Lively Jets Self Destruct

Jets 2 Langford 4

Spartan South Midlands Premier
8th August 2009

If anyone had to leave this game after half an hour they would have assumed Jets would go on and score a comfortable home win against Langford in this opening fixture of Jets’ 5th season in the Spartan South Midlands Premier League. In fact, the only surprise after the first 30 minutes was that Jets were only one goal up. Games can change quickly, however, and by half time Jets had self destructed to be 3-1 down and then, despite a valiant 2nd half fight back, they went on to lose 4-2 in what was a reversal of the score in last season’s fixture.

Everything had started brightly for Jets who immediately took the game to Langford and were unlucky not to take the lead in the first five minutes. First of all, a strong penalty claim was denied when Tim O’Mara looked to have clearly been pushed in the back in the penalty area. A minute later, Paul Haynes back-headed towards goal from a long Nathan Roberts throw-in but, with the keeper beaten, the header hit the bar.

On 8 minutes a huge clearance from Jets’ keeper Sam Beasant created danger in the Langford penalty area, which Spencer Bellotti was quick to latch onto, but the ball was scrambled clear by the oncoming ‘keeper.

Langford had their first effort on 12 minutes but this was well dealt with by Beasant. Jets continued to force the play, and created a good five-man move which led to an O’Mara goal attempt well saved by the Langford ‘keeper. A minute later and O’Mara got the ball in the net, after a Haynes header and a Bellotti pass, but it was surprisingly ruled out for offside.

The Jets pressure continued with a Bywater cross to the far post being knocked just over by O’Mara. Another long throw from Roberts met by another back-header from Haynes got the ball into the Langford net but it was disallowed for pushing. Then, a minute later in the 25th minute, Jets got the goal their efforts deserved when Ian Bywater headed home a loose ball at the second attempt. 1-0 Jets.

Lee Grace was subject to an awful heavy tackle on the half hour when he had raced clear, the resulting yellow card being the minimum the defender could have expected to get for his effort.

On 35 minutes a Haynes back header put Tim O’Mara through but, as he rounded the ‘keeper, play was called back for offside.

Then, in a game that had been pretty much all Jets, Langford came up with an equaliser. Harding was outpaced in the Jets defence and Lee Harman slotted home for Langford. 1-1.

Jets almost immediately restored their lead when Tim O’Mara broke clear but his shot was into the arms of the Langford ‘keeper.

Jets then went into a 7 minute period of madness that cost them the game. Ill discipline broke out, yellow cards received for arguing and petulance, and Langford took full advantage. Jets argued about the free-kick Langford received in the 40th minute, but the resulting 30 yard shot from Joe Delasalle was unstoppable. 2-1 Langford.

Langford then made it 3-1 in the 45th minute when Ben L’Honore scored with a diving header at the back post. HT 3-1 Langford.

Jets did manage to regain much of their composure during the break, and after a shaky start, began to apply the pressure on Langford which was rewarded with a second goal from Ian Bywater in the 52nd minute, at the back post to head home a superb cross from Lee Grace. 3-2 Langford.

Manager Bennie Higham then replaced the out of form Chris Harding with Wayne Gladdy to try and go at Langford down the wings. Langford did then, however, have one of the best spells of their own and it needed good saves from Sam Beasant in the Jets goal to keep Jets in it.

Jets attacking intentions did put more and more pressure on Langford. In a great spell just after the hour, Jets went close a few times. First of all, a through ball from Wayne Gladdy nearly let Bellotti in but the teenage striker was just unable to get his toe onto the ball. Gladdy then produced a dribble through the Langford defence but failed to finish on target. Some good work from Lee Grace and Tim O'Mara led to another good save from the Langford ‘keeper from an O’Mara effort. Bellotti was put through on 71 minutes but another bad tackle by a Langford defender took him out.

Jets just could not come up with the equaliser, and a Paul Haynes 25-yarder in the 75th minute clipped the post with the ‘keeper beaten.

It was then Langford that came up with the killer blow in the 78th minute when, after an excellent save from Sam Beasant, Langford’s Dave Brown was first to the loose ball to slot home to seal the game.

Jets, now deflated, let their frustration show, which ended with the sending off of Ian Bywater in the 88th minute, having been cautioned earlier in the game for dissent, for further comments to the referee. Bywater was clearly Jets Man of the Match for his all round contribution and his two goals, so it was disappointing that he ended the game this way. Full time 4-2 Langford