into defensive shape – hugely impressive defensive performance.   Hard work, not just quality on the ball, wins games.  The Purps did give it a proper go in the last ten minutes, throwing the ball forward and winning a few corners, but with ten seconds to go Bickley picked up the ball on the edge of the box, took a touch to make space, and placed the ball beyond Casey for 2-0.  The shot may have taken a deflection, or maybe the keeper was unsighted – it looked quite a soft goal, but it rounded things off for the Bulls.  FT 0-2

So it was quite an enjoyable game – no real jeopardy for random Badgers (but thanks to Stoneham for the usual warm welcome) but we were willing the Purps on and were hoping they’d squeak something from it.  This isn’t far off the team from last season, which shows that the gulf is real.  Jersey were good; also newcomers to the league but seem to have settled into it better.  Good luck to both teams for the rest of the season (and who knows, maybe we'll be back)!