Congratulations to Lewis Lavin, Our Adrian Flux Insurance April Player of the Month.

In a demanding April schedule of 9 games, including 7 in just 17 days, the young Jets team were at full stretch. With a high level of all-around commitment, there were 9 different Jets Man of the Match winners, so there were plenty of candidates for Player of the Month.

The standout, though, was goalkeeper Lewis Lavin. Importantly ever-present, Lewis added to his Man of the Match performance at Broadfields with constant mentions of good saves on both Jets and opposition web pages and Twitter, notably in Jets wins at Windsor and Holyport and the draw against North Greenford.

Both Sean Giordmaina and Remell Stirling had notable months, both with 3 goals – and Sean also received the Man of the Match in the Egham game – but neither was ever present and so fill the Runners-up places.

Man of the Match awards also went to Tommy Kennard, Jack James, Archie James, David Levy, Warren Gladdy, Ben Delicata and Jordan Okwar which only goes to emphasise the commitment that was shown throughout the team.

Congratulations Lewis from the team at Adrian Flux Insurance.

Brave Effort From Jets Ends in Unexpected Extra-Time

Oxhey Jets 2 Tring Athletic 5 (after extra time)
St Marys Cup Semi-Final
29th April 2023

Jets biggest gate of the season of 148 saw them put up a brave fight against local friends and rivals Tring Athletic in the St Mary’s Cup semi-final but finally fell in extra time of a match that, by the competition rules, should not have had extra time but gone to penalties on 90 mins, summing up how things have gone for Jets this season.

It was a good game in the sunshine, Tring in honesty having the upper hand over a tired-looking Jets, but Jets in full applause to them dug deep and would not surrender.

Tring opened the scoring 15mins converting in off the post.

Jets responded with a great move finding young Jack James, overlapping superbly to score his first goal for the Jets ( 23 mins).

On the brink of half time, Lewis Lavin kept Jets square with a superb tip over the bar for 1-1 at the break but is severely hampered picking up a bad cut and injury after bravely saving at feet and getting stood on in the scramble that followed.

The half-time was a hard patch-up for the young keeper who was in much pain and ten minutes into the second half was punished as the injury restricted him and was unable to hold the ball and the loose ball ran home.

With seven minutes to go that man Chippy pops up again, after scoring his first-ever goal in the last match he headed no2 today to level things at the Boundary heading home a corner 2-2 Harry Brady.

The referee, who didn’t know the competition rules, took the match into extra time, and then, inexplicably, played an advantage from a foul on Jets that was to Tring’s benefit and they went on to score the decisive third goal.

Jets just died on their feet then as the extra time was too long for a young team that has played far too many games in the last three weeks, and Tring ran out 2-5 winners in the second period.

It was hard on Jets confidence and hearts and heads already suffering from the kick of relegation, a fact sarcastically pointed out by the referee to our players during the match which our supporters thought was disgusting.

Jets man of the match went to Jack James, having a fantastic game and showed again that age does not matter, and Dave Barnes and Tom Inch are fantastic supporters of the young players.

We wish Tring well for the final. They are a smashing club and their team is a tribute to playing and rebuilding a club with youngsters after they too, in their recent history, had to start from scratch like we have this season.

From the Jets nothing but praise for the young guns who have given their best, I hope the FA and Combined Counties at least learn from our pains this season as they have innocently, with league moves and fixtures, conspired to help make it happen.

Young Jets Show Their Style

Hilltop 0 Oxhey Jets 3
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
25th April 2023

Jets closed their first season in the Combined Counties with a 0-3 away win at Hilltop who have been sitting in the top ten all season, summing up young Jets’ improvement at the level, all be it too late to save their necks, but the pride for them is they have turned it around and learned and progressed, and looking at team sheets in the league this week at least we know we did it with our own regular players, not a drafted in side to save our necks !!

Jets, already technically relegated, had pre-match disruption when the team had to be changed due to some weird outside interference regarding a youth match who were playing Jets academy the next day, but the lad from our team didn’t flinch and turned out to get the man of the match award, well done Archie James what a fantastic prospect for us and Warren’s Pro Direct academy.

The early pressure was all Jets, and Ben Delicata fired home but was ruled out by the flag. The Jets pushing continued and it wasn’t long until again Ben Delicata got back in the action and his shot was diverted into the net by Chippy ( Harry Brady) for his first-ever Jets goal (at the right end. 😀 ) 0-1.

Both sides actually played nice football on a very difficult pitch in very low lighting and it was a relief for Jets, as the game had swung a little, when David Levy opened the defence with a cross-pitch ball and Remell Stirling was at the back post to net 0-2. This brought furious protest from the home team, but to no avail, for offside but the cameras prove the officials correct.

The second half was more cagey and the light more difficult for sure but Jets tied up the match and win when Remell found Sean Giordmaina out wide and the nippy winger went straight for goal and hammered home number 3, 0-3, strangely more protests for offside yet the lad had passed multiple defenders and shot from just inside the area.

One blot for the home side was being reduced to ten men for a double yellow incident of a foul followed by dissent but the game was over and Jets got at least the consolation of a win to finish the league season.

The Carlsberg Jets Man of the Match had the same nominations as the last match, skipper Tommy and Sean, but they were pushed aside by the youngest player on the pitch Archie James, who has to take the famous bottles home for his dad 😂😂 .

The atmosphere in the team is excellent, still condemned to the bottom but just on goal difference. I have said many times the management and young team have done this club proud. The damage was done before their arrival and their efforts are much appreciated as are all the loyal supporters and workers who still gave their all when all hope was gone, those famous words jump to mind…… “we’ll be back !!

Overloaded Jets

Egham 6 Oxhey Jets 1
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
22nd April 2023

So near but so far as the maths caught up with luckless Jets at second-placed Egham.

The maths now say relegated but a win in the final match at Hilltop could, with luck, offer one of the prized reprieved spots in the FA Lotto.

Jets’ young and totally inexperienced team have given their best for Jets and I’m both grateful and proud of the way Tom Inch, Dave Barnes and the lads have given their all to try to save Jets’ status while learning on the job.

The team were doing well when the normal football was in play but once it went Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday every week the legs, heads and hearts just found it too much after hauling Jets back from the massive deficit taking over Jets with only two points.

The run-in was too much in a week, champions and points centurions Ascot, then 5th placed Virginia Waters and now second place Egham, who are warming up for their playoff final for their next match.

Jets started brightly, very brightly and it’s with amazement that they were denied a penalty in the opening minutes by the referee as David Levy was upended on a powerful run into the area. I’m sure if at home with a big crowd and near the top of the league it would have gone our way !!!

Jets had chances and were playing really well and as halftime approached a little disappointed to be a goal down.

Then disaster, but disaster averted, as Lewis Lavin in goal committed a foul but in a flash became a hero by saving the spot kick.

Jets started really brightly in the second period and ex-Egham forward David Levy scored a great solo goal being put through and chipping the keeper superbly. Boy did he enjoy it and with twenty to go the sidelines were praying for a miracle.

It was not to be though as Jets ran out of steam as the promotion favourites threw everything at Jets and the goals rattled in going from 1-1 to 6-1 in a flash, legs and hearts broken.

These young lads have given their best, more minutes than 16-17yr olds could dream of at step 5, and they have grown fast, but then the suspect fixture list caught up with them, and it feels like we fell at the final fence in a steeple chase.

Carlsberg’s Jets man of the match was a two-man nomination from Tom Inch, skipper Tommy Kennard and Sean Giordmaina both covering every blade of grass on the emasculate pitch, and it was decided to share the award, they deserve the bottles.

 

Champions Too Strong For Young Jets

Oxhey Jets 1 Ascot United 5
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
18th April 2023

It was an expected defeat to run away league champions Ascot at the Boundary 1-5 but there were bright signs in periods even though accepted that it was men vs boys so a learning experience for most.

Ascot closing in on 100 points have an FA Vase date at Wembley coming and yet still paid Jets and the Combo Counties the ultimate respect of a full-strength squad ( unfortunately 😁 ) and manager Tom Inch said to the lads you are about to play “ one of if not the best step 5 side in the country.”

Jets fell behind after just two minutes, for the second consecutive match caught cold at kick-off.

Jets then held out well and were denied a bolt-on Penalty when Sean Giordmaina was brought down.

It was looking like a 0-1 at the break but a team of that quality punishes all mistakes and did just that in short succession to make it 0-3 at the break.

In fairness to the young Jets, they kept going and fought back a little to get one back, Ethan converting from the spot for 1-4. Jets should have had another when David Levy was brought down but given outside when photos clearly show inside, unfortunately, the fussy official did not get the majors right.

Ascot rounded up a 1-5 so a little better for us than the 6-0 at their pad and a hat-trick of sheer class from their centre forward. I fully expect this defeat to be to the FA Vase winners come the end of May.

Our man of the match went to David Levy who worked tremendously for the 90 mins.

One damper was the yellows issued to both sides for a match without a malice tackle either way, does nothing for the game this type of policy, and some fans see it as FA fundraising.

But that’s what Moas is for I guess, we voice our opinions on the officials’ performance !!!

Now three to go and we try to save ourselves !!

 

Survival Hopes Suffer A Blow

Broadfields Utd 3 Oxhey Jets 1
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
15th April 2023

Jets stumbled badly on the hope of a relegation miracle against a very good Broadfields team.

Both sides needed changes after the ridiculous fixture list that so many teams are suffering.

Jets fell behind in only the second minute when a ridiculous penalty was awarded. This sent a rocky tone for Jets for the rest of the match and unfortunately gave me the first FA MOAS really bad report to do on a match official for some time.

The foul was obvious, but it started well outside the area, and all the usual cover-up scatter aside of first, second and cover-up phases of play a side it was a clear case of a clever forward too smart for the official, take the foul, hold up, get in the area and fall fast.

Jets got wound up by this and never really recovered. The first half was dreadful. Jets were given the run around from top to bottom and inexplicably just could not get in the game.

Broads opened the margined with a simple square and tap in. They were in full control and the Jets staff were just praying for the half-time break.

The second half was much better. Jets did pull much more together and slowly edge back in the game and it wasn’t really a surprise when David Levy slotted an excellent solo goal. Then it was a matter of could Jets pull out a positive result.

Kieran Patterson beat the keeper with a shot not quite on target but not quite in reach of David Levy and it went agonisingly wide.

An awful piece of bad luck summed up Jets season when the keeper was beaten, the ball hit the inside of the post, bounced up, hit the keeper on the back of the head and came out, not in, for luckless Jets.

In stoppage time, with Jets fully committed and trying desperately to get a point, the sucker punch third killed the match. With no time added in for the understandable but never less excessive time wasting the match was lost and Broadfields made it past the post to safety. We are happy for Broads, they are a very nice club and very good friends of Jets.

It was disappointing but the squad is tired, inexperienced and giving their all. It’s still difficult with the League Champions and Runners-Up to come this week, but these lads have come back from the dead to give it a go and our thoughts are the same. Whatever happens, these lads have done us proud.

Man of the match was given to Lewis Lavin for an excellent first half that kept Jets in the match and gave us the chance to make the attempted comeback in the second half.

Jets On Fire

Windsor 1 Oxhey Jets 3
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
8th April 2023

Jets stormed the castle in the first half of this critical relegation clash as Jets three points adrift at the bottom took on Windsor who were second bottom. Windsor’s Twitter rightly said this was a must-win of all must-win games defeat for Jets would all but seal our fate, and the bank holiday pullouts came thick and fast for jets leaving the staff bewildered of some and only able to field three subs even with manager Tom Inch and Academy boss Warren Gladdy starting.

The Jets’ spirit, though, rose through all the adversity and they started the game on fire. In a fantastic first half, just 15 mins into the match a long through ball from Ben Delicata was raced onto by Remell Stirling who then shielded from a defender before driving a teasing shot across goal, beating the keeper and Sean Giordmaina came in at the back post to drive into the net at a tight angle to open the scoring. 0-1

Just four minutes later Remell himself became the scorer, not the provider, taking a through ball from Ron Sosoli to twist and do a 180 to fire the ball home and create some breathing space for Jets. 0-2

32 minutes gone and Jets opened the gap further when Henry Dudley played an exquisite chip from a free-kick to play in Sean Giordmaina who, from the tightest of angles, rifled confidently past the Windsor keeper (0-3) to blast Jets into clear air space.

Into stoppage time one slip of the defence allowed Windsor to walk one in and the big question now was how decisive this would be.

The first chance of the second half went to Sean Giordmaina who was denied by a superb save. The second period, though, with the slope against, became game management as Jets dug deep on reserves in the heat to keep Windsor at bay and countered on the break.

Now the defence came to the fore and to a man were superb today, but Jets could and should have tied it up as three chances 1:1 with the keeper were not taken, and a little disappointing as a 3-goal win would have taken Jets off the bottom and swapped league places with the hosts.

The man of the match was picked by Dave Barnes, it was a hard day to call. Sean’s two goals on his return from injury, Remell a constant menace, “Nugs” and Lewis excellent and fair play Henry Dudley, who flew home alone early from a family holiday so he didn’t miss the match, you can’t ask more !! Dave’s decision went to the old master Warren Gladdy who was the director-in-chief of his young guns until the legs finally died on him.

Jets are not out of trouble, and still bottom and favourites for the drop, but nine points from twelve has caught us up and made a fight of it. No matter what fate awaits us our pride in this new set-up is unmeasurable, but we are fighting to the end.

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Setback For Jets

Oxhey Jets 1 Wallingford & Crowmarsh 2
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
4th April 2023

Jets failed to live up to recent form last night disappointingly as the previous three games had built up a lot of momentum for the young Jets team.

David Levy missing through suspension due to the dreadful refereeing decision last week, when he was brought down for a penalty and the referee decided it was a simulation, even though he was the only person in the ground, including the opposition, who thought so.

In relegation fights, small decisions have big impacts on outcomes and having to play four games in seven days gives nothing but contempt for a pyramid system as the FA pushes clubs to achieve higher status and grading, and then makes a mockery of the whole season by cramming games in at the end of the season, where results just become a lotto.

All this aside, Jets didn’t really get off the starting line for a large period of the first half. Wallingford were bigger and stronger physically, and some players looked just like in the away game at Wallingford to be reluctant to meet the head-on challenges.

Jets found themselves two down and there were inexcusable mistakes to cause this while at the front end scrambles were not seized upon and opportunities were lost.

One bright spot was the first start for one of Warrens’s young academy lads, a first start and first goal and a first Man of the Match as well.

The Jets management are football people and strong discussions did prompt a better second half, and a large number of yellows for running the clock down shows the visitors were on the back foot, but it was a big ask against a physically strong team.

Sub Sean Giordmaina returning from injury fed a perfect ball for the lightning Jordan to latch onto and fire Jets back in the match. From then on it was Jets streaming forward but, make no mistake here, a series of saves by Lewis Lavin and poor finishing let Jets off the hook as the visitors played the perfect counters on the break catching Jets pushing upfield.

Birthday boy Warren Gladdy came on to double the average age and ran the show, adding guidance to the side and leading the Jets forward, but the legs have limited time.

The tweets from Groundhoppers possibly show us as being harsh as they all say they can’t see how Jets are bottom and that Jets deserved a point. So maybe our disappointment is making our assessment harsh, but the twist and turns in results around us continue as strange and freak results no doubt caused by the stupid, unhealthy fixture list push clubs to a limit far beyond what sensible medical advice would allow.

Disappointing, but we need to brush down and do it all again tomorrow, then Saturday, then Monday, then ……… madness.

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Henry Dudley is Jets Player of the Month for March

March saw Jets earn two vital league wins against Hilltop and Edgware & Kingsbury as well as a cup win against Bovingdon in the quarter-final of the St Marys Cup.

Throughout the month the consistently high-level performances of Henry Dudley caught the attention and earned him the March 2023 Player of the Month Award.

Henry was outstanding, especially in all three Jets wins, and scored the decisive goal in the 1-0 win away at Edgware & Kingsbury, and another goal in the cup win against Bovingdon. Tireless, hard-working and committed to the cause, our congratulations to Henry on a great month.

It was also great to see the determination and performance of the whole team. There were Man of the Match awards for Tommy Kennard, Ben Delicata, Sam Scott, Ethan Goulding and Owen Ayres, and a high level of teamwork that has seen Jets get right back into the battle to avoid relegation from a seemingly impossible position.

Well done Henry. Up the Jets!

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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