Oxhey Jets FC | Combined Counties Premier North Football Team

Jets Hit 4; Best Away Win in nearly 10 Years!

Wembley 0 Oxhey Jets 4
Cherry Red Combined Counties North Premier
7th January 2022

Well well, the Young Guns suddenly grew up, believed and earned their first away win of the season against a very highly placed Wembley side on their absolute carpet of a pitch.

Jets did add a new player to the squad knocking the average age up a bit, 21-year-old Sam Scott ( 21 is old for us 😂😂) what a debut he had, a faultless solid game throughout, with no thrills and spills, just dealt with it.

With ‘Sky Bet’ signs all around the superb ground you would not have found many takers for the odds on a Jets away win and a clean sheet !!

Lewis Lavin held Jets solid through a tough opening twenty minutes

If the Sky analysis had been on the match for the first twenty minutes it would have been something like 92% – 8% possession for Wembley as they swarmed at Jets. The young guns were slipping and sliding and making nothing stick, but it was the superb defending marshalled by a strong performance by Lewis Lavin in goal that held Jets level. To a man they did not flinch or panic, just dug in, and the old football warning if you don’t notch while on top we all know what can happen.

The Jets management were plotting an early change, to try to make things stick more, when the touch of gold came. Jets had slowly edged the game percentage back and started to probe a little more on the counter.

Good performance from Owen Ayres

Owen Ayres, who has re-found his appetite for the game, provided a perfect cross for Kieran Patterson to exquisitely head past the goalkeeper for a great goal start against the run of play for Jets Young Guns (35 mins).

Kieran Patterson 0-1

Wembley were clearly stunned, and for the final 10 minutes it was equal as the two sides both played with an attacking commitment going forward, but Jets were more pleased to hear the half-time whistle.

The atmosphere in the changing room was electric as Tom and Dave absolutely praised and encouraged the young side to go on and turn their season around.

The second half was a completely different game. Oxhey Jets were full of belief and attacked on the counter with some skill that only Tom and Dave had believed in throughout their short tender of the club. Today their words and belief were rewarded as the young lads produced the performance that both always said they were capable of.

0-2 Sean’s long range drive

On 53 minutes, the old head of the side at only 22yrs, Sean Giordmaina was to score a solo stunner. Picking the ball up in his own half he jinked and waved and powered his way up the wing to hammer a superb goal past the keeper from wide at the near post.

Soon after, the only yellow card of the match was shown by the excellent referee, Tom Berry, when the defender held Giordmaina down as he started the exact run again, and to be fair to the Wembley lad, most would have done the same thing.

0-3 Sam Wood

Jets were now rampant going forward at every opportunity with all the young players now like peacocks performing at their top level. On 70 mins the game was stretched further, this time Deago Dunbar-Bonnie beating his wide man marker and knocking a pinpoint cross for Sam Wood to meet with a volley into the net. A stunning goal so deserved by this hard-working young striker to open his Jets account.

Five minutes later, from almost identical positions Kieran Patterson beat the wide marker, hit the cross ball and Sam Wood was there to place his first-time slot past the keeper for his brace and Jets 4th, their biggest win on the road since 2nd March 2013 according to a club statto.

Tom Inch, running the Jets midfield, in the 2nd March 2013 5-0 win at London Tigers.

The reaction to the win was electric and, to me, that was as important as the win as the new management set-up has actually started rebuilding the club. The atmosphere was brilliant and today the rewards were seen on the pitch, and I’m as happy for Tom Inch and Dave Barnes as I am for the players as they deserved this just as much for their belief, enthusiasm and hard work.

Tom and Dave

There is still a big ladder to climb, but it injects some targets and threads of a chance to chase.
A special mention too for the staff and players of Wembley in defeat against the side rock bottom, their respect and reaction to us was exemplary of the excellent club they are.

Jets players enjoying their day!

Now the hard bit, the Carlsberg man of the match. Well this caused a rack of different opinions as so many shone out today.

First half Lewis Levin kept us in it, the defence was steadfast, “Nugs” and debutant Sam were faultless and Ron and Deago were working their socks off.

Owen Ayres made the final shortlist but, in the end, to avoid bloodshed amongst the staff and supporters it was agreed that Kieran Patterson and Sam Wood would share the Carlsberg treats and the special staff gift went to Sam Wood, who had been grafting away without rewards but today got the rewards he deserved with the top prize and two goals.

We know it’s only one game, but it has been a depressing season as was most of 2022, but the mood is changing and the fun, and atmosphere is back in the club. So today with a superb win and a clean sheet we are enjoying it and we will worry about next week after Monday.

The Vets were called off with 3RDC calling off all pitches, but what a battle the Development had on the Astro at Ware Sports, a 5-5 draw. Two goals each from Josh Beckles & Brad Brunt plus a single for Mitchell Cockcroft, earning the point. Kyle Ricketts was the Jets man of the match.

Add to this Warren Gladdy’s 1-2 away win at league leaders Leighton Town in the 18s floodlight league, and it has been a great week for the youngsters as Jets rebuild from the youth, and things are so much happier again.