Jets Hold Playoff Bound Belstone
Oxhey Jets 1 Belstone 1
Cherry Red Combined Counties Division One
19th April 2025
Jets put on an attacking display against local Belstone in the final home game of the season against a side looking to secure a playoff spot.
There was a big turnout for the game as many of the jubilant 18s team, family, and friends were at the match to celebrate clinching their championship and were introduced to the crowd before the game.
It was a very open game, with so much riding for one team and young Jets playing for next season’s shirts, and in fairness to the Jets, they did not treat it as an end-of-season pain match.
Jets goal scoring has been the problem; again, chances came and went. Still, almost on the first chance against them, they fell behind when midfield sloppiness was punished thoroughly when Mark Ajayi drove into the box after picking up the ball and slotted an excellent goal (38min) to lead at the break.
Jets reshuffled at the break, came out a different side and were streaming forward. One of the biggest reasons was the introduction of Dylan Roberts from the 18s team, who added direct play and goal attempts.
There was much more intent about Jets, but on the counter, Belstone missed two glorious chances to tie up the match.
Jets got their rewards when, no surprise, Dylan Roberts’s tight angle shot beat the keeper 1-1 (68 mins), and his joy was evident celebrating in front of his parents.
Jets streamed forward, and Dylan looked to have got his and Jets second when he followed up on an incredible save that denied Owen Ayres, but the referee said there had been a push earlier in the frenzy.
Ayres then had a golden chance, but the crossbar denied him, and with the news trickling in the close opponents Hillingdon was losing, Belstone were safely in the playoffs and happily accepted the point; probably, the Jets were more disappointed.
The man of the match went to the now-consistent Luke Nugent, but not far behind him, it must have been the second-half substitute Dylan Roberts, who turned the game on its head by adding forward power.
Jets play their final game Tuesday Away at Reading City against Woodley, who need a win to give them a chance to avoid the relegation spot. Woodley are in hot form, winning four on the bounce to get off the bottom and now have safety in sight.
Congratulations to our 18’s Title Winners In Their First Season
Oxhey Jets vs Belstone
Saturday 19th April 3pm
Jets Battle Out Goalless Draw
PFC Victoria 0 Oxhey Jets 0
Cherry Red Combined Counties Division One
12th April 2025
Jets were rarely troubled at the back, and Henry Ford was on good form in goal, clearing up the crosses, but at the break, there were no goals and few chances, the highlight being watching the non-stop Jets coming into LHR just clearing the ground.
In the second half, the heat started to take its toll, and the Jets possession-wise got on top slightly but still had little penetration. Then, a big opening as David Barbakadze was played through, but as the keeper went to ground, the striker went low, and the keeper blocked.
It was late on when chances came, and Owen Ayres superbly controlled and slotted the keeper, but this time, the inside of the post stopped the notch, then a scramble which Ayres thought had crossed the line was not to be. Without a doubt, the best save of the day denied Dylan Roberts, whose excellent bending dipper had everyone calling goal, but an absolute top-draw save denied him and Jets the full points.
Dylan had injected more force into the Jets after coming on and was unlucky not to score, but on the day, it was Jets’ first goalless match since Easter Monday, 2023.
Man of the match was a unanimous decision for young Lucio Cappuccini.
Jets Strong Again Against Playoff Contenders
Oxhey Jets 2 Westside 2
Cherry Red Combined Counties Division One
5th April 2025
Jets’ good form and tests against the playoff sides continued with a credible 2-2 Draw against second-placed Westside at the boundary on a sunny but blustery Saturday.
Jets were off to a flyer with a superb strike high into the net by Michael Kelly that put the high-flying visitors on Jets alert that today would not be a stroll as the Jets restored some pride after the nightmare March.
Out of contention, Jets role now is helping decide the playoff places with the away win at Yately ending their challenge and last week’s draw with third-place Penn and now testing ourselves against second-placed Westside.
Jets were buzzing, and a tremendous ball from David Lopes sent George Rice clear and the nippy winger cut in and converted calmly 2-0 on the stroke of halftime (2-0 42 mins). Jets had looked dangerous but had some good defending to do with Luke “Nugs” Nugent again having a top game against a very good forward, and when Jets were breached, Lewis Lavin was right on tee.
The second half was end-to-end and an excellent game for the spectators, with the visitors upping their game. Jets were really competing and proving themselves against an outstanding team.
There was a big loss for Jets as Danny Fowler was taken to Hospital in what was confirmed as triple torn ligaments, sadly ending his season early.
George Rice again was played in on goal but taken down, and Owen Ayres was a coat of paint away from taking the game out of reach, hitting the inside of the post from the free kick.
The swing was then started with a sound slot by Trevor Webster (73 min) to put the favourites back in the match.
The Jets held firm, and chances at both ends threatened the scoreline. Then, there was heartbreak for the Jets as seven minutes into stoppage, the ball was tamely lost on the halfway line and lumped forward. The bounce was unbelievable, and Kai George sent the bouncing ball towards the net. Despite defenders trying everything, they could not leap high enough to prevent the goal, and the referee blew full time at the restart. 2-2
Disappointing, but a good display again.
The man of the match was easy and unanimous, Nugs, who has been outstanding since his recall to the side.
Oxhey Jets vs Westside
Saturday 5th April 3pm
Outstanding Jets Show Their Potential
Oxhey Jets 1 Penn & Tylers Green 1
Cherry Red Combined Counties Division One
1st April 2025
Jets were no April fools as they showed the better side of their form with an excellent draw against promotion play-offs Penn & Tyler Green FC.
You could sense the importance to P&T as their team and support had as many Flackwell Heath tracksuits ( step 4 play-off hopefuls) as their own, maybe remembering how Jets played in the fantastic win at their pad earlier this season.
The visitors were off like F1 drivers from the off, playing precise football at an incredible pace, but Jets’ young team did its best to live with them and contain but were very much the chasing side.
An incredibly skilful goal gave P&T the early lead a twist and shoot shot from Mathews Ayres (11 min 0-1)
The worst was now feared falling behind so early. Still, Jets dug in bravely and went nose to nose with the visitors, just at times let down by the final ball, ending some promising areas of play, but very much defending excellently and springing promising attacks.
The staff tinkered at the break, and the second-half performance was incredibly belittling of the previous month’s form. Jets, not P&T, were romping forward and totally turned the tide, and the flow went towards the away defence who were now the team digging in.
With time running out, could Jets get the deserved rewards. When it came, it was some incredible solo goal, as sub David Barbakadze went on a mazy run which had everyone on their feet and calmly slotted past the advancing keeper (1-1 84 min)
Now it was Jets pouring forward, and it looked like they were to get their just rewards as George Rice was blatantly pushed as he was about to shoot on a clear goal following a scramble. The referee, though, was unmoved and incredibly, the assistant said yes, he saw it but wasn’t allowed to indicate free kicks; challenged that he had indeed done that in the first half, he replied, that was a free kick; I can’t indicate penalties !!!! Then why the hell are we paying neutral assistants if they can’t assist the referee in critical match-deciding decisions?
At full-time Jets were almost disappointed at the point, and there was nothing but praise for the Jets team for an outstanding performance and four points taken this season from such an excellent team.
The Jets man of the match took ages to decide an indication of the performance, and the decision went to TJ in midfield.
Saturday Jets play second-place Westfield as they get to have a say in the play-off places even if an awful March cost them personal participation, but tonight was a reminder of how much ability this young side has on its day.
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Oxhey Jets vs Penn & Tylers Green
Late Brander Strike Wins It For Jets
Colliers Wood 1 Oxhey Jets 2
Cherry Red Combined Counties Division One
29th March 2025
Jets, at last, bounced back after a run of disappointing performances and defeats to get three points on the road in a challenging mid-table game at Colliers Wood FC.
The pressure was on the players today to perform, and it was not a good start pre-travel with pullouts and fair play to young players responding at a minute’s notice in some cases.
This was a game of sections in many ways, with both teams having sections of the game; Jets were fast out of the blocks, with Rice and Brander causing problems for the home defence. Jets took the lead with a sweet goal; a perfectly flighted free kick by Owen Ayres planted an inch-perfect at the back post for Craig Stephen-Lett to head across the goal into the side netting. (0-1 22min)
Patrick Brander had an excellent header denied by a superb save as Jets pushed hard, but then the pendulum swung, and the hosts put Jets under a lot of pressure. Two players really stood out for Jets, GK Lewis Lavin made some excellent saves and “Nugs” Luke Nugent was superb, winning critical little touches and tackles to deny the nippy home forwards time as they took control of the centre ground, but Jets held firm and defended deep to hold the lead at the break.
TJ came on due to an injury at the break. His strength and Lopes’s were critical for the Jets, holding the early pressure as the home side used the slope on a bumpy pitch to their advantage. Still, Brian McGovern was one player really rising to the challenge, who was winning everything and clearing his lines with no messing.
Woods struck early when the long ball over the top sprung the offside line, and Nathan Best slotted well (1-1 57 mins)
Now was the big test: would this young Jets side fold again? But no, the game swung again, and in the last quarter, it was Jets starting to open the home side, and a massive talking point was when the home keeper came a long way out of the area to win the ball but messed up. Owen Ayres sprinted towards the area and a simple slot. Still, the keeper dived and tripped him in what looked like a definite Red, but the referee decided on Yellow as it was so far out, and players were coming in from both sides.
Jets then survived with an important decision as a home run into the box saw the Wood forward tumble to the ground, another big call. Still, the referee decided it was a dramatic fall, not a foul.
A header from Ayres looked goal-bound but over; then, the Jets looked to have it as a Patrick Brander shot/cross beat the keeper, and I think a puff of wind must have somehow brought the ball along the line but out.
At this point, both sides, I think, would have settled, but with five minutes of stoppage played, young Henry Atkinson’s persistence robbed the defender, and lay off to Patrick Brander was inch perfect, and a powerful shot belittling his frame went past the keeper and into the nets for three big points and more importantly a big moral boost for everyone on and off the pitch. A mention and thanks to supporters on one of our longest trips to South Wimbledon and a big and strong following, fantastic.
The man of the match was unanimously given by the bench staff for Brian McGovern, whose performance was superb in the second half. Still, Nugs was also given a big mention, especially for his first half.
It wasn’t a stunning performance, but the effort and desire were back..
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Owen Ayres is our February Player of the Month
February saw Jets win two and lose two. There were strong performances from youngsters Henry Atkinson and Brian McGovern, and Dom Mosca was again in the goals with three more in the month.
The standout player, though, and our February Player of the Month, is Owen Ayres, with a thrilling return to form. Owen scored in the matches against RB Kensington and Yateley. He was the clear Man of the Match in the 4-3 win at Yateley, where the report said Owen “was like his old self working and marshalling the midfield.”
Owen also had an excellent game in the 2-0 win over Langley, just missing out on a second Man of the Match award to Brian McGovern.
Congratulations, Owen, from everyone at Adrian Flux Insurance.