Thursday Night Football At Jets

 
Oxhey Jets vs London Samurai Rovers
28th March 2024
Combined Counties Division One
 
 

Good Draw For Jets At Deportivo

FC Deportivo Galicia 1 Oxhey Jets 1
23rd March 2024
Combined Counties Division One

Jets came away with an unexpected draw against FC Deportivo Galicia who have been in excellent form since the start of the year.

Jets had to make eight enforced changes from the midweek win over Bagshot, bringing in some developing youngsters and players returning from long injuries to put together a side.

Both sides looked to play good football on the excellent artifical turf, and it was a fast end to end match.

Jets fell behind in the 14th minute following a defensive lapse and remained a goal down at the break.

The first half did have a major interruption when a freak torrential hailstorm brought the game to a halt as the referee ordered the players to get to safety. Jets did just that as you can see from the crowded dugout with not an inch to spare.

The heavens open up and the hail starts to fall.



The referee did a good job in quickly clearing the pitch for the safety of the players as the hail poured down.



Jets all huddled together in the dugout!

Jets were much improved in the second half following a very instructive team talk. The reward came in the 57th minute when Kleyton De Biazze hunted down the Deportivo keeper who was taking too long on the ball, broke free with the ball and walked it into the net.

Great to see Kleyton De Biazze back in the line-up.



Kleyton De Biazze walks the ball into the net.

It then was a pretty even end to end game with Jets having the edge. In fact, Jets thought they had a late winner when Remell netted but the assistant’s flag went up for offside with even the home supporters saying it was a wrong call.

Remell scores but harshly ruled out for offside.

Still though, an excellent point under the circumstances.

At 40 years old, Roy Byron again marshalled the midfield and looked as young on his feet as the youngsters around him. He was outstanding and fully deserved what is his second Carlsberg Jets Man of the Match of the week.

Runner-up has to be Kleyton De Biazze – an extremely good return, and a goal, after a lengthy layoff.

Match Photo Gallery: –

Jets Battle It Out For 3 Points On The Road

Bagshot 2 Oxhey Jets 3
19th March 2024
Combined Counties Division One

Jets had to make a long, difficult midweek journey to Camberley to play Bagshot and were looking to bounce back after Saturday’s home defeat. Jets had beaten Bagsot 5-1 at the Boundary Stadium just two weeks ago, but this was a much stronger Bagshot side who had seven changes from that previous match.

Jets opened the scoring with a good goal on 14 minutes. Jameel Murshid, making a welcome return to the side, put in a super cross and Andre Lopes was on the mark with a diving header that gave the Bagshot keeper no chance. 1-0 Jets.

Jameel Murshid sends in a super cross


Andre Lopes is first to the cross and scores with a diving header

Olly Pope had to be substituted a moment later due to back problems and Roy Byron came on to marshal the midfield.

Bagshot pushed Jets hard and it needed several strong saves from Lewis Lavin to preserve Jets lead. HT 1-0 Jets.

Remell Stirling replaced James Kimber at half time as Jets looked to play on the front foot. Bagshot, however, continued to apply the pressure at the start of the second half and got their reward with a 54th minute equaliser. 1-1.

The leveller prompted a response from Jets and six minutes later Jets regained the lead. It was a superb individual goal by Dylan Hickman Singh. He attacked down the line, came inside, and finished with a reverse cut shot that zipped past the keeper. 2-1 Jets

Dylan Hickman Singh with a superb solo goal

Jets then made 3 substitutions in the 65th minute, bringing on Harry Brady and two of Jets young Herts County League players, George Rice and Vinny Wade – a real show of commitment from Tom Inch and Dave Barnes in giving opportunities to our young players even though the match was on the line.

Vinny Wade (No16) and George Rice (No15)

Roy Byron continued to marshal the midfield, getting crucial touches in, and stopping Jets getting overrun.

Jets then extended their lead in the 83rd minute. Remell Stirling was the quickest to react in a goalmouth scramble and fired home giving Jets what looked like a winning lead. 3-1 Jets

Remell Stirling makes no mistake and fires Jets into a 3-1 lead.

Bagshot, however, surged back at Jets and pulled the lead back to 3-2. In the final minutes Bagshot pushed us all the way and created chances but Jets held on, saw out the time with some corner flag ball retention, and can be pleased with the win.

Praise for the whole team tonight for their commitment and getting the job done. Our youngsters can be pleased with their first team league debuts on a winning night. Good goals from Andre Lopes, Dylan Hickman Singh and Remell Stirling, and a super assist from Jameel Murshid. The Jets Man of the Match, though, came down to a choice between Roy Byron with a strong midfield performance and Lewis Lavin for several crucial saves, and Roy got the decision for his all round performance.

League Leaders Gain Their Revenge

Oxhey Jets 0 Amersham Town 3
16th March 2024
Combined Counties Division One

Jets fell to the runaway champions-elect at the Boundary but for forty-five minutes Jets’ young, free but inexperienced side can be very proud of their battle.

It was evident from the first minutes that the game was going to be influenced by decisions and jets were no match in the influencing game, that was very evident.

It was an excellent battle. Clearly, the 6-1 defeat in the cup stung Amersham into a revenge attack and they were to be far too strong for Jets.

Early in the second half, a centre half came up to head home following a few minutes of head tennis after Jets had been sloppy in midfield and had to do a rear guard action.

Jets were the busier defensive side by some distance relying heavily on Gk Leven and he rose to the challenge.

The big turning point and nail in Jets hopes was one of the most dreadful decisions I have seen this season when an absolute gem of a cross-pitch ball was played through to Owen Ayres who actually ran past the referee and the defence who were nowhere near him to calmly slot past the keeper, now Jets most forward player ( asks o tight but onside you can see) was Dylan Hickman Singh who despite being many yards from Ayres was flagged offside, can’t hide it horrendous decision you should not see at the pyramid level.

Whilst a dreadful decision the remaining half hour was a one-way road as Jets went into their shells and surrendered to the defeat with two more goals added to the poor goals against week and for the second time in a week a non-competitive second half led to a conclusive defeat.

This could seem harsh given the contract player, and riches against them today, but Jets do need to stabilise their highs and lows and, at the moment, they are a poor side if things go against them but a superb side when buoyant.

Amersham are champions elect, well clear of anything else in the division. The chase now is for who claims the playoff places. February and early March form has made Jets well outsiders, but as the three-per-week starts, who knows what surprises are in store.

Excellent game from Lewis Lavin

The only two possibilities for the Jets Man of the Match award were the excellent saves by GK Lavin or a choice from the defensive line, and the very close nod went to James Kimber.

With a cup final looming Jets players need to do better to claim a place.

.

Jets Run Ends Against A Strong Harpenden

Oxhey Jets 1 Harpenden 4
12th March 2024
St Mary’s Cup Semi-Final

Jets fell to defeat in the St Mary’s Cup semi-final at high-flying Step 5 Harpenden Town in a match where much promise was shown, but the hosts, in the end, were just too good for the inexperienced young Jets team.

Harpenden’s impressive brand-new stadium and artificial grass pitch was a perfect place to show ability and personal skill. Jets in many patches did that but could not match the intensity and desire that the high-flying step 5 side produced, so it was Harpenden who went onto the deserved place in the cup final.

James Barnett 1-0 Jets

Jets started brightly and created well, and kept level with some excellent stops by Lewis Lavin, and it was Jets James Barnett who calmly slotted Jets into the lead.

Jets produced some positive play and were well and truly in the tie, but you have to take your chances, especially when up against stronger sides.

1-1

Harpenden take the lead 2-1

Two goals in a minute swung the game as so often does happen to Jets, but the big disappointment must be that in both goals GK Lewis Lavin made excellent saves, but the rebounds picked up and scored from while Jets central defence failed to respond in their territory.

A chance to level for James Barnett but this goes wide

Big penalty appeal for Jets as Barnett is brought down.

Jets again started the second half well and looked to have a big chance when Barnett was brought down in the box, but unbelievably, no penalty was given, and right on cue, Harpenden increased the lead and effectively killed the match.

Jets never gave up and tried hard to make a comeback.

Deep into stoppage time, Harpenden added the fourth, but the game was long over, and only a man stand by the keeper and man of the match, Lewis Lavin, stopped an absolute landslide.

Big thanks to Harpenden for all the help in the monsoon season doing an on-the-day switch from Lake Oxhey to their magnificent new stadium.

Danny Fowler is Jets February Player Of The Month

February was a mixed month for Jets, with disappointing league results offset by two terrific cup wins over Amersham and Langley. We had five Man of the Match winners – Danny Fowler, James Barnett, James Kimber, Owen Deamer and Owen Ayres. Owen Ayres and Danny Fowler scored three goals, and James Barnett had two goals and an assist.

The Man of the Match award choice came down to two players, Danny Fowler and Owen Ayres. Danny Fowler got the decision because of his consistency throughout the month – he was the Man of the Match against British Airways, scored three goals in the two cup wins, and he was a close runner-up for the Man of the Match in the cup win over Langley.

Congratulations to Danny, well done!

 

Spirited Comeback From Jets

Molesey 2 Oxhey Jets 2
9th March 2024
Combined Counties Division One

Jets had to show a different side to their game at playoff hopefuls Molesey, having to come back from a 2-0 deficit at halftime against a team that had only lost at home once all season.

1-0 Molesey 4 mins

Unfortunately, Jets’ nemesis this season are personal errors, personal out-of-character blunders that put the side on the back foot, yesterday was no exception just four minutes in a dreadful cross-field ball was easily intercepted by the lively centre forward to slot. 1-0 (4 mins).

2-0 Molesey 36 mins

On 36 minutes the deficit doubled, again a mistake rather than a built goal as a defender was caught in possession in his own area and the same ending, slotting past Lewis Lavin, the Jets defence having two big assists.

Strangely at two up the home side was edgy with Jets amount of possession, and they went down to ten men, due to a sin bin offence, for the last few minutes of the half.

A superb positive team talk by the staff set a confident outlook in the second half, even at two down against such a useful side.

Jets from the start attacked with new belief. The only setback was a yellow for Chippy, but the home side hung onto the advantage while running out the sin bin ten.

It was, however, not long after going back to the eleven that Jets struck.
Craig Stephen-Lett and Danny Fowler were combining and piercing the home defence, then the target James Barnett went away clear, but although going slightly wide the defender charged him rugby style straight in his back and the referee went straight to the spot.

Rugby style foul on Barnett.

 

A well taken penalty from Owen Ayres brings the score back to 2-1

 

It had to be right in the corner or their excellent keeper would have saved it.

Owen Ayres took over as the leading goal scorer, slotting well despite the excellent keeper going the correct way 2-1 ( 56 min).

Somehow the Molesey keeper saved this bullet header from James Barnett.

Jets were now in attack-attack-attack mode, and a couple of defender yellows were for trying to peg Jets back. The leveller looked done when a peach from Danny Fowler was met powerfully by Barnett and we are still trying to work out how the keeper saved high at the bar post join, an incredible stop.

Andre Lopes shoots for goal.

 

Right in the top corner from Lopes and its 2-2.

Then the moment for the equaliser. It was a stunner from Andre Lopes who drew back the foot after a Barnett layoff to bend a rocket into the top corner from wide outside the area for a fantastic goal. 2-2 (80 mins).

Jets absolutely bundled forward, but a few chances were fluffed with scuff shots when surely composure would win the match. In a rare attack, frustration showed for Molesey with a straight red for kicking Chippy and with that, and stoppage time to play, the hosts retreated and held on for the point.

It was an incredibly disciplined and excellent point for Jets, a long trip but worth it for an exciting and thrilling battle between the teams.

Man of the match was given to the skipper Owen Deamer for his cool leadership in the middle, driving jets forward. Big congratulations to the whole team for the never-give-up drive all the match.

Match Photo Gallery: –

Assured Performance from Jets

Oxhey Jets 5 Bagshot 1
5th March 2024
Combined Counties Division One

Jets hosted Bagshot tonight in a fixture that had been twice postponed in the last few weeks due to the rain we had in February. Jets though were ready and looked well up for the game and put in an assured performance.

GOAL: OXHEY JETS 1-0 Bagshot – Dylan Hickman Singh (15′)

Dylan Hickman Singh opened the scoring in the 15th minute, a defence-splitting pass by James Barnett straight through to Dylan who confidently rounded the keeper and slotted into an empty net.

GOAL: OXHEY JETS 2-0 Bagshot – Owen Ayres (31′)

 

GOAL: OXHEY JETS 2-0 Bagshot – Owen Ayres (31′)

Owen Ayres made it 2-0 in the 31st minute. This time it was Danny Fowler who played in Dylan down the left. Dylan breezed past his man with ease and dragged it back to Owen Ayres who makes no mistake in shooting past the keeper.

GOAL: OXHEY JETS 3-0 Bagshot – Dylan Hickman Singh (37′)

Six minutes later and it was 3-0. The ball falls to Dylan Hickman-Singh on the edge of the box and he smashes it past the keeper.

Jets made changes at half-time, but looking to maintain the momentum and continue to attack.

GOAL: OXHEY JETS 4-0 Bagshot – Dylan Hickman Singh (63′)

In the 63rd minute, it was that man Dylan Hickman Singh again who stepped in to get his hat-trick. Andre Lopes had done some great work playing Remell Stirling through. Remell tried to dink the keeper, but the keeper parried it, but only towards Dylan who happily got his third goal on the night.

GOAL: OXHEY JETS 5-0 Bagshot – Andre Lopes (67′)

 

Andre Lopes runs away in celebration

 

Chippy Brady celebrates with Andre Lopes

Jets added a fifth four minutes later. Dylan was there again to get his 2nd assist of the night, slipping in Andre Lopes who fired calmly past the Bagshot keeper.

GOAL: Oxhey Jets 5-1 BAGSHOT – Hugh Harrison Lang (84′)

To their credit, Bagshot never stopped trying and Hugh Harrison Lang denied Jets a clean sheet with his 84th-minute goal.

Roy Byron adding experience to this young Jets side.

A strong team performance and a special mention for Roy Byron who made a super Jets debut, but with three goals and two assists there was only one contender for Jets Man of the Match, Dylan Hickman Singh.

Match Photo Gallery: –

 

Jets Back To Their Best

Oxhey Jets 3 Langley 0
27th February 2024
Esoteric Recordings Division One Challenge Cup 2nd Round

What is it about Jets and Tuesday night cup games at the Boundary Stadium? Yet again, they put on one of their performances of the season to emphatically win this Esoteric Recordings Division One Challenge Cup tie against Langley 3-0.

1-0 Danny Fowler from a tight angle

Fullback Danny Fowler set the match alight on 15 minutes with a super solo goal to open the scoring. Danny ran with the ball down the byline before cutting in to shoot, the keeper tried to clear but Danny pressurised him, nicked the ball from him and slotted home from a very tight angle.

Danny Fowler (No 3) fires a bullet shot for 2-0

On 32 minutes Danny followed up and added a second. Quick thinking from Lewis Lavin in goal to release Danny Fowler who plays Dylan Hickman Singh down the line. Dylan cuts back to Danny who strikes a bullet past the Langley keeper to secure his brace.

Jets continued to play at their best level, so different from Saturday’s poor effort and gave Langley little opportunity to get back into the game. Skipper Owen Deamer was outstanding in midfield, taking control of the match.

Harry Brady 3-0

To finish things off, Harry Brady added a third goal for Jets in the 93rd minute. Remell Stirling did some great work on the edge of the box before finding Centre Back Harry Brady making a run into the box to slot confidently past the keeper.

A strong team performance all around, and the main Man of the Match candidates were Danny Fowler and Owen Deamer. Owen Deamer won the vote for his leadership and control of the midfield.

Match Photo Gallery:

 

Jets Disappoint In The Mud

Spartans Youth 1 Oxhey Jets 1
24th February 2024
Combined Counties Division One

Jets grabbed a deserved point at Northwood v Spartan Youth in a far-from-acceptable performance by the bulk of the Jets side.

Lacklustre is an understatement as chance after chance, 1:1 after 1:1 was opened up and missed or denied, although massive credit must go to the Spartan Goalkeeper on some excellent saves to halt Jets’ advancement in the match.

The dreadful playing surface was no excuse. Jets staff wanted to play it and the Spartans didn’t but I reckon the big loser on the day was the Northwood FC groundsman who has a hell of a job on his hands doing the repairs.

With a young side, you will get highs and lows and the last few games have demonstrated that, the stunning performances versus Amersham to a shoulder-shrugging half-hearted effort in this one. The Amersham result has raised the expectations of management, players and fans, and a makes a fall to this level all the more disappointing.

Yet again a dreadful defensive mistake costs Jets the lead. At the moment goals against are gifts that keep on coming and they are costing Jets badly.

In a match featuring numerous 1:1s not taken, and chances put out of the ground, the finger cannot only be pointed at the defensive mistakes. There were too many 4/10s to outbalance the few to escape the wrath of the management on a poor day at work.

James Barnett fires home Jets equaliser

James Barnett shot a thunderous equaliser for a deserved point and the Man of the Match went to the only nomination, James Kimber, who probably stopped more damage when Jets sloppily set Spartans up.

The hosts, although worried about relegation, do look far enough away from trouble in our opinion and they will see this as a good point, Jets won’t as the ups and downs are too extreme.

The cup match is on Tuesday vs. high-flying Langley. Let’s hope the right Jets turn up !!

Jets Shutdown by BA

Oxhey Jets 1 British Airways 3
17th February 2024
Combined Counties Division One

British Airways Strike

 

Danny Fowler goes close in early Jets pressure

 

A lively start from Dylan

 

The bar denies James Barnett

Match Photo Gallery: –

 

 

Oxhey Jets vs British Airways
17th February 2024 3.00pm

Adrian Flux Insurance January Player Of The Month

With only three matches played in January, we had a clear winner of the Adrian Flux Insurance Player of the Month. Although three different players, James Barnett, Craig Stephen-Lett and Dylan Hickman Singh, won Man of the Match awards, it was Dylan Hickman Singh who featured prominently in all three games and is our January winner.

Against Brook House Dylan provided perfect assists for Jets’ first two goals. In the away game to title-chasing Berks County he was a constant threat and one of the game’s top performers. Then in the win over Penn and Tylers Green, he was a standout Man of the Match with a stunning opening goal, the assist for the second goal, and an all-around top-drawer performance.

Congratulations Dylan on being our January Player of the Month.

 

Jets Smash Six Past League Leaders

Oxhey Jets 6 (Six) Amersham Town 1
7th February 2024
St Marys Cup Quarter-Final

Oxhey Jets ran riot over a full strength Amersham team, currently runaway leaders of the Combined Counties Division One, in this St Marys Cup Quarter Final at the Boundary Stadium.

Who better to sum up a performance than a message received from club captain Colin Jenkins as he nears 900 appearances for the club 

“That’s a great win tonight, very well deserved and possibly the best I have seen the first team play in the last 10 years” 

High praise indeed considering Amersham Town’s top of the league position.

Familiar faces galore returned to the Boundary for the St Mary’s Cup tie in dreadful driving rain. Amersham beat Jets earlier this season in the league with former Jet Jake Tabor, the league-leading goal scorer, tapping in the winner (2-1) which he described in a recent interview:

 As the league is approaching 50% completion, what has been your most memorable moment of the season so far?

Beating rivals Oxhey Jets at home scoring a jammy tap in” 

So we were hoping to also give him his worst moments so far last night and we are pretty sure we did !! 

Jets are young, the management supports flowing football and although over 30 points behind the visitors on their unstoppable promotion drive they will not be fazed into changing their philosophies of blooding a young team to take into the next campaign, and I don’t think I’ve seen Jets in better shape than the present squad, echoing the club captain’s views. 

The tactics were changed like modern coaches like to do and in heavy rain Jets, like ducks to water, took to the system immediately after a few minutes of settling down when GK Lewis Lavin was in command. Jets swung the game and went into the attack and it took a very gymnastic header by no10 Owen Ayres who had turned down a lucrative move to the visitors recently, although he managed to hurt himself on the landing 1-0 (22 minutes) 

Owen Ayres 1-0

Jets really put a shift in and although just one goal at the break, it brought Tom Inch to tell the team, that no matter what happens now that display is my proudest moment in management.

Could a young Jets side keep up the intensity against such an experienced side, bursting with players capable of well above step 6 football?

Danny Fowler 2-0

Left-back Danny Fowler doubled Jets’ lead with a driving shot, his first competitive goal for Jets (51 minutes) and Jets went into after-burner mode handing out an awesome display of attacking football.

Owen Ayres 3-0

Owen Ayes added his second (66 mins) and, not to be outdone by Fowler, right back Archie Sykes banged home Jets fourth after an excellent save denied James Barnett (74 min).

Archie Sykes 4-0

The normally deadly Dylan Hickman Singh was twice denied on 1:1s and then Harley Sells pulled a goal back for the visitors (83 min) 

Would it be a late comeback, they’re more than capable for sure having scored 110 goals in 28 league games this season 

Jets threw their sub-bench on too but again incredible trust by the managers with youngsters such as Cameron Sharpe, another son of a loyal vets player ( Phil) coming through the ranks and Vinny Wade were amongst the changes both just 18 and without senior football experience.

Owen Ayres completes his hat-trick 5-1

It took Jets just a minute to answer the questions as in a twist of nostalgia on a date very personal to the number 10 shirt it was Owen Ayres, wearing that number 10 shirt that added his hat-trick to make it 5-1 (84 min).

A defence-splitting ball from Andre Lopes puts Remell through.


Remell Stirling 6-1

Jets were not finished and Andre Lopes who was rested with knee problems supplied a defence-cutting ball to another sub Remel Stirling to slot number 6 (87 min) in a display of how important a role the sub bench can play with all five playing a big part, to the end Jets attacked and should have increased the scoreline.

Man of the match went clearly to the hat trick hero Owen Ayres who was on the night unstoppable but so many incredible performances also from a team display not seen for years, but not wanting to pop the bubble the staff issued a warning “But” …. You’ve set the bar now this is your new baseline!! 

Strong starting line-ups from both teams:

Jets in the semi-final will play the winners of Harpenden Town and Chipperfield (being played Tuesday 13 Feb) at the Boundary. 

Match Photo Gallery: –

Last Kick Defeat Tough On Jets

Oxhey Jets 0 Windsor 1
3rd February 2024
Combined Counties Division One

Jets suffered a last kick of the match defeat at home to Windsor who, under their new manager for the first time, outworked Jets in the second half and pounced on an error in the final seconds to grab two extra points.

In a match excellently refereed the two teams put on a real battle with Jets edging in the first half and Windsor in the second.

Competitive midfield Performance from Olly Pope

In the first half whilst never on top of their game Jets were struggling to find their own players while defensively looking solid, up front James Barnett was excellent, but missing the outstanding Hickman Singh supply and energy.

Jets looked leggy on the day and every player has the answer to where they went wrong but too many were under par to expect to win at this level.

Barnett’s header hits the bar and bounces down

Did it cross the line?

First half there were chances the goal looked in for a Barnett header maybe the underside of the bar denied and goal line technology needed, but not given then a couple of chances put just wide left the contest stalemate at the break.

A few things were ironed out but no real improvement from Jets against a Windsor side who were working their socks off to impress the new manager, they were totally outworking the centre of the park leaving chances limited.

High praise for Vinny Wade on his debut from manager and team mates

Changes were made and an excellent debut for Vinny Wade that post-match brought high praise from the staff and his teammates was a bright spot.

Last Jets chance but Craig’s header goes over

Vinny himself fired just wide and twice from free kicks from Olly Pope good aerial chances were on offer but over, then deep in stoppage time a sloppy mistake left Windsor with one last chance that they took, and the final whistle on the restart ensured no chance to put right. Deserved ?? On the whole game, a draw was fair, for Jets were too careless on the ball but chances a plenty on offer more so first period, but I admit I was hoping for the whistle more than the visitors in the end. Learn from it is the message !!

Another good match from Skipper Ben Delicata

The man of the match was easily James Barnett who literally gave blood for the team today with a nosebleed throughout that had four changes of his shirt but never flinched or stopped.

Oxhey Jets vs Windsor
3rd February 2024 3.00pm

 

Jets Enjoy A Double

Oxhey Jets 2 Penn & Tyler 0
27th January 2024
Combined Counties Division One

A league table-splitting win for Jets, repeating the same score as the away match earlier in the season with a 2-0 home win over a good Penn and Tyler team.

Early pressure from the visitors kept Jets on their toes.

Jets set-up didn’t work in the opening spell and Jets were a long way on the defensive against a very lively P&T team, and the possession percentage was stacked against Jets, so this period the back line was incredibly important but, on the counter, James Barnett was having an exceptional match and the ever dangerous Dylan Hickman Singh joined by Lopes and Stirling kept the Penn defence on red alert.

Dylan’s shot beats the outstretched keeper and drops into the net.

1-0 Dylan

Jets opened the scoring on 25 minutes when superb play by Andre Lopes found Stirling in the box and an exquisite back heel killed everyone and Dylan Hickman Singh hit a powerful shot past the full-length outstretched keeper.

It remained a close-to-call game with all teams including the officials contributing to a really good display on a cold afternoon.

Half time the staff held their hands up to the set-up not working and revamped and Jets never looked back. From the kick-off Jets went on the attack and threatened the P&T goal, but no way did Jets have it all their own way and chances from the visitors were made but gladly squandered to Jets relief.

Two big penalty appeals firstly a weak one on Dylan, then a bolt on off the ball as Skipper Ben Delicata was taken down but not seen except by an assistant who was told not to give fouls !!

Owen’s chip beats the keeper and heads for goal.

Jets appeal that it crossed the goal line …

… and the linesman says YES! 2-0

But minutes later the same assistant became the focus of attention as Dylan laid back from the bye line for Owen Ayres to semi-chip the keeper towards the net, defenders hunted down the ball and the hoof clearance was met by instant reaction screams on the line by Dylan and Jets players in the area for the goal, defenders of course immediately denying but this was the decision the assistant was allowed to give and stood flag aloft waving indicating goal and he was right on the line as Dylan had ran the ball along the baseline. 2-0 ( 66 mins)

Owen Deamer made a big impact on the game coming on as a sub….

… as did Olly Pope.

The big turning point for Jets was the substitutions as the staff called them just right as Jets tired and faded. On came Owen Deamer and Olly Pope who completely swung the game Jets way from midfield and along with that came the killer goal.

Lewis Putman also returned to boost Jets forward power.

So the first double for Jets of the season and a split in the two halves of the table as Jets just chase the play-off positions, that’s a hope but the improvements on and off the pitch are coming along leaps and bounds in the club rebuild.

Awesome performance from Ben Delicata.

Excellent first-45 from December Player-of-the-month James Barnett.

Man of the match was a minefield to pick, the display was an excellent team performance.
Ben Delicata had a top-draw defensive performance, Barnett’s first 45 excellent, and after a quiet start birthday boy Danny Long Ball was giving superb overlapping options. it was a mixed bag, but a head above contender pulling in front was Dylan Hickman Singh, a stunning goal and assist and top draw performance.

 
 
 

There was a different winner of the Man of the Match in each game which brought Danny Fowler, Olly Pope, Harry Brady and Andre Lopes into contention. Goalscoring and good match comments from Archie James (5 goals), Owen Ayres (3 goals) and Dylan Hickman-Singh (2 goals) added more names to the contenders list. Add to that strong performances from the Jets defence and Lewis Lavin in goal and it was a widely competed month.

Top of the list, though, goes to James Barnett. James was the Man of the Match in the strong 5-0 win at London Colney with a goal and two assists in what was described as a ‘head and shoulders’ performance. Another goal at Windsor and two more assists during the month added to his total and made him a deserved Adrian Flux Insurance Player Of the Month for December.

Congratulations James.

 

Jets Push Berks County To The Limit

Berks County 1 Oxhey Jets 0
13th January 2024
Combined Counties Division One

Jets prepare to go out with a new gameplan to challenge promotion chasing Berks County

“A professional performance against an excellent side, I feel we deserved more” was the comment posted by Tom Inch, and “absolutely gutted for the lads, after a proper performance” was Dave Barnes’s reaction, such was the respect for the team’s fantastic performance against Berks County at Ascot FC Racecourse Ground.

Great work from our coach/management team in preparing for the match.

For me, the quality of our managers and coach comes to the front here as a special training session changing formation and all tactics were done on Thursday to try to stem the two previous results this season against Berks County. 9-1 at their place in the cup and 0-4 at home. A brave gamble to reshuffle the line-up and hope the lads can take on board all the new requirements.

Respects for Daniel Dunton pre-match

First, there was a moment to pay our respects to Daniel Dunton who sadly decided to leave this life on Thursday, a reminder that life can turn so suddenly.

Berks County are a class side and have a complete package and it’s hard to see how they can be trailing runaway leaders Amersham by so many points, so our task today was a mountain.

Jets took to the new role superbly, battling and defending to the man as Berks County streamed forward led by excellent wingers opening up the play on the zippy Astro.

Great work-rate from Andre Lopes

Jets had to work hard, and people playing different roles like Andre Lopes had to put in an incredible shift springing Jets from defence to attack, ensuring the front line was not isolated.

Strong first start from Toju James

The whole back line was incredible. Ben Delicata, taking the skipper’s role and having one of his best games in a Jets shirt, put in an excellent performance. Toju James with his first start alongside Nugs was solid, both of them. Jets were under more pressure relying on breaks and when they were breached GK Lewis Lavin was on top form.

One of several excellent saves from Lewis Lavin

0-0 at the break and a tremendous effort.

Dylan was a constant threat

Owen’s cross goal shot goes wide

Now the shock for the hosts would be the more attacking intents of the second half. Dylan Hickman-Singh was a constant threat tearing at their full backs and the glorious chance fell to Owen Ayres to grab the lead but his shot was wide.

Berks County make the breakthrough 1-0

It was more end-to-end in the second half with the hosts expecting to break the deadlock and the visitors trying to spoil the party. Then came a big turning point that settled the match. James Barnett hesitated and went for goal when players were screaming for the layback, the intercept was made and distributed at speed down the wing. Jets full back committed and was passed and the layback was exquisitely met and hammered home for what was to be the winner (63 mins).

Jets pushed with everything they had to get the equaliser

Jets used their bench to replace tired legs and everybody played their part as now Jets went on the ascendancy and pressed County, I’m sure Jets were pushing them unexpectedly and to their defensive limits. It’s a compliment to us that their whole bench was pleading with the referee for the full-time whistle as Jets had them pinned in the final minutes for what would have been a hugely deserved reward of a point for Jets’ endeavour.

In fairness, the spirit of the game was excellent, and the officials were equally as good. Berks glad for the final whistle, Jets gutted.

Jets Man of the Match was almost impossible to pick, so many top performers. Andre, Ben, Lewis and Dylan were all spoken about but the final nod went to Craig, his calmness scares the life out of us at times but absolute class performer.

Final comment from me. Class performance and superb effort by all the management and coach to almost pull this one off, they deserve as much credit as the players today.

Match Photo Gallery: –

.

Jets Self Destruct Then Salvage A Point

Oxhey Jets 3 Brook House 3
6th January 2024
Combined Counties Division One

Another Jekyll and Hyde performance by Jets on a very wet pitch, not easily playable.

James Barnett gives Jets a great early start with this opening goal.

Jets got off to a superb start win. Andre Lopes played a superb cutting ball for Dylan Hickman Singh to take on the full-back and square the perfect ball for James Bennett to steer home 1-0 Jets just four minutes played but slower than last week’s 15-second goal confirmed on the VEO clock.

Lewis Lavin had to be alert to keep Jets ahead

Jets stayed on top possession-wise, but it was the visitors with many chances that on the day poor defending meant that Lewis Lavin was called upon more than once to deny and Brookhouse for sure would be rueing those misses later in the game.

Smart finish from James Barnett to make it 2-0

James Barnett (far left) looks on as the Brook House keeper can’t get to his shot.

It was again Dylan Hickman Singh who bamboozled the defender to cut back another perfect ball and again James Barnett was on hand to steer home 2-0 ( 31 min)

Jets were not at their best, with good attacking play in patches but easing away from the visitors thanks to good finishing and some luck on the visitor’s lack of that with chances created.

The pitch was cutting up badly on one side and heavy but the same for both sides and 2-0 was held to the break.

Brook House made three substitutions at the restart and it changed the game, with a goal just two minutes later by Harrison Woods.

Brook House get off to a flyer at the start of the second half

Jets were in full retreat and being outworked, thought and played the visitors were all over them and streaming in at the Jets’ goal, unfortunately, the referee became a bit card-happy both ways and the fear of something more happening was a worry as he became more over-reactive, luckily nothing escalated into any colour change of the cards.

Brook House pull level from the penalty spot.

Jets were furious with a penalty awarded for hand ball a long delay as the ball was finally cleared but the referee suddenly agreed with the loud appeals and went to the spot and Jacob Adeyemi comfortably converted 2-2 (63 min)

Jets were in disarray, a scramble on the line and Brook House took a deserved lead.

Jets were clearly taken back and fell apart immediately a dropping corner caused chaos and there was a long scramble on the line before the ball finally was given as over the line by Harrison Woods and Brook House had deservedly swung the game on its head 2-3 (65min)

Even now Jets did not really respond and all looked lost we just like last week lost our way in the second half and neither substitutes nor instruction could fire us up.

Time was running out fast and all hope looked lost, then Jets started to respond and Dylan Hickman Singh was upended for a bolt-on penalty, but not given and as a pack of Jets players ran protesting towards the referee he brandished a sin bin yellow to Hickman Singh reducing Jets to ten men for the remaining stoppage time.

Jets now fully woke up and for the eight-plus minutes that followed Jets now threw everything forward it was corner after corner with Brook House protesting for the final whistle and everyone including the Jets keeper in their penalty area.

Olly provided a last-minute pin-point corner hat led to Jets late equaliser.

Then right on cue, a perfect corner by Olly Pope was firmly headed home by James Barnett for 3-3 and his personal hat trick.

Brilliant Barnett header long into added time makes it 3-3.

All up for the corner, including our keeper Lewis Lavin, and it pays off as James Barnett finishes to make it 3-3.

There was not much praise for Jets for keeping going and snatching the point, more discussions around the poor performance and the second-half collapse again.

Man of the Match had a single contender – James Barnett for his hat-trick.

Match Photo Gallery