Jersey Bulls Face Setback as Goalkeeper Pierce Roche Out for Three Months

Jersey Bulls have been dealt a major early-season blow with goalkeeper Pierce Roche set to miss around three months after breaking his collarbone in their FA Trophy exit.

The 25-year-old suffered the injury during the penalty shootout defeat at Hayes and Yeading United, hurting himself as he dived in vain to keep out the hosts’ third spot-kick from Ross Derham.

Roche stayed on and insisted on finishing the shootout, clearly struggling as he tried to move his left side. By the time Brendan Matthew stepped up to bury the decisive penalty for Hayes, the Bulls keeper was in obvious pain.

Hayes and Yeading won the shootout 4-1 after a 2-2 draw in normal time, knocking the island side out of the competition and leaving them to count the cost of a bruising afternoon.

Roche had started both of Jersey Bulls’ games this season, having made 11 appearances for the club in the 2025-26 campaign and established himself as their first-choice keeper.

Attention now turns to how Bulls cope without him. They are back in action on Tuesday evening, away to Moneyfields in the Isthmian League South Central, and must quickly decide who takes the gloves for a crucial stretch of the season.