Jets fail to build on midweek performance

Welwyn Garden City 2 Jets 1

Spartan South Midlands Premier
29th August 2009

Jets travelled to Welwyn Garden City looking to build on their first league win of the season in midweek over Brimsdown Rovers. Jets will never have more chances in a match for the rest of this season and lose and Manager Benny Higham was fuming at the lacklustre performance of the team after the good midweek performance.

Jets went a goal behind after just nine minutes when Welwyn Garden City scored through Lawrence Rispoli with their first attempt at goal, Jets luck as it is at the moment holding true to form, the ball hit the post and went in.

Jets had most of the possession with Welwyn reeling on the long ball, which better suited the difficult pitch in a sterile first period. Lee Grace came close for Jets with a long drive that looked in but was brilliantly saved by the keeper to deny him. 

Welwyn got two yellow cardsin the first half for their over zealous challenges, a total that was to raise to five by the end of the game. With half time almost due Paul Haynes produced one of the moments of the dire Jets game, winning a excellent challenge before looking up and hitting a perfect through ball to top scorer Wayne Gladdy who coolly rounded the keeper to slot into the net.

Jets then pushed hard for a good period and should have scored one of the opportunities they created to go in front before the break. Jets were disappointed to have the break, and you could see why as, in previous games, the restart found them stagnant, as players looked to struggle for fitness and the agility to fire back up.

Jets main problem was the failure to create the chances through the fast passing game that has become their trade mark, but more to rely on a more direct approach from the back line to the isolated forwards. Then disaster struck  with Jets pushing forward, Welwyn's Richard Pearce put Welwyn back into the lead. Paul Turner laid a terrible pass which Welwyn intercepted and, with Jets stranded, the chance was duly slotted home with keeper Joe Marsh disappointed with his rooted position.

It was a bitter blow for Jets and manager BennieHigham Immediately threw on teenager Spencer Bellotti to bolster the attack and support Gladdy and Haynes. Jets now started to do all the attacking and chance after chance arrived but nothing would go in for Jets. At the other end Joe Marsh earned the Man of the Match award with a number of outstanding saves as Jets went sparse at the back, pushing on youngster Tom Inch for defender Marc Ayres asthey went for broke.

Paul Turner thought he had saved the day but Jets loud appeals for a goal and a penalty were denied, and Bellotti, Inch and Gladdy all came close, but it was not to be and Jets fell again. The harsh truth is too many players look short of fitness and fade badly which, coupled with a poor conversion rate on the chances created, means that Jets really do need to up their game soon, or they will fall into trouble.

After the game Manager Benny Higham made his feelings known to the team and, whilst praising the "puppies" for their contribution, and promising them a run in the team to prove themselves in the coming games, he looked to the team to raise their game in the coming weeks.