Jets get their season started

Jets 3 Brimsdown Rovers 1

Spartan South Midlands Premier
25th August 2009

With only one point from their first four league games, Jets were looking to get their season moving with this midweek home fixture against Brimsdown Rovers. It also gave Jets the chance to gain quick revenge for their home defeat to the rovers in the F.A. Cup just 10 days ago.

The game was far better than the cup match, with both teams attacking more, and Jets got off to the start they needed when Wayne Gladdy opened the scoring after only seven minutes, coolly slotting home a Tim O'Mara through ball after Paul Turner had opened up the Brimsdown defence.

Brimsdown should have levelled the score soon after when a easy back post ball was missed with the goal begging. After 32 minutes, however, Brimsdown did pull the game back when Jamie Parsons was penalised on the edge of the box and Stevenson dipped the resulting free-kick into the Jets net. Gladdy nearly put Jets back in front before the end of the half but his effort was cleared off the line. HT 1-1
 
Jamie Parsons came off injured at half time and was replaced by Nathan Roberts. Jets gain took the initiative and regained the lead when Tim O'Mara ended his personal goal famine, finishing off a move in which Colin Jenkins hit a pinpoint cross to Paul Turner, who headed on for O'Mara to net (51 min). 

Tim O'Mara was then replaced on 58 minutes by Spencer Bellotti who combined with Gladdy minutes later to open up the Brimsdown defence, the opportunity falling to Lee Grace who fired just over the bar.

Brimsdown now started to push and had many chances to pull the game back. Paul Haynes replaced the leg weary Paul Turner as Jets needed to bolster up for the final period. There was then an enforced stoppage as referee Rob Smith was taken ill. League referee's secretary Mick Ewan changed and went as assistant, allowing assistant Derrick Coe to take the middle. 

Three super saves from Joe Marsh denied Brimsdown and preserved Jets narrow lead. Then, on 85 minutes, Colin Jenkins opened the Rovers defence with a pin point through ball for Wayne Gladdy to run onto and coolly slot home past the Brimsdown ‘keeper for 3-1, and secure Jets the three points they desperately needed to calm their nerves. 

Jets Man of the Match was Joe Marsh for a number of important saves, particularly when Jets were holding on to a narrow 2-1 lead.