Even Game, Shared Points

Oxhey Jets 1 Burnham 1
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
2nd October 2022

Jets hosted high flying Burnham, who have started the season in style, and the two teams played out an even, well fought game to take a point apiece.

Burnham took the lead in the 40th minute with a Rhys Harper goal, and Jets were disappointed to be behind at half-time.

Jets, however, started the second half strongly and levelled the game when Marcus Rivers finished well from a threaded cross ball from Kyle Matthew.

All Jets good work, however, looked like it was going to come to nothing when Burnham were awarded a penalty for handball, but Karl Beaumont got a strong hand low down to save the penalty kick.

1-1 looked a fair result, a good Jets performance against strong opponents.

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Tom Inch is the September Player of the Month

Congratulations to Tom Inch, our September Player of the Month. Tom had an exceptional month with 2 more Man of the Match awards, making it 3 already for the season. He played a vital role in all our games, and switched successfully to central defence when Sam Denham was out through injury. Well done Tom!

Oxhey Jets vs Burnham
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
1st October 2022        3:00 pm

Jets Back With A Win

Oxhey Jets 3 Penn & Tylers Green 0
FA Vase 2nd Preliminary Round
24th September 2022

Jets made line-up changes following the midweek defeat, and things came good for this important FA Vase match against Penn & Tyler Green FC.

Chippy’s return was disappointingly delayed, following his dislocation, for a further seven weeks, and skipper Sam Denham moved to the bench with the problem ankle, so it was Sam Cahill pushed into the emergency centre half alongside the wise Tom Inch, and together they had a top-notch defensive match.

Conrad Holland was suspended for the moment’s dumbness at Flackwell that was so costly, and the staff reshuffled the squad searching for that combination that could get and hold a result.

Owen Ayres got his deserved start, and in the first half was outstanding in all aspects causing the visitors a lot of problems.

The early pressure was all Jets. Owen hit the bar, Marcus Rivers was twice inches away from the opener, and a rather weak penalty appeal was turned down by the superb official.

Jets grabbed the lead on the half hour, and it was an excellent goal for Owen Ayres from outside the box, a teasing curler well placed right next to the post (31 mins), his first goal for the first team in a competitive match.

Jets had most of the chances and pressure but no more to show for it at the break.

Jets did their old trick, coming out for the second half they went cold !! Now the visitors had the ball, defensively held at bay by Jets, but they looked uninterested and lacking any urgency. It was a matter of would Jets wake up and put their stamp on the game again.

On the half-hour after the flag denied them Jets got the weirdest penalty I’ve seen for a long time. Kyle Matthew, giving the defender a hard time, was battling for the ball when the defender did the weirdest dive I’ve ever seen, reminiscent of a killer whale jumping then belly flopping to ground. (Worth watching the match video for this alone!). The referee easily waved it on, somehow not laughing but luckily watching as Kyle was then brought down in the area, and she went straight to the spot at it was converted by Jameel.

You felt that was game over, and it was when Sean Giordmaina shot low into the net 86 minutes 3-0 all over.

Welcome back to another player from the past glory days as Spencer Bellotti donned a Jets shirt again, and was twice denied by the keeper and headed another against the crossbar.

A welcome win at full time against a great bunch of lads bothon and off the pitch.

Jets man of the match was picked by Chippy and he picked his own position, the double act between Tom Inch and Sam Cahill. He could not split them, Tom the wise head and Sam the learner and he actually passed to a player in blue today 😂

Pre-match a big thank you to the Spartan South Midlands League, who had officer Mike Taylor turn up and present a superb plaque and award to John Elliott for his 50 years service to Jets and Football. A truly outstanding gesture with Jets having been moved to the Combined Counties North this season.

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Match Video (13:23 for the belly flop!):-

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Stoppage Time Anguish For Defiant Jets

Flackwell Heath 2 Oxhey Jets 1
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
17th September 2022

Jets lost to a high flying Flackwell Heath, and rarely in my many years running Jets have I felt more sorry for the team and staff than in this defeat today.

The staff had the nightmare of the worst attitude and excuses possible with five late pull outs and three on the day, some past the meet times for the most pathetic unacceptable excuses I’ve heard, and from people in some cases who think they should be playing higher up the pyramid, this probably shows them why they are not !!

Add to the above covid biting again and two hospital cases, and Jets are starting to think we’ve run a black cat over at the moment.

Manager Kevin Christou and Coach Tom Inch set the day out, and the team played it to the core. It was defensively and unit wise one of the best performances of the season.

Jets set out to offer possession, but no chances, to Flackwell and they stuck to it and worked hard to deliver the plan. Tom Inch was outstanding all the game and was rock solid with Harry Brady next to him also having an excellent match.

It was a faultless 85 mins by the team with Sam Cahill and Deago Dunbar-Bonnie shutting the wings down then countering to cause the home side problems, who were roared on by a nearly 500 crowd.

First half chances were limited, but Jets best one was when Tom Shaw, who had a strong debut, delivered a ball into the area after battling to win possession and, as the keeper spilled it, Ricardo had a golden chance, but hesitated and the scramble that followed could not be converted.

The only real disappointment that could cost Jets was the petty needless fouls that were giving possession to the home side and inviting them on.

For the second half Flackwell adjusted their formation and came at Jets a little more. Karl Beaumont in goal was called on a few times to make the saves, some late on at 1-1 were stunning.

Jets took the lead on the hour with an excellent low daisy cutter by Kyle Matthew, who beat the keeper with the his well-placed shot into the corner.

Minutes later young Reid Sims, on for Ricardo, had a great opportunity and the shot just inches over, but he probably knows he had just a bit more time to compose and finish, but young talent is learning on the job for Jets this season, so patience and understanding needed.

Two massive turning points were to cost Jets. With just ten minutes to play Harry Brady went down and dislocated his shoulder and became the third Jets player to end up in hospital in two matches. This caused a reshuffle, and the tightness and understanding he and Tom had forged was not quite as tight.

With just four to play Jets were furious and hanging on when the referee ( linesman’s fault really) missed a blatant, and I mean yards, offside attack either ball watching or now all becoming influenced by the howling crowd behind the home side.

The error came after a Flackwell attack had broken down thanks to an incredible save by Beaumont and an equally incredible tackle by injured skipper Sam Denham, who had to be named and thrown into action because of the unacceptable actions of the players mentioned at the start !! A corner was given instead of the offside, and Jets paid the price when a bullet header beat the defence to level the match.

Tempers frayed, and the final minutes were not good to see, and the officials seemed to completely lose control, perhaps overwhelmed by the crowd numbers.

Then Conrad Holland and Jets were to pay the price fully for picking up stupid yellows when your game is based on a tigerish work rate and tackles. Having been booked earlier for kicking the ball away ( yes again when someone else gave away a pointless needless free kick with a player going nowhere), then picked up a second yellow, so red and Jets had to play the last two plus stoppage with 10 men.

Very deep into stoppage time and Jets were heartbroken. The shot was unstoppable, and the points gone. Unacceptable scenes followed as the home side chose to celebrate right down the line through and beyond the away dug out area. Handbags all around, which was a shame as it was an incredible game of football.

I say again, rarely have I felt more sorry for a team or the staff in my 50 years tenure of Jets.

Man of the match was easy. Two nominations offered, Tom Inch and Kyle Matthew and the unanimous decision went to Tom Inch.

Before the match full respects we’re paid to HMQ Elizabeth ll and also to my sister Val who passed away Thursday. On behalf of my family I’d like to thank all the Jets teams this weekend and their opponents for their kind words and respects.

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