Hard fought cup win sets up clash with Cheshunt

 

St Margaretsbury 1 Jets 2

South Midlands Floodlight Cup
28th January 2010

Jets returned from the long midweek journey to St Margaretsbury in the Spartan South Midlands Floodlight Cup with a rare win at one of Jets unlucky hunting grounds.

The game was no sparkler and the pouring rain on a difficult pitch was difficult for both sets of players. Jets were forced to re-shuffle before the game, when, already without Tim O’Mara, manager Benny Higham had to make another change when Nathan Roberts went to Bishop Stortford’s ground by mistake and missed the game.

Benny Higham gambled on the return in midfield for the young striker Spencer Bellotti from a long injury spell, and was rewarded with a performance that saw him edged out of the man of the match award only by a magnificent last ten minutes by the reliable “War Horse” Chris Harding.

Jets were led in midfield by the oldest player in the team on the night, Wayne Gladdy as Jets new youthful team were forced to grind out a hard work result.  For the third time in the week Jets were forced to battle back from a goal down after Chris Ingham clearly handled in the area and Joe Rudkin (22min) converted high into the net, leaving Jets keeper Sam Styles with no hope.

Jets were scrappy but gradually they edged back into the game and chances fell to Armitt and Beardsworth but both were denied, but with the break looming and the game well into stoppage time a cross ball from Lee Grace, following an outstanding “advantage” by referee Lindsay Szulc after a foul on Lee Inch, was turned in at the back post by Lee Armitt (45+2) to tie up 1-1 at the break.

The second half was Jets for the early running and you had the feeling it was coming, then referee Szulc again played the perfect “play on advantage” after an offside by St Margaretsbury saw Gladdy hunt down the ball and roll to Spencer Bellotti who needle threaded the ball to his old Queen’s school academy partner Luke Beardsworth who delightfully chipped over the keeper for the winner (63min). 

Jets had a few chances to tie things up but were denied by the Saints ‘keeper, and then in the final ten minutes Bury pressed hard and Jets keeper Sam Styles pulled off three outstanding saves to help deny the home team. Jets Man of the Match Chris Harding was outstanding throughout but especially in the final moments, and helped Jets hold on for an excellent away win.

Jets will now be at home to Cheshunt (from the Rymans League Division 1 North) in the next round.