Extra time heroes
Lemsford Youth 0 Oxhey Jets 1 (aet)
Sunday 11th November 2007
County Cup 2nd RoundIn the league it's played 2 lost 2, in 2 different cups it's played 2 won 2. And this was going to be no easy game as Lemsford had won all 6 of their games scoring 54 and letting in hardly any. To add to the Jets woes top scorer Alfie Dibble was suffering from Delhi belly so could not join in the warm up, plus Jason was away, leaving us with just 1 sub. Conall, having played just one half as a defender, was drafted in to start alongside Matty in the back 2, keeping Joe in midfield to keep the strength in the 3 man midfield. Alfie recovered enough to start and as captain for the day joined the ref for the toss. Lemsford chose to kick off with the strong wind to start what was to be an epic battle.
Lemsford started as we expected, passing the ball well into their tall striker who was causing early problems for Matty and Conall. But some dogged tackling from Conall stopped most of these threats.After just 5 minutes another blow for the Jets as Matty had to come off with stomach pains, this led to Joe dropping back into defence and Liam coming on to fill the midfield gap. What else could go wrong, well nothing to be exact? For all the home team's pressure they could not penetrate the tracking and tackling of Olive,r Liam and Harry. Whenever they did there was Joe and Conall to come up against. Conall seeming to revel in his new role next to the experienced Joe. If this duo was breached then Luke was on hand to save several efforts particularly in a couple of one on one situations. Alfie was doing his best whenever the ball came to him but it was plain to see that the striker's belly was giving him grief.
The first half came and went in a flash and now Jets had the wind with them. Luke's long kicks were causing havoc in the home team's defence, but alas they were also avoiding the runs of Alfie, or the tall home defender had no trouble smashing his forehead into several high punts from Luke and turning defence into attack.If Lemsford's striker had had a first touch then Jets could have been a couple down come the end of the 40 minutes. Plus Luke pulled off the most amazing double save, blocking the first effort then while on the floor prone, sticking his hand out to deflect the follow up for a corner. Conall did his own bit of heading throwing himself at several corners to head the ball away bravely.
So a third cup game and a third cup game goes to extra time. The team talk was high octane stuff with Andy and Dave getting the boys to shout raucously the team name before the re-start. Lemsford knew they were in a game for probably the first time this season. And it turned out to be just like a Rocky film with the favourites starting to wither in front of the home crowd. The Jets seemed to sense this and were now taking the game to the hosts with all three midfielders getting the ball down and playing, some neat link up play between Alfie and Harry on the left led to a shot from Alfie which stung the keeper's hands.
Jets were now on top as the home team wilted further. At the change around Dave told the boys, come on we can nick this they're knackered. And so it came to pass. Oliver won the ball from his much bigger opposite number and fed Liam, one hip swerve later and Harry had the ball who returned the ball to Liam on the edge of the box, a half tackle popped the ball up and Liam looked to carry out a half scissor kick, but letting the ball drop a bit further led to the defender making an air tackle this gave the snake hipped player time to hit a half volley at the keeper, he in turn parried the ball out to the onrushing Alfie who gleefully slammed the ball into the net full on the volley from four yards. Needless to say this sparked lunacy among away supporters, players and 2 ecstatic coaches who between them must have leapt the same height as Andy's drink bottle was thrown skywards.
When the boys had returned from the neighbouring pitch they still had 2 minutes to see out. This 2 turned into around 4 but the whistle finally blew and the Jets had turned out one of the best, if not the best performance of their 3 years together, not the most fluent football wise but for effort, organisation and determination it could not be matched.
If they can do that to a very good team like Lemsford we could do it to anyone. And to round the day off Alfie's guts ache returned on the way back home and he emptied the contents of his stomach onto the interior of a 2 week old Audi. But his dad did not care because of what he had just watched over the past 50 minutes. What a game!
Come on you Jets!!!
Once a Jet........
Oxhey Jets 2 Nascot Wood 0 (aet)
Sunday 4th November 2007
Challenge Cup 1st RoundAfter last weeks mauling at the hands of Edmonton it was time for another cup game, this time the Challenge Cup. Having already played Nascot in the preliminary matches and coming out 3-0 winners, Jets were looking to get back on track with a much needed win.
But Nascot had other ideas and started well, having gained confidence in their league, winning more matches than most. In a very even first half, chances were few and far between for both teams. The same could be said for the second half but chances came and went for both teams, but neither team troubling the scorer.
An old team mate of the Jets was now plying his trade with the visitors and Jordan, for that is his name, was doing well for the opposition using his electric pace well. However the game went into extra time, the second time this had happened for the Jets this season. The home team's determination and superior fitness started to tell and Jets laid siege to the Falcon's goal. This was to be the first nail in the coffin as Joe swung over a corner which poor Jordan could only toe poke neatly into his own net…once a Jet always a Jet.
And Jordan was to score again, alas not to even up the game but only to secure a second and winning goal for the Jets. Harsh on the lad as he had a decent game until then.Not as convincing a win as expected, but a win all the same and still in the hat for the second round. Next week was to be a home game against Maccabi Lions but county had made the draw for the second round of the county cup and we were to travel to Ware, yes Ware, to play Lemsford, so fill up your petrol tanks and see you there …
Come on you Jets!!!
Rangers too much up front for Jets
Edmonton Rangers 6 Oxhey Jets 3
Sunday 28th October 2007
After last weeks extra time cup victory the Jets took to the M1 and the north circular for a trip to rainy Edmonton looking for their first league scalp. Scouting the home keeper, Mattie's dad Mark was quick to quip "shoot on site the stopper looks like he's been taking lessons from Paul Robinson".
With this advice ringing in the boys ears the game kicked off. Jets were out of the blocks quick and forced some early pressure resulting in a second minute corner on the left. Joe strolled over to place the ball, he didn't get the sweetest of contacts but the ball fizzed towards the near post, the keeper was taken by surprise and couldn’t stop the ball from creeping over the line for an early away lead. Great start and great advice from Mark.
However the lead did not last much more than 2 or 3 minutes as the home team started to press with their strong running and passing. This led to some good interceptions from Matty and Jason at the heart of the Jets defence. Alas this wasn't enough to stop several corners and from the second the ball was lofted over and connected with the forehead of the tallest player on the pitch who buried the header into Luke's net.
Soon after the tide was well and truly turned against the Jets as more strong running through the midfield led to Matty and Jason being left to thwart 3 and sometimes 4 attackers which they could do nothing about and 2 more quick goals made the score 3-1.Jets rallied and Alfie was set free by a neat passing move between Harry and Joe, who in turn fed Oliver, he reversed the pass to Alfie who beat the defender to set up a left foot poke which agonisingly bounced back off the foot of the post and into the arms of the keeper. Apart from the odd foray Jets coaches could see we were up against a strong athletic side who where cutting swathes through the Jets midfield and just before half time the home team looked to have sewn the game up with a fourth.
As we know this Jets team don't lie down and came out fighting, but alas their efforts could not stop the free scoring Ranger's team and 2 quick goals followed the re-start 6-1.With the tiring Oliver being replaced by Connell maybe a fresh pair of legs would help and this seemed to do the trick. Alfie having to defend from the front to help out the midfield tracked a defender all the way back to the home team's goal, and with the strikers hot breath on his neck the defender toe poked the ball past his own keeper.
This gave the Jets fresh impetus and they started to play a bit with Joe and Harry linking up well with Alfie, this combination gave way for our third with Alfie beating 2 defenders for pace and firing hard into the bottom corner form the edge of the box for the striker's fifth goal in six games to give the score a more respectable edge.
So a long drive home in the rain on the north circular was not what we looked forward to after this game, but the boys showed they can fight, with the late flurry of goals and we'll be looking for more of the same next week at home to Nascot Wood in the cup , see you there ,
Come on you Jets!!!
Oxhey Jets 3 Oxhey Utd 1 (aet)
Sunday 21st October 2007
County CupA beautiful sunny morning welcomed our local rivals for this 1st round county cup tie at the boundary way stadium. Usually when the sun is out the Jets football comes out also. This seemed to be the case from the kick off with the Jets ears still ringing from the rocket they were given after last week’s game.
Some great early running and passing which was worked on in training on Thursday was rubbing off on the boys, especially Oliver, Joe and Liam who were running the midfield. The first half was a close run affair with United's small but gifted number 7 running at the defence at every given opportunity and delivering some excellent crosses, which were dealt with by the Jets defensive duo of Matty and Jason plus some dogged tracking back from Joe.
However 5 minutes before the break a misunderstanding between keeper Luke and Coach Dave led to the opening goal for the visitors. Luke had placed the ball down for a place kick after Dave had told him to move the ball to the other end of the area, unfortunately Luke kicked the ball from one side of the area to the other, an alert United striker seized the ball and stroked it into an empty net. One harsh lesson learned.
Half time soon came with the Jets 1-0 down. Changes were made at the break with the rested Alfie and Harry replacing Liam and Connell respectively. This seemed to give the Jets a boost, Oliver was running his socks off as was Joe in midfield and we started to gain control. However Jets struggled to create any clear cut chances and Luke was at his steely best to deny United on more than one occasion with a flying one handed save and a miraculous double save at the feet of one of the United strikers .
But Jets were now playing with skill and sweet passing moves. And with only 7 or so minutes remaining it looked like the tie would go to the visitors, until a long punt from Luke bounced over the last defender which Alfie ran onto and at the last moment flicked the ball past the keeper into the far corner with aplomb with his left foot.
This took the game into extra time and the Jets power and fitness told soon after when another lung bursting run from Joe recovered the ball after initially losing it, powering into the box and slotting his shot under pressure into the bottom corner to spark wild celebrations among players and supporters.
To round things off and give the score a slightly harsh sound Harry picked the ball up on the left drifted past one player and blasted the ball past the hapless keeper into the top left hand corner to see the Jets into round 2.
Next week sees us back in league action away to Edmonton Rangers and a trek to north London. Let’s hope the Jets play as well as that other north London team….the mighty hornets (north londonish)
Come on you Jets!!!-----------------------------------------------------
Six months to the day since the last game of last season and here we are back in the league cup group divisional games. The Jets were drawn against, Whetstone Wanderers…ooooh! Nascot Wood Rangers…yeh!!,and Bushey Youth…who!!.
First up was the biggest test against Whetstone at home. The Jets played some good football carrying on from their close season heroics in the Bill Everett six-a-side, which we lost on penalties in the final, and held on for a while against a superb passing and running side. But alas Whetstone ran out 4-0 winners, but no disgrace against a team who would go onto score 10 and 9 respectively against our other opponents in this format. Next up was Nascot Wood away on a beauty of a pitch, if a little small, but flat and green like all good cricket pitches should be, though Steve Harmison may disagree.
Jets outplayed their hosts for the whole of the first half and soon racked up 3 goals courtesy of Joe Baldwin, Liam Battle and Alfie Dibble. Nascot fought back in the second half but could only draw this segment 0-0, hence a 3-0 win for the Jets and a superb footballing display particularly in the first 20 minutes and away from home. Finally a trip all the way up the B462, or as we like to call it, the Aldenham road to Bushey Grove sports ground. In what turned out to be a tougher than expected game against some boys a school year younger, Jets managed to triumph 2-1, again a win on our travels with goals from Alfred Dibble and Harold Warwick. These results put us into the second division again against some tough opposition , some of them in the Watford area.
Oxhey Jets 2 Northwood reds 3
Sunday 14th October 2007
Right, lets 'ave it as some fat northerner once said. First league game against a relatively unknown team, full strength squad, no injuries, no holidays and no measles to get in the way. The team as usual were flying in training full of confidence after 2 good away wins and 2 good friendly victories before that. and as skipper for the day Matty Pearce won the toss things were looking good .and as Steve "lost your pea" Marshall got the game under way the sun broke through the grey cloud and as if touched by the golden rays of the almighty himself Alfie took control of a neat pass through the middle of a static Northwood midfield, and with his first shot on goal of the season the ball squeezed under the body of the visitors keeper and nestled neatly in the bottom corner , 1st game, first minute , first shot , first goal ,MENTAL !!!!.
And it was to get even sunnier as Harry took the first corner of the game, the ball was half controlled by Oliver who was tackled, the ball found its way out to Joe on the edge of the box, who doesn't need a second invitation to shoot and a split second later the Northwood keepers net was bulging with the sweet sound of ball rustling net. 5 minutes and 2-0 up. Northwood must have been wishing they were back in the third division again. A couple more chances went close for the Jets but the visitors were starting to get a foothold.
Then 2 minutes before half time the sun was suddenly gobbled up by dark and threatening skies. Luke the ever reliable keeper must have been affected by the gloom and tried to side step the on rushing Northwood striker, but unfortunately the ball was wrestled from him and an easy tap in was presented to the supporting midfielder. 2-1. Then straight from the re-start the unthinkable happened , the ball was lost from the kick off northwood passed neatly and 2-2 it was , followed immediately by the whistle for the break. Where did that come from? Several "encouraging words" were gently explained to the boys, who were shell shocked, as were coaches and supporters. Still the sun will come out in the second half …wouldn't it?
Alas not even the introduction of Connell and Jason could inject fresh impetus and the Jets were nowhere to be seen in the second half and inevitably the hosts were undone by a third consecutive corner , the loose ball fell to a red shirt who gleefully buried the ball into the hosts net. Some excellent one on one saves from Luke even kept the score to a respectful level for the Jets as time after time the midfield and defence went AWOL.
In the end it was a deserved victory for the busy Northwood team, however our static play made them look better than they actually were. rest assured the boys did not enjoy this and they will be looking forward to a cup game against our local rivals Oxhey United next Sunday and the chance to turn things around …cross your fingers for a sunny day..
Come on you Jets!!!
