JERSEY BULLS midfielder Adam Trotter says the cause of last year’s late-season blip will not be a concern for other clubs across Combined Counties Premier South.
The completion of a backlog of fixtures contributed to a weary, injury-hit climax to 2021/22, which ultimately cost the Islanders a shot at promotion, but Trotter believes their title rivals are better-placed to adjust if forced to play games in hand in quick succession.
The Bulls reached the halfway stage of the 2022/23 campaign with a 2-0 victory at Fleet Town on Tuesday night – extending their unbeaten run to nine games. They sit third in the table, although they have played two games more than Badshot Lea, who beat Gary Freeman’s men in November.
Trotter was awarded man of the match, after a typically industrious game on both sides of the ball.
Badshot stuck eight past Alton on Tuesday to keep within a point of Jersey, while Raynes Park Vale cruised to a 4-0 win over fellow high-fliers Knaphill to further stake their title credentials.
‘The other teams won’t have the same issues that we had last year,’ said Trotter. ‘We fell away because of a lack of experience in a tough schedule and we didn’t have the depth, which killed us a bit.
‘All the teams on the mainland … if they pick up injuries or players aren’t performing and they’re in a fight for the title, they look around for players, sometimes from two divisions above.
‘It’s very much down to ourselves. We can’t rely on anyone slipping up.’
He added: ‘Judgment around us will come at Badshot away [25 Feb] and Raynes Park [15 Apr], but there will be another couple. It’s a tough schedule and it will be gruelling.’
It was a trademark tight display from Trotter and Co on Tuesday, who for the first time in four games entered half time with a lead, courtesy of top scorer Lorne Bickley.
Despite a scrappy start to the second period, Fleet’s hopes of a revival were shattered after Omreiki Myles was dismissed for a second yellow.
With club captain James Querée unable to play, centre-half partner Luke Campbell took the armband.
His strike from the penalty spot, after 81 minutes, sealed an important away win for his side.
There were also debut minutes for Bulls U23s product Harry Scott, who replaced breakthrough talent Miguel Carvalho on 75 minutes, becoming the latest in a long line of young talent progressing into the first team.
Up next for the Islanders, is a home match against Camberley Town, who the Bulls beat 4-0 on the mainland last November.
