Jets Surge Back Into The Battle

Edgware & Kingsbury 0 Oxhey Jets 1
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
28th March 2023

Oxhey Jets, detached at the bottom of the Combined Counties Premier North league table since August, continued their recent surge in form with a shock 1-0 win away at in-form Edgware and Kingsbury.

This win takes them off the bottom of the table and gives Jets hope that they can avoid relegation this season. Three win in their last three games, the first time Jets have had three consecutive wins since January 2022, and all with clean sheets (the first time since February 2020), and Jets’ young side are showing what they are capable of.

Edgware and Kingsbury went into the game top of the league form guide and also had the benefit of playing on their 4G pitch.

Jets, though, had the advantage of the slope in the first half and attacked hard, creating several chances, including one sequence of shots where it looked sure that Jets must score.

The opening goal finally arrived in the 36th minute. Young Henry Dudley picked up the ball on the right-hand side and accelerated straight at the Edgware defence before powering home his shot from just inside the area.

The Edgware and Kingsbury Twitter at half-time said that it could have been more, and they were relieved that their side was only a goal down.

In the second half Jets had to cope with playing against the slope, and Edgware & Kingsbury, a good footballing side, pushed forward. Jets, though, coped with the pressure and the home side only created one really good opportunity that was saved by Lewis Lavin in the Jets’ goal.

Jets might have even got a second as, pushing forward on the counter, they had a shot that hit the bar.

A very good performance with the two Jets centre halves, Sam Scott and Ben Delicata sharing the Jets Man of the Match award.

Joint manager Tom Inch described the first 45 minutes as Jets best performance since he started his role in October, and that the second half showed control and a desire to hold onto the win.

Still a lot of work to do, but Jets have given themselves an opportunity to achieve their own ‘Great Escape’.

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Top Performance From Jets

Oxhey Jets 2 Hilltop 0
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
25th March 2023

Jets hauled themselves back into the relegation fight with a superb 2-0 home win against Hilltop.

Changes were made following consecutive disappointing defeats. Sam Woods departed for fellow relegation fighters Chalfont and Jets brought in three new players to boost the squad. Remell Stirling and David Levy started for their debuts and young Jordan Okwor, another superb young prospect from Warren Gladdy’s academy, started from the bench.

Jets started brightly on a heavy pitch following the monsoons of the recent days but we looked a team with more intent and purpose.

The early chances were Jets and it was David Levy who thought he had opened his account but the cross-goal shot was agonisingly wide, then (we blame a bobble 😂) one over into the farmer’s field, while Hilltop clattered the Jets crossbar with our defence beaten.

A smart move by the debutants opened the scoring when Remell played an exquisite ball across to David Levy, who squared for Ethan Goulding to side foot into the net for his first goal for Jets since joining us from the Watford FC academy on work experience (18 minutes).

It was a lively game and many chances were created in the end-to-end encounter. Ethan was bolt-on for a second, but a good block denied as it did Sam Scott’s blaster as Jets, looking hungry, went for broke.

The Jets midfield, led by skipper Tommy, was at its best today and Henry was superb, covering every blade of the ground, it was a different Jets.

The big break came just two minutes from half-time. David Levy again powered into the box but was denied. Remell Stirling picked up the ball and did a 360 before placing home off the post to double Jets advantage. 2-0 HT

Disaster struck for Jets within minutes of the restart. The lively Levy was cautioned for delaying the start of play and then, moments later, was pushed in the back while going in on goal, the referee decided it was not enough for the tumble and issued a red ( 2 yellows) while not wondering why a player would go down when in on goal. Veo confirms a push but no appeals for yellows so a blow for jets.

Now the battle. Ten men to hold their lead for 38 minutes against a good footballing team.

Jets dug in and it was the defence’s turn to take the battle, and GK Lewis Lavin’s handling was top draw and the whole defence, Jack James, Sam Scott, Nugs and Ben Delicata were faultless.

Tommy had been in bed ill all week and had to come off but the wise old head of Warren Gladdy went on to steady the young side.

Jets young and at times reckless team kept countering and Kieran Patterson added to the front runners to keep the pressure on Hilltop’s defence.

It was great to see another Warren academy prospect Jordan Okwor joining his mentor on the pitch and what an impact he made with his menacing turn of speed, and only an excellent save denied him the golden start.

Jets man of the match was difficult. There was a reason for the whole team to be nominated. Owen Ayres had, in my opinion, his best game of the season, the first 45 minutes was stunning, and Henry Dudley could easily have had the nod. One person, though, had a real above-and-beyond performance, and scored, Ethan Goulding took the Carlsberg MoM for his whole display.

Having new attacking options opened different tactics and formations for Jets and it all worked out on the day as Jets although outsiders in the relegation battle are at least back in the mix for safety.

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Jets Shine Through the Storm

Oxhey Jets 3 Bovingdon 0
St Marys Cup Quarter-Final
14th March 2023

A much needed win, no matter what the competition. Jets young team needed the confidence boost of a much needed win after a disappointing 8 days. The much loved St Mary’s Cup has re started following the Covid break and Jets opponents were old friends, from both of our county league days, Bovingdon Fc.

It was a bitterly cold first half, played in driving rain and strong wind, making the conditions very difficult for players, and almost impossible for photographers!!

Jets took the lead with an OG as a cross came in the defender headed into the net while clearly trying to head wide for a corner, clearly conditions made this more difficult. 1-0 (30 min).

Jets extended the lead on 36 minutes when sixteen year old Henry Dudley, from distance, tucked his shot into the bottom corner from around 25 yards, helped by a small deflection.

Jets stayed in the driving seat for the half and you could see the “kids” growing in confidence.

Bovingdon made changes at the start of the second half and had their best period of the game, putting Jets under some pressure. The Jets defence held well and GK Lewis Lavin was back to his best, equal to what came his way.

Bovingdon had a big call for a penalty denied and it was clearly the big pressure point of the game for the hosts.

Jets rode the storm, both the weather and the match, and edged back into the game playing a spring and break match, and with three or four massive ping pong scrambles with multi shots raining in from rebounds only excellent goalkeeping by the Bovingdon lad and brave defending denied Jets time and time again.

Jets had the big chance to put the game to bed but the spot kick was missed as Owen Ayres clattered the cross bar, but the reprieve for Bovingdon was short lived as another sixteen year old Archie James scored from distance, curling a nice goal into the net 3-1 and tied the match up.

It really was a case of the rise of the kids tonight and in fairness these youngsters are giving their best week in week out for a side left in trouble by no fault of the present team or staff, and I applaud their dedication and efforts for the club.

Tonight the Carlsberg Jets man of the match went to Owen Ayres.

Jets clearly need to strengthen the squad in numbers and experience as the injuries now pile up as these youngsters struggle with the end of season mountain of fixtures, with bodies not yet strong enough for the demands.

Tom Inch and Dave Barnes are doing a fantastic job rotating and trying to protect the lads while doing their best to save the club’s premier status, but we’ve made it clear this is a rebuild project and next season is part of their spec, no matter what happens I know they are the partnership I want at the club to bring back better days.

The addition of an out and out striker would transform this skilful but inexperienced team.

Tonight the staff said no pressure, enjoy it, win it, get a clean sheet , they did it all but the weather made it less enjoyable for us watchers soaked, cold but a win so who cares !!

The semi final is against Tring Athletic, date TBA.