GARY FREEMAN’S FA Vase dream stayed alive after Jersey Bulls saw off the challenge of Bearsted in the first round at Springfield on Saturday.
Bulls find out who they will face in the second round in the draw today.
Goals from Jake Prince, Lorne Bickley and Adam Trotter helped seal the win despite going down to nine men.
Prince was sent off just before half time for his second bookable offence, while Jonny Le Quesne also saw red for violent conduct with ten minutes of normal time left to play.
Bulls also had to come from a goal down after Phil Headley gave the visitors a first-half lead from a direct free-kick.
It was certainly a lively game but Bulls showed their strength throughout and, after this dominant and stylish performance, Freeman believes they can go far in the competition.
‘I think we’re a good step-five team and we’re one of the strongest [in the FA Vase],’ said Freeman.
‘But every league in England has got three or four very good teams so it depends on the draw as you go on.
‘I think we can do well and I just want to be in it when it gets to the later part next year because it gives us real excitement and there’s that big dream at the end of it. You’ve got to dream a little bit and hope you can stay in it as long as you can.’
That dream is not only winning the competition but also a date at Wembley for the finalists. However, there are still six more rounds to get through before that eventuality.
Nevertheless, Freeman was full of praise for his team’s performance on Saturday, though he cautioned against getting caught up in provocative tactics of opponents.
‘These teams want to wind you up and it is what it is,’ he added.
‘I think with Jake they were two silly tackles, and he’s got to learn from that, and Jonny’s been a bit silly with ten men raising your fist you’re inviting it. They’ve made it hard for us and, the further we go in this competition, we can’t afford to play with nine or ten men.’
With the next round still regionalised into five geographical zones, Jersey Bulls will face another team from the south-east in the next round of the Vase. However, there is no chance of a possible homecoming for ex-Championship striker Brett Pitman after his side Portchester were beaten by Phoenix Sports 3-2, despite the Jerseyman scoring both goals for the Wessex Premier Division club.
