Superb Jersey Bulls thrash AFC Croydon Athletic

Jersey Bulls had their most impressive win of the season as they beat second-placed AFC Croydon Athletic 6-1 in Isthmian League South East.

The victory at Springfield kept the islanders' play-off hopes well and truly alive as they inflicted a heaviest defeat of the campaign on the south London side.

The game was first of three in succession against teams in the play-off places that will go a long way to determining whether the islanders can make the post-season.

Bulls travel to fourth-placed Whyteleafe next week before hosting third-placed Faversham Town seven days later.

The victory in the early kick-off moved Bulls into fifth place, and with it the final play-off position, although the sides around them have games in hand.

"In terms of pure stats, it's probably our biggest win against a top-ranked side that we've played or that we've beaten," manager Elliot Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.

"But I think we're probably at a level now where we need to win in these games at home.

"So yes, it's a really good win, but it's one that we had quiet confidence that we could have got today."

Croydon had the better of the early exchanges as Brandon Pierrick's 16th-minute effort from the edge of the box was well saved by Euan van der Vliet.

But Bulls began to establish themselves as Jonny Le Quesne shot wide before Rai Dos Santos saw an excellent 30th-minute chance well saved by Amadou Tangara after the Bulls winger had showed great strength on the edge of the box.

The islanders took the lead eight minutes later when Adam Trotter's low shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner after the Rams failed to properly clear a long throw.

But Croydon were level six minutes into the second half when the dangerous Pierrick cut in from the left and fed Kadell Daniel who fired in from 15 yards.

But it took Bulls just three minutes to go front again as Dos Santos was put in by Toby Ritzema and the impressive wide man clipped it under the goalkeeper.

Midway through the second half the points were sealed when Ritzema poked in left-footed from six yards after a free kick was not cleared before Miguel Carvalho made it 4-1 a minute later.

The Bulls winger was at the far post to tap in after Lorne Bickley had been sent clear by Trotter's through-ball and his shot was palmed into Carvalho's path.

With 13 minutes left Ritzema put the gloss on the win as he lobbed Tangara from the edge of the box after Bickley had flicked on a van der Vliet clearance.

But the hosts were not done, as skipper James Queree made it 6-1 with an 85th-minute penalty after Fraser Barlow had been fouled by Reece Grant in the box.

The win equalled Bulls' biggest winning margin of the season alongside their 5-0 victory at bottom-of-the-table East Grinstead Town just after Christmas.

"I think that was as good as it's going to be down at Springfield," added Powell.

"I think Croydon chucked the towel in which helped, but we got them to a point where I think we battered them into submission a little bit and then the last 15 minutes was exhibition stuff and it was really good to watch.

"The most important thing is the win, but to have a score line like that obviously helps us make a bit of a statement, which we need ahead of a huge month."