Jersey Bulls showed steel in Balham win - Powell

Elliot Powell is still unbeaten as Jersey Bulls manager since taking over in the summer from Gary Freeman

Jersey Bulls manager Elliot Powell has praised the "steel" of his side after their 4-1 win at Balham in Combined Counties Premier South.

The islanders got off to the perfect start as they led 2-0 inside the first five minutes thanks to goals from Toby Ritzema and Miguel Carvalho.

Balham's Luke Hedges pulled a goal back before the break but top scorer Lorne Bickley's header restored the two-goal advantage 12 minutes into the second half before he converted a penalty in stoppage time.

The win keeps up Bulls' unbeaten record with three wins and two draws from their opening five games.

The three points sees them move up to eighth place in the early Combined Counties Premier South table having drawn their last two matches.

"It was important to get back to winning ways after two draws where we were quite frustrated that we haven't been able to take all three points," Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.

"There was a moment in the game where we've conceded and gone back to 2-1, but the lads saw it out really well, controlled the game in the second half and the result thankfully was never really in doubt from an hour onwards," he added.

"The lads have got that resilience, got that steel about them, that's why they're unbeaten, that's why they're a good group of players that have won things together for a number of years.

"So we're really happy with the strength and character the guys are showing on a regular basis."