Oxhey Jets FC

Oxhey Jets 0 Cockfosters 0 (Match Abandoned)
Spartan South Midlands Premier
13th October 2018

Today’s match against Cockfosters was abandoned in the first half due to a Cockfosters player striking the match official after receiving a red card.

Cockfosters have issued the following statement on their official twitter account: –

 

Jets Bounce Back From Green Defeat

Oxhey Jets 4 Harpenden Town 1
Premier Division Cup 2nd Round
9th October 2018

Jets manager Tim O’Sullivan kept his promise and made seven changes to the starting line-up after the dreadful performance away at Leverstock Green last Saturday.

The team responded and played well against a strong Harpenden Town side.

Nick Kerley opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Sean Giordmaina had been brought down.

Sean Giordmaina had a man of the match performance for Jets and scored himself with a superb header to make it 2-0 early in the second half.

Jets were then reduced to ten men with thirty minutes to go when Leigh Steven picked up his second yellow card of the game.

Despite the man less, Jets went further ahead when George Hobson scored direct from a free-kick just outside the area.

Harry Beaumont then hit a long, long shot – he claims it was forty yards – that kept low and beat the defenders and keeper to make it 4-0. Harpenden pulled one back late from prolific scorer Archie McClelland.

On what was an all round good night for Jets, the Reserves that stepped up to the first team played their part. As well as the impressive performance from Sean Giordmaina there were strong debuts from Drilon Adjeti in goal and Dylan Hickman-Singh in midfield.

All Square Against Edgware

Oxhey Jets 0 Edgware Town 0
Spartan South Midlands Premier
2nd October 2018

A very tough 0-0 draw against Edgware Town was about the right result on 90 minutes It was hard, tough at times and as always in a tight draw no doubt both sides will see the moment that victory could have been the points for the evening.

Jets had far better of the first half and were brightened by an excellent debut by Sean Giordmaina, another young up and coming teenager who is scoring regularly for the reserves in their fantastic start to the season that sees them lead the HCL Division one at the moment.

Jets had the early chance when Nick Kerley broke clear one on the keeper but to his evident frustration lost control, and the opportunity was lost.

Nick Kerley then did find the net but the goal was ruled out on the latest of late flags, it took an age, and neutral watchers tell me on the stand side it was a wrong call.

Jets had some scares, and the Town had two excellent chances one bravely saved by keeper Matty Evans risking a Tom Gibson boot also, and the second a superb tackle by recalled Gary Wallace saved the day.

Jets almost had an early strike when the youngster nipped around the defence, and the keeper gathered well at the post.

The most controversial moment was when Jets were sure they had scored before the ball was headed out, but this time the sharp-eyed photo by Len Kerswell on the line proved the match officials correct, it was well on the line, but not over it so no goal decision right.

The second half saw a shift in the balance and Edgware closed down Jets options very well. Nick Kerley was not moving freely following quite a rap on the ankle/ leg and by the last quarter young Sean was looking tired.

Jets altered things with George Turner and Ollie Salami coming on to open up both wings, but Town had things bolted down. By the end, Jets were probably happy to hear the whistle despite a late chance that just whistled past the post with the keeper at full stretch.

0-0 an excellent point for both, thoroughly deserved by both and very well conducted by the officials.

Jets man of the match went to Gary Wallace on his recall as Jets kept an excellent and rare clean sheet.

Next match is tough against one of the big-spending title favourites away to Leverstock Green on Saturday who have been raiding clubs to build a powerful squad and won’t be far away from the promotion spot at the season end.

Progressing Jets Fall To In-Form Biggleswade

Oxhey Jets 4 Biggleswade FC 6
Spartan South Midlands Premier
29th September 2018

Jets took on Biggleswade in what was, on social media, tagged as a top of the table clash of the day. We are under no illusion that for us it’s a rebuilding season, a work in progress.

One thing that is for sure is that Biggleswade FC are the best footballing side we’ve seen and played this season. Their vision, anticipation and game pace is superb, so that said to go with them, nose to nose, goal for goal for 80 minutes is a tribute to how far we have come.

The fact, however, that manager Tim O’Sullivan was so furious afterwards at the mistakes that led to the defeat is a further indication to the bar being set higher. He expected more, less expensive errors from costly showboating and more of the tigerish work and graft that swung the first half scoring too and throw.

 

Jets took just five minutes to open the scoring on a hot Autumn day, and it was Jets Mr hot and cold that produced it as Luke Jones jinked and teed up a superb bending strike giving the keeper no chance.

The chances were aplenty at both ends, and this was a match played at F1 pace, it was breathtaking and admirable. Jets conceded, and it was not made any easier to take when the away bench come up to you saying how can the assistant miss that it was a full yard plus offside!

But, within a minute, Jets were left in their wake as a solo run and pinpoint low drive was touched home 1-2 Biggleswade.

Jets pushed back and the visitors, having survived a big penalty appeal, were lucky to stay with eleven when a frustrated kick out was leniently let off with no card.

The ultimate punishment, however, was administered when the man of the match contender Andy Brennan latched onto Luke Jones perfect free kick to hammer Jets level 2-2.

 

This time Jets made the quick double trouble, and Tom Gibson slid off silently at the back post to shoot Jets in front 3-2.

Ollie Lawton had the golden chance to open the gap when going 1:1 with the keeper but inexperience for the youngster showed here, and he who hesitates is lost as the keeper pushed him wide, and reinforcements arrived to smother the danger. HT 3-2 and everybody went to draw breath.

Tight for ten, no matter what you do tight for ten was the instruction. Well, that fell on deaf ears as some of the performers from the first half turned sinners. Flicks and swerves became goals against and with just eleven minutes played it was 4-4 and Tim’s tight for ten in tatters.

Biggleswade scored twice to shock Jets, and the manager was furious and steaming at the errors that led to it. Then the pendulum swung again, and Luke Jones ended his run with a cross-goal drive into the net and all level once more.

Jets lost the two best players on the day both to injury. First Andy Brennan, and then midfield partner Leigh Stevens and FC gained the upper hand in the middle, and again it was from saint to sinner, and this FC side was far too good not to nail the chances and make Jets pay.

The summary was difficult. Jets have been superb at times the last two games, but individual over confident play and flicks has been the downfall, and they have no reward in points, so unacceptable.

Jets today gained nothing points wise, but plenty of accolades for the progress made so far against an excellent footballing team.

Man of the match discussions felt that, despite the goals, the defenders were relatively blameless the damage done further upfield. The two that stuck out were Brennan and Stevens, and the very tight nod went to Leigh Stevens.

The Reserves continued their excellent run of form and tonight sit top of the Herts county league div one, following their 2-0 win away to Aldenham. Bubbling from the 4-1 midweek win over league leaders Hadley they had immediate problems when they lost a player in the warm-up and another early on.

Mike Vickers gave Jets the lead from the spot with his seventh goal of the season, and on form Sean Giodmainia, who has won himself a first-team call-up following his outstanding goalscoring run, got the second in the 2-0 win.

It’s seven wins on the bounce for Jets young reserve side that takes them to top spot. Man of the match was Tyrese Wolfe who was superb all game making many vital tackles in defence then sprinting forward to support the forwards in a remarkable personal performance.

Jets by their admission were not at the pinnacle of their form today but against a very changed and robust Aldenham side who pushed them all the way they won ugly. It is the points that count, and they got them, and the remarkable progress under new manager Tom Bullock and coach Steve Booth continues.

 

Bright Jets Miss Their Chances

North Greenford Utd 3 Oxhey Jets 1
Spartan South Midlands Premier
25th September 2018

Jets fell to a 3-1 away defeat at North Greenford, and in all honesty, it’s hard to figure out how except the fact that if you miss chances in this league, you get punished.

Manager Tim O’Sullivan missed the match in bed ill, so his assistants took the mantle.

In total honesty, it was one of the most exciting games of the season, end to end, chances galore both ends and both sides throwing caution to the wind, for Jets they didn’t finish stronger and paid the price.

Jets first opening came early, maybe too early for young forward Ollie Lawford who jinked and lost his defenders and went in on the keeper but scuffed the shot and with the power lacking the keeper was a relieved man.

Jets pushed and pushed and Andy Brennan, who was to have a stormer, and atom Gibson with a header came close, and it wasn’t one-way traffic as the hosts were speedy and attacked with menace. It was a real nail-biter.

Jets fell behind to a set piece, a corner cleanly and perfectly executed headed clean into the net. 1-0.

The game continued in the same way and pace and somehow stayed the same at the break.

The second half was much the same but Jets had the slight upper hand on chances hitting the bar and post.

Greenford missed a sitter from a set piece again, then the breakthrough as Scott Bonner got Jets level via a deflection and it was game on.

Within minutes the chance to take the lead was there as a tremendous save saw the rebound fall straight to two incoming Jets forward, but the young striker Ollie Lawford struck hard but unfortunately straight at the keeper, and the chance lost.

Jets big failing are their free kicks, nothing comes from them of late or even looks like it will, but in a change, Nick Kerley started to take them, and they started to seem possible, and twice Deji came close with headers.

With young debutant Johanan Adjei-Dawkins looking tired the changes came and, after them, Jets did lose the pattern and flow.

The speed of the game was difficult to come off the bench and get into, and twice the ball was lost in the midfield and the goal then the killer goal as it turned out finished Jets hopes of the points.

Jets changed their forward line hoping to get something back, and George Turner hit one great drive that looked goal bound but just bent outwards past the post with the keeper beaten. Jets had no poacher on to look for the loose ball and deliveries, and the threat in honesty petered out.

Jets man of the match was not contested it was a country mile nomination to Andy Brennan who had by some distance his best game of the season, but was clearly missing his Champaign Charles partner Leigh Stevens who was out on the town drinking plenty of Champers ( lucky lad) it looked on FB, for a special family event.

It was a strange feeling at the end, the football at times superb, the officials were excellent, and both teams played well, it was sporting on the sidelines and a thoroughly enjoyable match until we lost!!

We will play much worse than tonight and get some points.

A must mention tonight for a stunning result for the reserves as Tom Bullock and Steve Booth’s excellent young side took on the league Leaders Hadley Reserves at the Boundary Stadium and came out with a superb 4-1 win to jump up hot on their heels in the table. Young and banging goals for fun at the moment these young pups are learning the lumps and bumps of men’s football and offer a massive belief and hope for the future of the club.

 

Determined Jets Strike Back

Potton Utd 2 Oxhey Jets 3
Spartan South Midlands Premier
22nd September 2018

Well, he huffed, and he puffed and as threatened he blew the house down !!

Tim O’Sullivan blew last week in the defeat at Harefield in the FA Vase, he said not acceptable, I won’t put up with this, and his threats became a reality as he made five changes, included one new signing debut for a 17-year-old and a bench debut too for a young player from our excellent reserve side.

Jets on the back of five straight defeats ( two in cup comps) had to make changes, and the players had to respond, and what a big ask at Potton United, fresh from the UCL League and one of the preseason fancied teams, also Jets longest away trip so not a day most were looking forward to.

Heavy A1 traffic and red lights jammed near the ground made the long trip even longer and ruined the staff’s pre-match plans, and a quick prep was put into place, but there was time for the old sourpuss to growl his requirements for the day.

Formation and shirt occupiers meant that he had an excellent midfield choice lining up together of Stevens, Brennan and Jones, one that injuries and holidays have stopped from being possible. Up top, Kerley and an excellent debut start for Ollie Lawford, just 17, who has joined us from youth football at Chesham. Jets back line also changed with both Jamie Speer and Harry Beaumont recalled to the side.

The heavy rain only brightened briefly by the nice pass over by the Lancaster bomber, made the excellent pitch slippery. It was hard and wet, so this was going to favour the ballplayers, and both sides had them. Potton’s rapid wingers were a right handful, and Speer and Beaumont had excellent matches holding these lads at bay. Jets and Potton were end to end, and it was a right old ding dong, but with this surface and the unpredictable officials, anything could happen.

Jets got the early break, and it was puppy love as young teenage sprat Ollie Lawford who got his first assist. With a frame built for either speed or the Mr Muscle advert auditions, the nippy kid beat his man and laid the perfect ball to Nick Kerley to at first be denied by the keeper but instantly pounce on the loose ball to tap the rebound into the empty net 0-1.

Jets kept pushing, and there were near misses both ends then the most bizarre of decisions by the match officials was to bring the game level. Potton pumped a high ball into the box, and a massive penalty appeal went up as Deji, foot very high, cleared but also caught the tall striker on the head. The striker went down and stayed down with Nooo from the referee. Brennan cleared, but the ball came straight back and seeing the ball coming towards him the downed striker had enough recovery to lift his legs in scissor format to allow the ball through across goal and into the net. To everyone’s amazement, it was given, then not given then after a long, long discussion by the ref and assistant given amongst scenes of disbelief. It was so wrong. A penalty perhaps in the first place, but once it became play on and the player reacted to the low cross, he became active and had to be offside.

The decision threw Jets as they do lose their heads at times and the hosts took the upper hand and increased their tally 2-1 with a calm slot on a total clear break.

It was a worrying period and again on a 1:1 it looked all over, but Matty Evans pulled off a great save to keep Jets in the contest. Jets weren’t quite ticking on all cylinders in the midfield. They were a little deep and with the slippery top surface and speed of the players’ Jets withdrew, the difference today being the anticipation was better and the front two far more in tune with each other than previous matches. Halftime 2-1

The talk was firm, positive then reduced entirely to tears of laughter as Tim’s moment of generosity met with disbelief to the horror of the boss. Worrying about Leigh Stevens footwear choice he offered him as the same size his sideline Adidas World Cup 66 type “cos they are studs”. Leigh politely refused the offer saying “I don’t feel they will help me improve much, to be honest”. Silence before the whole changing room cracked up as once the first person broke, everyone did! They will now go to the Natural History Museum.

So, atmosphere lifted, Jets came out and from the off went for the equaliser. It wasn’t a long wait when following a hotly disputed free-kick for a foul on skipper Gibson ( camera proved the officials right on this one). A twice scrambled clear attack was then hit by Nick Kerley from outside the box, and it beat the keeper coming up off the surface and into the net 2-2.

Jets stayed in the ascendancy as the hosts appeared to tire and another long-range effort by Luke Jones, who had lifted his match so much in the second period it was like a substitution that fired jets on all cylinders, flew past the Potton keeper. 2-3 Jets.

Nick Kerley then went through 1:1 and should have tied the game up but missed out and gradually Jets fell back as the jitters of hold what you’ve got took over.

Jets back line now held firm and as tight as Dave Fuller’s wallet whose owner got a lift to the ground which was just three miles from his home rather than use his beautiful new car!

Nick Kerley looked to have completed his hat-trick, but his superb angled shot was to get the fingertip save of the day to deny him.

Jets held out to take home three excellent points.

Man of the match was picked by the sidelines staff today, and they chose Deji after another outstanding battling performance as a sweeper.