Jersey Bulls come within four minutes of ending Farnham's unbeaten record

Jersey-born Lorne Bickley put Bulls ahead with a low drive through the keeper's legs after just five minutes

Jersey Bulls boss Gary Freeman was philosophical after coming close to ending Farnham's unbeaten season.

Bulls led 2-0 with 11 minutes left against the Combined Counties Southern Premier League leaders, who had won 27 and drawn their other league game.

However Town snatched a point which sealed the title with nine games left after closest rivals Knaphill lost.

"I am obviously a bit disappointed. I thought we were outstanding, I am proud," Freeman told BBC Radio Jersey.

Lorne Bickley put Bulls ahead with his 23rd goal of the season after just five minutes at Springfield, firing low through a crowd after keeper Pat Nash had blocked a shot with his feet.

Jonny Le Quesne made it 2-0 six minutes before the break, latching onto a neat reverse pass from Fraser Barlow and a third from Luke Watson was chalked off for a foul on the keeper early in the second half.

However the visitors piled on the pressure late on and pulled one back 11 minutes from time when Kai Tanner smashed in from an angle after a goalmouth scramble.

It was 2-2 on 86 minutes when Bulls keeper Pierce Roche raced off his line but failed to claim an inswinging cross from Max Meaton which sailed over his head and bounced into the net to spark wild celebrations.

There was still time for Bickley to come close deep into stoppage time but his effort went into the side netting to the dismay of the majority of the crowd of more than 1,100 - the biggest of the day in step five.

"I am proud of the effort they put in to get 2-0 up against a team who just don't concede goals," Freeman added.

"The long balls and the diagonals, it makes you drop, a bit of pressure, we couldn't seem to get out. They weren't creating much but they gambled and got their reward and that's probably why they are champions.

"I am pleased with our players, they are champions for a reason. We knew it was going to be tough but I did fancy we could get something. We're fighting for something different in the play-offs."

Third-placed Bulls have an eight-point cushion with seven games to play in the race for the play-offs and Freeman added: "That's the levels we want, we're starting to hit a bit of form. There's tons to take from that.

"Two of our next three games are against top-six teams. If we can get results it probably sews that up. We've got to go and perform like that."