Page 25 - Raynes Park Vale vs Cobham

Match Report

JERSEY BULLS 1

RAYNES PARK VALE 1

CCL • Saturday 5th March 2022 • Springfield Stadium, St Helier
The South Londoners were in for a rough ride

The CCL doesn’t allow for much
travel so a flight over to Jersey for
a game that The Bulls would have
seen as a must-win at their home
ground and where they have yet to
lose, suggested the South Londoners
were in for a rough ride. And so it Vale manager Josh Gallagher with representatives of Jersey’s Ukrainian community
proved to be. sweet, Downey/Harland-Goddard at the Springfield Stadium there
A minute's applause in support inspired move result in a lob across was no hesitation and Luke Camp-
of Ukraine in the face of attack by the Jersey area that was met with a bell duly accepted the gift and put
another state in contravention of perfectly timed header from Jordan a well-taken spot kick past Bishop
international law was impeccably Gallagher at the Bulls' back post to set the game up for a tense final
observed and all fans will be looking some good attacking chances not that exposed the Jersey defence and 12 minutes. Despite more claims
forward to the same in support of least from Reece Bowers-Williams. left their keeper flapping aimlessly from the TV feed of nudges in the
Palestine, no doubt, in the weeks, A second half penalty appeal by Vale as the ball came back across the face and other alleged bits of foul-
months and years to come. when Jordan Gallagher was brought area and buried itself in the inside play, the South-Londoners survived
And with that we were underway. down in the Bulls' box by the Jersey of the home team's goal. some increasingly desperate Jersey
Controversial challenges keeper was waved away and brought Jersey attack came to nothing attacks and an attempt by Solomon
An uneven but uneventful first half an almost unbelievable yellow to the The second-half continued with to extract a second penalty from
saw breaks and counter attacks Vale player for simulation (or 'bla- a variety of cards and calls and the ref with what appeared to be
from both teams and some lively tant cheating' as the highly partisan with RPV looking for a second goal a rather theatrical dive. The Bulls'
play that saw some controversial TV feed described it!) much to the with which to put the game to bed. player escaped the yellow card that
challenges from both sides that joy of the local fans. Instead the excellent Billy Bishop Jordan Gallagher attracted and,
led, inevitably, to a flurry of cards Game suddenly came alive made sure that any Jersey attack with the Channel Islanders desper-
from the referee who, by and large Following a second-half midfield came to nothing until a confused ately seeking the winning goal in
allowed the game to flow. Despite tussle (or a blatant elbow according melee in the Vale area led to a the closing minutes the whistle blew
the insistence from the TV cover- to the 'commentary') and a wishful Jersey player going down and the and Raynes Park were denied the
age that RPV were 'not looking to off-side appeal this game suddenly referee pointed to the spot. VAR win that that they had come for.
be particularly attacking' RPV saw came alive when a Vale break saw a might have wanted a look but here