Jersey Bulls promotion hopes end after play-off loss

Lorne Bickley's missed penalty in the first half proved costly for Jersey Bulls

Jersey Bulls' promotion hopes are over after they lost 2-1 to AFC Croydon Athletic in the Combined Counties Premier South play-offs.

Croydon took the lead in the semi-final midway through the first half as Michael Phillips headed in Reece Hannah's free kick.

Bulls top-scorer Lorne Bickley missed a 43rd-minute penalty before Luke Campbell levelled in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time as he headed in at the back post.

But Croydon went ahead midway through the second half as a mix-up in defence allowed Richard Pingling to make it 2-1.

Ben Cheklit’s dipping volley went narrowly over for the visitors - who are owned by rapper Stormzy and former Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha - before Francis Lekimamati’s shot was well blocked at the other end as Bulls missed out on a late equaliser.

Bulls finished the season in second place, nine points above fifth-placed Croydon.

"Through the season they've given everything and more that we could ask for, and I thought for the last eight weeks, they've been outstanding," Bulls manager Gary Freeman told BBC Radio Jersey.

He added: "Today was always going to be a tight affair and a game of fine margins.

"Croydon have come into it in a bit of form, we've been in form and I thought the game as a whole we were probably shading it in a tight game of few chances.

"So it's probably come down to those very fine margins and they've probably made less mistakes than us on the day and that's cost us."