Jersey Bulls cruise through in FA Cup opener

Jersey Bulls returned to the FA Cup after opting out of the tournament last season

Jersey Bulls cruised into the preliminary round of the FA Cup after thrashing Erith and Belvedere 5-0 at Springfield.

Miguel Carvalho gave the islanders - who were playing for the first time since winning promotion to the Isthmian League in May - a 13th minute lead as he finished well after good interplay with James Queree.

Lorne Bickley made it 2-0 11 minutes later as he rounded the goalkeeper as thre Bulls began to assert their dominance.

Bickley scored again 10 minutes later as Bulls pounced on a misplaced before working the ball to their centre forward.

The hosts continued to have the better of the game as it wore on and were rewarded with two goals in as many minutes.

First Queree made it 4-0 with 21 minutes to go with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box before Carvalho rifled it in at the near post after breaking through for the fifth.

"I'm really happy with it," Bulls manager Elliot Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.

"We haven't had the best pre-season, but to come out and blow a team away in the first half was really pleasing.

"I'm delighted to be in the next round and fingers crossed we can keep progressing in this competition.

"It means a lot to us and we've made a good start today."