Second Half Collapse Damages Reserves Title Hopes

AFC Dunstable 4 Jets 2

Spartan Reserves Division One
7th March 2010

For their first league fixture since 9 February the Jets travelled to AFC Dunstable. It was a match that was to provide the Jets who are shining bright on the cup front, with a woeful display of football that left the afternoons work in tatters.

They were given an early warning in the 8th minute when Dunstable broke free on the left, enter the Jets area to see a shot that was to also see a fine save from Steve Duce in the Jets goal, which was to be the first of many.

The Jets play was poor, with passes not finding their mark on a pitch with a good surface, and a general feel of laziness within the squad, but against the run of play, it was they who opened the scoring for the afternoon, when in the 26th minute Adam Lowton was to gain possession on the right and making his way to the edge of the Dunstable area and sending a drive into the net taking the Jets ahead at 0-1

The Jets struggled to contain a very young Dunstable side which were showing the spirit that had deserted the Jets squad on the day, but again it was they who provided yet another goal to double their lead, when in the 42nd minute Karl Bull found time and space to make his mark and bring the score to 0-2 on the break.

The second half was to bring a massive blow to the Jets as they started in the same mode, with the Dunstable squad now seeking to get back in the game and as they placed the Jets under pressure time and time again, with just twenty minutes left this looked a possibility. The Jets nightmare started in the 70th minute when a Dunstable attack saw the ball enter the Jets goal area to find a defence in complete disarray and the ball enter the net, Dunstable were back in the hunt at 1-2.

It was approximately at this time when a Dunstable player received an injury, which ended his game, and with previous substitutes made found the squad reduced to ten men, but still they fought to make life very difficult for the Jets. They wasted little time providing the Jets with yet another shock, when in the 75th minute a run in the centre was to provide them with their equalizer at 2-2 and the Jets could only ponder where their two-goal lead had gone.

The dismal afternoon became even more of a bitter pill for the Jets, when in the 83rd minute a break on the left by Dunstable and a high lob over the head of the keeper saw them forge ahead for the first time at 3-2.

For the first time the Jets found some of their usual fighting spirit as they did make runs into the Dunstable area, but once again the youngsters from Dunstable came again and in the 89th minute they found their way into the Jets area to find the defence once again in difficulties and the final blow was administered at 4-2.

Substitutes used: Jamie Arthur, Carl Wigg and Dean Seabrook

Man of the match: Steve Duce