Jersey Bulls earn replay after historic FA Cup tie

Jersey had never played a competitive game against a National League South side before

Jersey Bulls earned an FA Cup replay as they drew 2-2 with National League South side Worthing in one of the biggest games in their history.

The eighth-tier Bulls had never played a side from as high as the sixth tier in a competitive game before but held their own as they earned a second qualifying round replay next week.

Euan van der Vliet superbly save Toby Byron's second-minute header as the islanders dealt with early pressure.

But the hosts took the lead in the 17th minute when James Queree converted a penalty after Rai Dos Santos had been fouled in the area.

Worthing upped the intensity as they searched for an equaliser with the Bulls trying to hit their opponents on the counter-attack as they led at half-time.

Bulls doubled their lead early on the resumption when record goal-scorer Lorne Bickley slotted home after Dos Santos had got past his marker and sent in a cross from the left.

The sixth-tier side pulled a goal back 12 minutes into the second half when Razzaq Coleman De-Graft curled a free-kick into the top-left corner.

And 10 minutes later the semi-professional side drew level against their amateur opponents as Jay Giles turned into his own net after trying to dispossess Temi Babalola.

Coleman De-Graft blazed a good chance over the bar with five minutes to go after linking up well with Babalola, as Jersey held on for a replay.

James Queree's penalty gave Jersey Bulls an early lead

"We're really disappointed with the result, which speaks to how how good the performance was," Bulls manager Elliot Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.

"I thought we were the better side, I think we've gone a goal up and we've had chances on the counter.

"But the game's turned on a really big decision - it's a great strike from the free-kick, let's not take anything away from that, he's still got to put it in, but it's never a foul.

"There were a number of things I wasn't happy with from the officials team in terms of how familiar they were with the opposition when they rocked up; we weren't afforded that luxury.

"Did that make a difference? I don't think so, referees have got good integrity about them, but it doesn't help when decisions seem to go against you."

The Bulls will now face a trip to Sussex on Tuesday as they aim to cause an upset and reach the third qualifying round for the second time in the club's history.

But the result extended Bulls' unbeaten start in both league and cup - something which has impressed Powell.

"We are squeezing everything we can out of these lads," he added. "We've been fantastic all season, that's as good a performance as you're going to see from a Jersey side off the ball, in transition, set-pieces.

"We've dealt with full-time professionals there. These lads go away, play, go back to work. Tuesday, we'll go away, play these lads, and we'll be back in work at 08:30 the next morning.

"These lads will have their feet up living a professional footballer's lifestyle.

"We've gone toe-to-toe with them today. I could not be prouder of the 25 lads we've had at training, the coaching staff.

"It's a fantastic performance on the pitch and it deserved a better result than that."