Before the start of the season, Jersey were most people’s favourites to finish as league champions. This performance gave no reason to doubt these predictions, as the Bulls recorded what was eventually a comfortable victory, although their performance had flaws. For Spurs, it was an unprecedented occasion. It was the first time the team had travelled to a game by air and the crowd was the biggest that had ever watched them - 819, which is likely to exceed Fleet’s total gate from all home games this season. This was by no means a bad performance by the visitors, though inevitably they made mistakes. They are still missing a few first-choice players, but expect to be able to soon field their strongest squad.

Jersey attacked from the outset, and might have gone ahead in the first minute, but one of their strikers missed a good chance from close in. They were dominating the game, finding players in space and forcing Spurs into errors with their very effective pressing game. However, they were unable to break through during the first half-hour with the final pass going astray too often. Then after 31 minutes, the breakthrough came. Left back Jay Giles made a brilliant run through the heart of the Spurs defence, and shot low and powerfully for the corner of the net. Keeper Mark Appleby dived full-length to his right and was able to block the ball, but the division’s leading scorer Karl Hinds tapped the rebound in from close range. Half-time came with no further score, though Jersey were unlucky when a shot from the edge of the box rebounded off the bar.

After the break, Jersey continued to dominate without breaking through, until after 55 minutes, following a corner on the right, home striker Daryl Wilson curled the ball past Appleby and high into the net. As the game continued, the pace of the game slowed, with both sides feeling the effect of the heat. The Bulls, who played another league game the following lunchtime – maintaining their 100% league record and succession of clean sheets with a 1-0 win away to fellow-newcomers Westside - brought on their substitutes and scored twice in the last quarter of an hour. First of all, Kieran Lester headed in a cross and sub Fraser Barlow completed the scoring turning a low cross into the net in stoppage time.

Jersey move back to the top of the table, while Spurs drop to fourth place. Their next game is in the FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round at local rivals Cove (Oak Farm; kick-off 3.00). Coincidentally, the two sides met in the same round at the same venue last season. The winners of the tie will travel to Bletchley in Buckinghamshire to meet Milton Keynes Robins in the next round.

Spurs team: Mark Appleby, Douglas Noble, Liam Jupp, Rob Parrott, Naman Nasir, Matthew Hayter, Lee Bush (sub Max Billingham 81), Jack Church, Andre Smith (sub Jake Chadd 85), Adam Bellmaine (capt), Jake Bellmaine (sub Kye Buckley 80)