Jets and Town tie on heavy pitch

Hatfield Town 2 Jets 2

Spartan South Midlands Premier
12th December 2009

Jets and Hatfield played out a 2-2 draw on a pitch that should not be acceptable in such a league. Jets started the better team and were so for most of the first half. Jets were never going to be able to play their passing game on this surface, but pushed forward and were on top of Town.

It was no surprise when after fifteen minutes Luke Beardsworth shot Jets in the lead from the spot after his own goal bound shot was stopped from going in the net by a defender, and the referee strangely needed the assistant to spot the incident, and showed straight red to the culprit.

Jets took advantage of the extra man and for long periods pinned the Town back while creating few clear cut chances. Town were picking up a couple of yellows as they defended strongly and ever present Lee Grace needed a long stoppage as fears of a break were erased although the injury did soon after cause his withdrawal.

The second half was a reversal and you would have thought Jets were the man down as Town took the upper hand, and although Town were now on top Jets squandered a couple of golden chances.

It was no surprise when Town drew level from a superb free kick that rounded the wall and past keeper Steve Duce. The score was, however, only level for three minutes until Chris Harding headed Jets back in-front, and the Jets supporters hoped this would shake the team to get the win, but again only minutes later Town sprung the Jets offside to stroll through and slot through the keeper’s legs for 2-2.

It was Jets who were more glad to hear the whistle as Town dominated the final period, and missed a sitter in stoppage time after rounding the Jets keeper the ball looked to be goal bound, but the dreadful surface diverted the ball wide of the post.

So 2-2 final score, 12 yellow cards (3 for Jets) and a red. Not a game that will be  remembered for its football.