Jersey land 'biggest-ever fixture' in FA Cup draw

Jersey are three wins away from reaching the FA Cup first round and face Worthing next

Jersey Bulls have called their FA Cup second qualifying round tie at home to Worthing "absolutely massive" and "the biggest fixture we have ever had".

The sixth-tier Rebels have made the play-offs to reach the National League in each of the past three seasons and are the highest-ranked side Jersey will have faced since their foundation in 2018.

Bulls manager Elliot Powell, who led the island side to promotion to the Isthmian League South East last season, said his players produced their best performance in the FA Cup on Saturday, winning 3-0 at Buckinghamshire club Burnham.

Jack Lumsden struck from inside the box in the 43rd minute before Rai Dos Santos added a spectacular second from inside the centre circle 20 minutes after the break, and Miguel Carvalho converted an 84th-minute penalty.

"It was a 3-0 or 4-0 game at half-time, I felt," Powell told BBC Jersey. "As a joined-up performance, that's as good as we've been this season.

"It was a tight game until Rai's moment of brilliance - and what a goal to round it off for us.

"He'd had a great day and played really well, but just hadn't quite found the back of the net. Then he decides to find it from [distance].

"He occupied the two centre-halves really well, ran in behind all day, and he's been a threat for the last couple of games. He's led the line really well and he's got his reward."

Jersey have drawn their first three league games away to Margate and Merstham and at home to VCD Athletic, but scored 10 times without reply across three FA Cup games, also beating Erith & Belvedere and Fisher at home on their run.

The FA's default date for the tie with Worthing is 13 September at 15:00 BST, although the Bulls said the date and kick-off time will be confirmed after discussions with their opponents.