POSITIVE START FROM JETS

OXHEY JETS 1 BERKS COUNTY 1
COMBINED COUNTIES DIVISION 1
25TH JULY 2026

Jets opened their league fixtures just as the schools are breaking up for the holidays, another example of the mad route football is following to ruin the traditional season. On a blistering hot day on a scorched pitch made worse by the water shortage and watering ban, incredibly the two teams put on quite a battle in front of a decent crowd and I’m sure both sides are looking at VEO today wondering where they dropped two points.

Jets have half of a new side and looked much stronger physically than last season, but the first match of the season is always interesting to see the bosses cut !!

JETS NEEDED TO DEFEND IN NUMBERS EARLY ON

Berks County are very strong and bounce between the Premier and Division One, and last season missed the promotion zone by just two points, so this was to be a difficult test on day one.

SO UNLUCKY LEWIS LAVIN – GOT A STRONG HAND BUT THE BALL SPINS JUST OVER THE LINE

Berks started the match with more possession, and Jets defended in numbers, with the excellent returning Lewis Lavin in goal showing his ability had not been lost during his time at university. Jets were relying on the break and just as things evened out bad luck struck when a good fast attack by Berks was hit across the box and met by the oncoming Shaun Willie, good move good shot and Lavin was down superbly and got a good hand to deny but unfortunately the ball span upwards and over his outstretched body and rolled just over the line so unlucky for Jets and the keeper 0-1 (18 mins)

PAULIE GIVES JETS A QUICK FIRE EQUALISER AFTER A MAZY RUN

Now the test got harder: how would Jets react? That was answered in less than a minute when Joe Entwhistle-Wilkinson found Paulie Portes-Schuster with an absolute peach of a ball and the tricky player showed his Brazilian magic, first side-stepping the keeper then two defenders to slot 1-1 (19 mins)

The game was a real battle now both sides committed to attack, and the cheekiest shot was a swivelling shot by Spencer Bellotti that was a skin’s thickness off target, and it stayed level at the break.

The second half was much the same; Jets were excellent in defence, Joe Reade and Lucio Capuccini getting extra praise from the manager along with debutant Frankie Pierson in midfield.

PENALTY FOR JETS AS THE COUNTY KEEPER BRINGS DOWN BELLOTTI

The big chance came when Bellotti went clear and was axed down by the keeper, but Paulie Portes-Schuster saw his penalty shot saved by the outstretched keeper by the post.

THE COUNTY KEEPER SAVES PAULI’S SHOT AT THE FAR POST

In the last ten, Jets had to dig deep as injuries and fatigue took their toll, and Jets threw all five from the bench into the battle; they didn’t disappoint, and the game ended in a point apiece, but inspection of veo confirmed Spencer BELLOTTI’s disallowed goal was two yards onside! Guess it’s early season for the officials as well as the players, so a good point, but a little disappointed in the two dropped; on possession, Berks can feel the same.

STRONG KEEPER PERFORMANCE FROM LEWIS LAVIN
LUCIO CAPUCINNI WITH A JOINT MAN OF THE MATCH PERFORMANCE

The Carlsberg man of the match was really difficult; so many good performances, debuts and outstanding effort all around. The final decision was between the incredibly hard-working Frankie Pierson and the twin back-line pairing of Joe Reade and Lucio Capucinni, and the decision went to the centre-back pair of Reade and Capucinni, who could not be split and so shared the award.

Big effort by the lads in extreme summer conditions; nothing but praise all around and club debuts for five players.