Jersey Bulls suffer play-off heartbreak with shootout loss
Jersye Bulls went into the game having not been beaten in 2026 [BBC] Jersey Bulls are out of the Isthmian League South East play-offs after losing 4-3 on penalties to AFC Whyteleafe in their semi-final. Joe Kilshaw saw his penalty saved by Slav Huk before Mason Saunders-Henry converted Whyteleafe's final penalty to seal the win. The shootout came after a goalless draw at Springfield in a game which was delayed by around 35 minutes after a floodlight failure seven minutes into the second half.
Whyteleafe will travel to AFC Croydon Athletic on Friday night in the play-off final and the right to play in the Isthmian League Premier Division next season. Croydon - who finished second in the division - beat fifth-placed Sittingbourne 2-0 in their semi-final to secure their place in the final. The floodlight failure affected the goal at the Janvrin Road end of Springfield [BBC] Lorne Bickley had two early half chances for the Bulls in a tense first half as he dragged one effort wide and shot another tamely at Huk.
The hosts thought they had gone ahead shortly before the break as Toby Ritzema side-footed home from the edge of the box, but the referee had already blown for a foul on Miguel Carvalho seconds before. Whyteleafe had their first effort of note four minutes after the interval as Craig Braham-Barrett‘s near post shot was saved after a defensive error shortly before the floodlight delay. The issue affected the Janvrin Road end of the St Helier stadium that was being defended by Whyteleafe at the time.
When play resumed Mannie Mensah had a shot blocked by Jamie Watling as Whyteleafe had the first effort of note after the delay. Both sides went close moments later - Bulls' Luke Watson firing a shot wide before Whyteleafe's Daniel Bennett flashed a low effort just past the home post. Ritzema forced a save from Huk midway though the second half while Kershaney Samuels had a 74th-minute effort deflected over the Bulls' bar by James Queree as Whyteleafe upped the pressure.
Huk made an incredible save three minutes later from Jersey substitute Francis Lekimamati who had blasted Lorne Bickley's cutback goalwards from three yards out -and it proved to be key as neither side found a breakthrough after 90 minutes as the game went straight to penalties. Both sides scored their first two kicks before Lekimamati and Jamie Mascoll missed each side's third effort. James Queree and Jordan Johnson each scored to make it 3-3 after four penalties each before Huk saved Kilshaw's effort with Bulls' fifth penalty before Saunders-Henry won it for the visitors.