Jersey Bulls concede late in Ashford United draw
Jersey Bulls have lost just one of their last eight matches
- Published
Jersey Bulls conceded an 88th-minute equaliser as they drew 1-1 at Ashford United in Isthmian League South East.
The draw - which extended the islanders' unbeaten run to five games - keeps them in sixth place in the table, one place off the play-off spots.
Ashford had the better of the first-half possession, but it was Bulls who had the chances to take the lead in a goalless opening period.
They could gone ahead in the 10th minute when Lorne Bickley fired into the side netting after some neat inter-play with Toby Ritzema.
The visitors hit the frame of the goal twice 15 minutes later - Luke Campbell's low left-footed effort from a corner struck the post before Jonny Le Quesne hooked a follow-up effort onto the crossbar.
Ashford skipper Gary Lockyer curled an effort narrowly wide three minutes into the second period after good build-up play by the pacey Miquel Scarlett.
But Bulls took the lead 10 minutes later when Bickley thrashed home from a yard after Ashford failed to deal with Jay Giles' curling free-kick from the left.
Having gone behind, the hosts upped the pressure, but it was the Jersey side that almost made it 2-0 with 20 minutes left when substitute Rai Dos Santos picked up a loose pass on the edge of the box and crashed an effort off the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Bulls were grateful to goalkeeper Euan van der Vliet as he saved Barry Fuller's close-range effort after Jersey failed to deal with a cross from the left.
But Ashford were eventually rewarded for their pressure as Lockyer superbly controlled a loose ball in the box before firing home on the turn from close range late on.
"You're always disappointed to concede later on, but I thought that was probably a fair result based on the game," Jersey Bulls manager Elliot Powell told BBC Radio Jersey.
"I think they're one of the best sides that we've played this season, and I thought we were good as well.
"I thought we implemented a slightly different game plan to normal and we were unlucky not to come away with three points at the end, but on the balance of the game, probably a fair result and a good point for us."