I'm not quite sure if this is a good draw or not, says VCD Athletic boss Nick Davis

VCD ATHLETIC manager Nick Davis says his side go to lower-league side Jersey Bulls as the underdogs.

The Vickers fly over to Jersey tomorrow morning to contest a FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie, which kicks off at 12:45pm.

Gary Freeman’s side suffered their only defeat when they went down to a 1-0 defeat at Beckenham Town on the opening day of the season, despite Jason Huntley’s side losing winger Stefan Cox after 32 minutes at Eden Park Avenue.

Jersey Bulls are in fourteenth-place in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South table, having collected five wins from their four games.  However, they are 11 points behind leaders Colliers Wood United, who have played four more games.

VCD Athletic, meanwhile, play one level higher and sit in eighth-place in the Isthmian League South East Division table, having beaten Chichester City 3-0, lost 2-1 at home to Hythe Town but bounced back by claiming a point in a 1-1 draw at Phoenix Sports on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Crayford-based side overcame a tricky FA Cup Preliminary Round tie by beating Raynes Park Vale 3-2, a side that are now in third-place in Jersey Bulls’ division.

“I’m not quite sure really if this is a good draw or not,” said Davis. 

“What it will be will be an experience and we have just been told they have sold out their seating area of 975, which will benefit the club regardless.

“We are currently staying at Gatwick in preparation for the seven o’clock flight we have tomorrow.

“We will be up against it for sure, they are unbeaten in 37 games at home apparently, play on an artificial pitch and the fact of our travel – but I like it that way.

“I’ve watched a few videos and spoke to a couple of people at Beckenham and watched their game and we know we are up against a very good side.

“We go as the underdogs for this but it’s a one-off game and anything can happen.”

Jersey Bulls thrashed Horsham YMCA 10-1 in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round before beating Newhaven 4-0 away in the last round and are playing in the competition for the very first time.

In the league, they bounced back from their defeat to Beckenham by beating Cobham 3-1 and were held to a goal-less draw at Redhill last time out.

Jersey Bulls  v  VCD Athletic
The Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Saturday 4 September 2021
Kick Off 12:45pm
at Springfield Stadium, Janvrin Road, St Helier, Jersey JE2 4LF