Hemel overrun depleted Jets

Hemel Hempstead 5 Jets 1

St Mary's Cup Final
5th May 2008

Jets' side, already depleted by injury, was further hit by Wayne Gladdy and Lee Grace being on a flight to Cuba for Wayne's wedding !!

Jets did well in first half but fell behind after 17 minutes to a Steve Brown own goal, when he headed past keeper Dave Jacks.

Jets pulled level in the 37th minute when Tim O'Mara worked hard and persevered and slotted home.

Just four minutes later Jets were not for the first time or the last in the game on the wrong side of the referee's decision when a blatant foul was unpunished and Hemel broke upfield as Jets stopped for the free kick, Steve Brown inexplicitly got tangled with Anthony Sheppard and fell to the ground, leaving Hemel to stroll the ball into the net.

 
Half time 2-1

Jets looked OK but within minutes of the substitution of the fast forward Jamie Arthur for the luckless Brown in the 60th minutes Jets blew the whole thing, A long punt through the middle was not picked up by Sheppard then a minute later Colin Jenkins played a loose ball to Marc Ayres but completely misdirected and Hemel killed the game. Both sides played out the game until Hemel finished with a goal near time.
5-1

Jets were down and out, but the achievement with the present squad was reaching the final. There is not a player or staff member that will not be glad it's all over and will take a deserved long rest, and return with a stronger squad.

 

AYRES WE GO, AYRES WE GO, AYRES WE GO
-A Final chance for glory-

Tring Athletic 0 Jets 1

St Mary's Cup Semi-Final
22nd April 2008

Marc Ayres put a huge smile back on a team and club when he slammed home the winner from the penalty spot, to steer his team into the St Mary's Cup Final against Hemel Hempstead Town on the May Bank Holiday Monday. Ayres was outstanding as he rallied his beleaguered troops who have had a down in the dumps season, but can now have something good to finish the season on.

Wayne Gladdy was the architect of the penalty as he was direct and taking defenders on at pace, on this occasion in the 21st minute he jinked and swayed and went clear onto a good Sam Warrell through ball and was brought down as he homed in on the keeper, The defender saw a straight red and MARC AYRES slammed home off the post for what turned out to be the winner.

The game was the classic game of two halves, with both sides dominating one each. The first half was Jets attacking down the slope and chances to Tim O'Mara and Wayne Gladdy were missed in the opening ten minutes that could have been costly as Jets have found many times of late. The big talking point was the weird and woeful decision to disallow Tim O'Mara's goal in the 35th minute. Wayne Gladdy again broke clear down the right and cut in along the goal line and squared for O'Mara to score, but a late late assistants flag was a mystery (to rule O'Mara off side??). The explanation of he curled the ball across surely would have taken it out of play !!   Jets didn't want the half time whistle as they were bubbling.

The second half was different. Tring came at Jets from the off and it was a case of storm riders for most of the half with ten men Tring in the ascendance, and Jets countering on the break. Jets can be a little thankful that Tring didn't have their scoring boots as they squandered a few chances, but keeper David Jacks was only called on to make one good save as the Jets young defence held firm. Ian Bywater, Steve Brown and Lee Grace did the running while Colin Jenkins and Marc Ayres were as tight as Marc's wallet.

Sam Warrell was playing cutting passes and could have finished Tring off when he went clear on goal, but a super strike slammed the inside of the post and somehow went across the goal and out for a goal kick the other side.

Jets held on and at the final whistle it was clear that it brought a little joy to a stressed bunch of players, officials and supporters who have had a long hard season.

HYPO POWER!

Gerry (Hypo) Brown rolled back the years and the crepe bandages to pass the 500 mark on Saturday, no not years, senior games for the club. Gerry passed the 500 match milestone in the West Herts win on Saturday 19 April.

General Manager John Elliott Said "Gerry has been like a good old car, you can keep it plodding slowly along with a bit of care." Gerry has been good for the club playing in all teams whenever required and the club relies on such committed players. Gerry was presented with a special memento at the Jets' club house by Life Vice President Ken Sabine.

 

Second Half Blues
ruin the day

Jets 2 Welwyn Garden City 3

Spartan South Midlands Premier
19th April 2008

Manager Benny Higham rested all the knocks and injuries ready for the St Mary's cup semi final, but was furious at how his team threw away a two goal lead against ten men Welwyn at the Boundary Stadium.  Jets were two up after only twenty minutes, The first by SAM WARRELL when he rifled in from the edge of the box, and the second WAYNE GLADDY when Luke Lloyd  opened the defence and Wayne coolly slotted to break his recent goal drought.

Jets could and should have had a hatful, but again the finishing was poor. WGC were reduced to ten men through injury and Jets folded completely. Three second half goals swung the game round and it was a real end of season bore. Nearly all over !!!

 

That's Better-
as Killer does a Runner

Tring Athletic 3 Jets 3

Spartan South Midlands Premier
15th April 2008

Chris Killer supplied the running that help steer Jets to a good point at the grass Roots stadium Tring, in an all out attacking 3-3 draw. The neutrals will be right to say that Tring were more composed on the ball and had the edge, but a Jets side sporting five changes from the weekend found a new spirit that has been missing since the superb draw with League leaders Beaconsfield Town a couple of weeks back.

Manager Benny Higham with two midweek matches this week called up former player of the year and captain Neil Whiting, Chris Killer, Steve Noonan, Karl Bull , Adam Lowton and Jeremy Tollman into the squad, although Tollman was injured in the warm up before the game. The call ups added more spirit to the team and from the off Jets went carefree at their opponents and twice had the ball in the net in the first twenty minutes but were denied by the assistants flag.

On the half hour Jets did get in front when SAM WARRELL struck well from outside the box. The lead lasted only six minutes and Tring struck back in style. First a passing move was well worked into the net and then Steve Noonan gave away a clumsy free kick and a superb low curler was hammered into the net for 2-1 Tring and the half time break.

Jets pushed and were rewarded when Adam Lowton turned the defence and CHRIS KILLER who was covering every inch of grass on the pitch tapped home a personally well deserved goal to draw Jets level again. It was end to end, Jets playing the longer more direct game against a more careful and deliberate Tring attack, but with just ten minutes to go it looked won for the hosts when Ant Sheppard deflected into his own net from a free kick.

Jets went frantic in search of the goal and pushed and pushed, then with just two minutes to go ADAM LOWTON hammered home for 3-3 and a deserved point for Jets.

This was a good game to watch played in good spirits by two committed teams, on the night the draw was fair, but it all starts again next Tuesday when the same sides meet in the St Mary's cup semi final, but Jets have a Hertfordshire Charity Shield Semi Final to worry about on Thursday first, and guess who awaits the winner of Welwyn Garden City vs. Jets in the final, YES You have it TRING ATHLETIC !

BLUES GO RED
(and it's not just the kit)

Broxbourne Borough 3 Jets 1

Spartan South Midlands Premier
12th April 2008

Oxhey changed out of their familiar royal blue kit on Saturday and by the end their faces were as red as the kit with the embarrassment of a woeful performance. The struggling side are in urgent need of a summer break to overcome injuries and to rebuild to former levels. It's harsh but true and with the injury list as it is the league season cannot end quick enough for the dwindling band of suffering supporters and staff.

Jets fell a goal down early in the first half but TIM O'MARA managed to restore things for the break. The second half was painful but Jets were holding on until again woeful defensive marking cost them to a full.

With twenty minutes to go Luke Lloyd came off the bench and within minutes was clear on goal in a one on the keeper but gently passed the ball to the keeper, it was the turning point as within two minutes Steve Brown and Ant Sheppard gifted the Borough centre forward with the ball for two goals that won Broxbourne the match. Their faces were red,  and so should almost all the others on the pitch. There is little more to be said.