Bulls beat Sevenoaks after hailstorm delays game
Jersey Bulls have lost just twice in the league since winning promotion last season
- Published
Jersey Bulls beat Sevenoaks Town 1-0 in difficult conditions to earn their fourth win in Isthmian League South East.
Bulls' Rai Dos Santos forced a fine 15th-minute save from Jordan Perrin while Jersey goalkeeper Euan van der Vliet had to be alert to tip over James Stone's long-range lob soon after.
Lorne Bickley almost put Bulls in front two minutes into the second period as Dos Santos got on the end of van der Vliet's quickly-taken free-kick, but his cross was just too far in front of Bickley who headed wide on the stretch.
Bulls had another good chance soon after when Miguel Carvalho's cut back evaded three attackers while Dos Santos flashed an effort wide of the near post.
The hosts were grateful to van der Vliet after an hour when James Queree's poor pass was latched onto by Stone but he could not beat the island side's keeper.
Four minutes later the players were forced off the field for around three minutes after a heavy hailstorm made it dangerous.
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On their return it was Bulls who made the breakthrough as substitute Fraser Barlow reacted quickest to fire in from close range after a Dos Santos free kick had been well saved by Perrin after skipping off Springfield's sodden synthetic surface.
The visitors should have been level with 12 minutes to go as Fraser Barlow's loose pass allowed Sevenoaks to break, but Jamie Watling put in a superb block to deny Gil Carvalho who had the goal gaping.
Moments later the impressive Dos Santos should have made it 2-0 but fired James Sunley's low cross from right over the bar from six yards out, while Barlow forced an excellent close-range save from Perrin as he got on the end of Jamie Watling's back-post header.
Bickley twice went close in the final two minutes but failed to convert his chances.
The win continued Bulls' recent good form - they have lost just one of their last five matches with their past four games all against sides in the top three.
It moves them into the top half of the table with games in hand on most of the sides around them.
"We weren't at our best today, we were pretty poor in that first half," Jersey Bulls manager Elliot Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.
"I thought we were a little bit better in the second half, but still not at the level we would like to be or that we set ourselves.
"But the main thing is we found a way and we got across the line.
"It was a frustrating day. Lorne's one at the end is a big chance, Rai has had a good chance.
"We're frustrated with the lack of quality on the ball, but by the same token we've found a way and that's all that matters."