Jets On The Beach

Oxhey Jets 1 Colney Heath 2
Spartan South Midlands Premier
20th April 2019

To make the quote more printable, manager Tim O’Sullivan said: “they are already on the beach for the close season”. Well some of them were, and most of those left behind looked like they were ready for the rest. The boss was not happy, and it’s looking like the cup final shirt scramble has more playing themselves out than into the team at the moment.

In a hot sunny Boundary stadium, the scene was set for two sides in a safe no man’s land able to put on an excellent football display for the paying public, live on the radio thanks to Chris Walker at CWONAIR internet radio, the officials sensible with a water break during injury all was good.

The game started end to end the visitors having more composure on the ball and the edge, but Jets competing but lacking the quality of late with the final ball.

Jets keeper Matty Evans has been on great form and today, back from a romantic two-week break, he continued it making saves that kept Jets alive.

Jets response was to counter and score a great goal, when one of the best moves was to end with a cutting pass from Luke Jones opening up the defence for Jets best outfield player today Sean Giordmaina to coolly latch on and slot 1-0 (15 mins) and Jets first worth a mention shot on target.

Jets continued to be the lesser possession team as the midfield was non-existent. The pitched looked like a volleyball set up with a large gap in the middle and both sides playing the long ball, but Colneys efforts were far more accurate.

Jets had a big chance to extend the lead further when a pinpoint cross from Nick Kerley landed perfectly to Kyle Johnson who somehow missed the header and shouldered the ball over. Probably the miss of the match and a massive turning point.

Minutes later the visitor’s pressure paid off when George Devine lobbed a peach to level 1-1 (38min)

Jets faded more in the second period, and in honesty, the official became a little confusing after an excellent 70 mins. Jets players lost their heads, and Henry Marku was cautioned and immediately replaced protecting him from any red card with the St Mary’s Cup final within the now ban period as today’s result as well as Henry was playing was little compared to cup final availability.

Jets were breached again from a corner with an excellent header by Sears-Black 1-2 (84 min)

Jets best period followed after a spell of complete ill-discipline that saw Giordmaina, Johnson and Ikusemori all cautioned, but it was Jets most dangerous period too.

Jets pushed, and although the set pieces lacked quality (frankly a mess), there were half chances.

In stoppage time, however, came the result changing decision that cost us a point. It was a blatant and I mean blatant handball stone walled bolt on penalty not given. Nothing will convince me otherwise! Some of our players’ dissent in the final moments didn’t help the no-decision but no it was, and Jets lose their second on the bounce as they fade out past the post. Still. come on, its a lot better than the nerve-racking dramas of last season to stay up, so we shouldn’t moan about a sleepy top 10 place.

Man of the match was easy. There was only one pitch player worthy and that was Sean Giordmaina, but after today you must choose keeper Matty Evans as he was time and time again outstanding when all failed in front of him.

The Reserves already promoted won 0-6 at Lemsford.

The Vets stay in the hunt for runners up with an away win at Oxhey Reserves. Manager Tony Marren, like the first team, was unhappy with the lack of availability. Out of that, though, came a proud moment for long time stalwart Marc Ayres who shared the pitch with son Owen for the first time a few days after Owens 16th Birthday and also with brother Dean, a great family moment sealing what this club is all about.

 

United Show Their Strength

Oxhey Jets 1 Biggleswade Utd 4
Spartan South Midlands Premier
13th April 2019

The sun came out, recent forms been sound, two footballing teams, so today hopes were high for an excellent old end to end ding dong.

The day started well. League officers were there to present the team of the month award for February, the first for us this season.

The match started as we expected, end to end, relentlessly carefree football it was looking full of goals for sure.

Biggleswade had one scramble in the Jets goal mouth that went on for what seemed an hour, but somehow it stayed out, and their carefree attacks were causing us problems.

Jets were also on it, and Nick Kerkey forced two excellent saves to keep the United defence busy as the game lived up to its expectations. Jets downfall, though, was the slack wasteful passes, and it was to cost them dearly more than once.

United grabbed the lead after a weak midfield ball was pounced on and executed to the full and they never looked back then. Jets were being outplayed, outworked, outclassed and chased shadows and were more than happy to be just two down at the break. A big helping hand to that was young Filip Chalupniczak in goal making several saves, Jets were getting the runaround, and it was painful.

Manager Tim O’Sullivan was fuming at the lack of effort and awareness of the game and made clear they had just ten minutes to respond or three changes would be made.

Well in the first minutes yet again a sloppy not excusable loss of the ball sent United on route one down the wing. Jets looked like Tiger Moths chasing Concorde and skipper Tom Gibson poked the ball into his own net desperate to stop it getting to the numerous unmarked players. It was over, Jets in tatters today had capitulated.

Three changes were made, and it was Jets best spell, Sean Giordmaina was denied by a good save with a header, and Nick Kerley went close at the post. The main trouble now was getting the balls back from the farmer’s field as so many were inexplicably blasted high out the ground today.

Jets pulled a goal back with a Scott Bonner header from a perfectly placed free-kick. The response after that though angered the manager as he expects more fight from his team. Pull one back yes, eight minutes to go, keep going, get another but never give up.

Jets today got burned off out of sight again and the easiest of slots no4 within two minutes made it 1-4, end of game.

United were excellent today and look like a team ready to make a strong promotion bid next season. Jets, though, fell well short of what they are capable of. It was totally unacceptable today, and many people had a wake-up call.

Jets Man of the match was a two-player contest between the keeper and the midfielder. The manager picked Andy Brennan as the clear winner.

Terrific Reserves Win Herts FA Intermediate Cup

Oxhey Jets Reserves 2 Royston Town Reserves 0
Herts FA Intermediate Cup Final
9th April 2019

Jets Reserves beat Royston Town Reserves 2-0 tonight in the Herts Intermediate Cup final at the County Ground Letchworth.

Jets goals came from Ashley Fongho (20 min) and Andre Lopes (90+1).

Royston started the brighter but Jets looked dangerous on the break.

Ashley Fongho put Jets ahead in the 20th minute with a superb strike and from then on Jets looked the stronger team and the one more likely to score again.

In fact, good work by the Royston keeper continued to deny Jets, so much so that he was given the Herts FA Man of the Match award.

While it remained just 1-0 Jets were always vulnerable to one good shot from Royston. It nearly happened two minutes from time but a tremendous save from Jets keeper Drilon Ajeti denied Royston and preserved Jets lead as full time approached. Drilon was made the Jets Man of the Match primarily for that save, so pivotal to the end result.

Then in the 91st minute Jets finally sealed the win with a fine left-footed cross goal shot from Andre Lopes which started huge Jets celebrations by players, management and supporters.

Great win for the Reserves.

Goals and Celebrations

Extended Highlights