Hinds goal 'unlocked the game' for Jersey Bulls

Jersey Bulls are targeting promotion into the Southern League

Jersey Bulls striker Karl Hinds' brilliant long range goal against Balham was the strike that "unlocked the game for us" said boss Elliot Powell.

Hinds latched on to fellow Bulls striker Lorne Bickley's flicked header to break the deadlock in the 22nd minute, sweetly hitting a strike that sailed over the head of Balham keeper John Ross well outside the penalty area.

"He's probably the only lad in the squad who would try it, probably one of the only lads who could pull it off as well," Powell told BBC Radio Jersey after their 3-0 win.

"He's done it a couple of times now. I've been on the other end of it when he was playing for St. Clement and Grouville but thankfully now he's doing it in a shirt which I'm cheering for.

"It was a great finish, I'm delighted for him and a real moment of quality that unlocked the game for us."

Miguel Carvalho got his own outside of the area - albeit a few yards closer to the box - as he found the bottom right corner with a low driven left footed shot on the edge of the area at 68 minutes, scoring his 20th career goal for the Islanders.

Carvalho was involved again for Jersey's next goal just a few minutes later as the midfielder's inswinging corner found Luke Campbell at the back post who nodded the ball across the face of goal for Toby Ritzema to crash in the host's third.

The Bulls' 21st win of the season means they are third in the Combined Counties Premier South after 27 games on 68 points but have three games in hand compared to league leaders Redhill and second placed AFC Whyteleafe.

"I didn't think we were at our best but it's really important that we got a 3-0 win," added Powell.

"With Redhill dropping points it was an important one. It wasn't pretty at times but we got over the line so it was great."