Combined Counties Division One
Danny Fowler is Jets February Player Of The Month
February was a mixed month for Jets, with disappointing league results offset by two terrific cup wins over Amersham and Langley. We had five Man of the Match winners – Danny Fowler, James Barnett, James Kimber, Owen Deamer and Owen Ayres. Owen Ayres and Danny Fowler scored three goals, and James Barnett had two goals and an assist.
The Man of the Match award choice came down to two players, Danny Fowler and Owen Ayres. Danny Fowler got the decision because of his consistency throughout the month – he was the Man of the Match against British Airways, scored three goals in the two cup wins, and he was a close runner-up for the Man of the Match in the cup win over Langley.
Congratulations to Danny, well done!
Spirited Comeback From Jets
Molesey 2 Oxhey Jets 2
9th March 2024
Combined Counties Division One
Jets had to show a different side to their game at playoff hopefuls Molesey, having to come back from a 2-0 deficit at halftime against a team that had only lost at home once all season.
Unfortunately, Jets’ nemesis this season are personal errors, personal out-of-character blunders that put the side on the back foot, yesterday was no exception just four minutes in a dreadful cross-field ball was easily intercepted by the lively centre forward to slot. 1-0 (4 mins).
On 36 minutes the deficit doubled, again a mistake rather than a built goal as a defender was caught in possession in his own area and the same ending, slotting past Lewis Lavin, the Jets defence having two big assists.
Strangely at two up the home side was edgy with Jets amount of possession, and they went down to ten men, due to a sin bin offence, for the last few minutes of the half.
A superb positive team talk by the staff set a confident outlook in the second half, even at two down against such a useful side.
Jets from the start attacked with new belief. The only setback was a yellow for Chippy, but the home side hung onto the advantage while running out the sin bin ten.
It was, however, not long after going back to the eleven that Jets struck.
Craig Stephen-Lett and Danny Fowler were combining and piercing the home defence, then the target James Barnett went away clear, but although going slightly wide the defender charged him rugby style straight in his back and the referee went straight to the spot.
Owen Ayres took over as the leading goal scorer, slotting well despite the excellent keeper going the correct way 2-1 ( 56 min).
Jets were now in attack-attack-attack mode, and a couple of defender yellows were for trying to peg Jets back. The leveller looked done when a peach from Danny Fowler was met powerfully by Barnett and we are still trying to work out how the keeper saved high at the bar post join, an incredible stop.
Then the moment for the equaliser. It was a stunner from Andre Lopes who drew back the foot after a Barnett layoff to bend a rocket into the top corner from wide outside the area for a fantastic goal. 2-2 (80 mins).
Jets absolutely bundled forward, but a few chances were fluffed with scuff shots when surely composure would win the match. In a rare attack, frustration showed for Molesey with a straight red for kicking Chippy and with that, and stoppage time to play, the hosts retreated and held on for the point.
It was an incredibly disciplined and excellent point for Jets, a long trip but worth it for an exciting and thrilling battle between the teams.
Man of the match was given to the skipper Owen Deamer for his cool leadership in the middle, driving jets forward. Big congratulations to the whole team for the never-give-up drive all the match.
Match Photo Gallery: –
Assured Performance from Jets
Oxhey Jets 5 Bagshot 1
5th March 2024
Combined Counties Division One
Jets hosted Bagshot tonight in a fixture that had been twice postponed in the last few weeks due to the rain we had in February. Jets though were ready and looked well up for the game and put in an assured performance.
Dylan Hickman Singh opened the scoring in the 15th minute, a defence-splitting pass by James Barnett straight through to Dylan who confidently rounded the keeper and slotted into an empty net.
Owen Ayres made it 2-0 in the 31st minute. This time it was Danny Fowler who played in Dylan down the left. Dylan breezed past his man with ease and dragged it back to Owen Ayres who makes no mistake in shooting past the keeper.
Six minutes later and it was 3-0. The ball falls to Dylan Hickman-Singh on the edge of the box and he smashes it past the keeper.
Jets made changes at half-time, but looking to maintain the momentum and continue to attack.
In the 63rd minute, it was that man Dylan Hickman Singh again who stepped in to get his hat-trick. Andre Lopes had done some great work playing Remell Stirling through. Remell tried to dink the keeper, but the keeper parried it, but only towards Dylan who happily got his third goal on the night.
Jets added a fifth four minutes later. Dylan was there again to get his 2nd assist of the night, slipping in Andre Lopes who fired calmly past the Bagshot keeper.
To their credit, Bagshot never stopped trying and Hugh Harrison Lang denied Jets a clean sheet with his 84th-minute goal.
A strong team performance and a special mention for Roy Byron who made a super Jets debut, but with three goals and two assists there was only one contender for Jets Man of the Match, Dylan Hickman Singh.
Match Photo Gallery: –
Jets Back To Their Best
Oxhey Jets 3 Langley 0
27th February 2024
Esoteric Recordings Division One Challenge Cup 2nd Round
What is it about Jets and Tuesday night cup games at the Boundary Stadium? Yet again, they put on one of their performances of the season to emphatically win this Esoteric Recordings Division One Challenge Cup tie against Langley 3-0.
Fullback Danny Fowler set the match alight on 15 minutes with a super solo goal to open the scoring. Danny ran with the ball down the byline before cutting in to shoot, the keeper tried to clear but Danny pressurised him, nicked the ball from him and slotted home from a very tight angle.
On 32 minutes Danny followed up and added a second. Quick thinking from Lewis Lavin in goal to release Danny Fowler who plays Dylan Hickman Singh down the line. Dylan cuts back to Danny who strikes a bullet past the Langley keeper to secure his brace.
Jets continued to play at their best level, so different from Saturday’s poor effort and gave Langley little opportunity to get back into the game. Skipper Owen Deamer was outstanding in midfield, taking control of the match.
To finish things off, Harry Brady added a third goal for Jets in the 93rd minute. Remell Stirling did some great work on the edge of the box before finding Centre Back Harry Brady making a run into the box to slot confidently past the keeper.
A strong team performance all around, and the main Man of the Match candidates were Danny Fowler and Owen Deamer. Owen Deamer won the vote for his leadership and control of the midfield.
Match Photo Gallery:
Jets Disappoint In The Mud
Spartans Youth 1 Oxhey Jets 1
24th February 2024
Combined Counties Division One
Jets grabbed a deserved point at Northwood v Spartan Youth in a far-from-acceptable performance by the bulk of the Jets side.
Lacklustre is an understatement as chance after chance, 1:1 after 1:1 was opened up and missed or denied, although massive credit must go to the Spartan Goalkeeper on some excellent saves to halt Jets’ advancement in the match.
The dreadful playing surface was no excuse. Jets staff wanted to play it and the Spartans didn’t but I reckon the big loser on the day was the Northwood FC groundsman who has a hell of a job on his hands doing the repairs.
With a young side, you will get highs and lows and the last few games have demonstrated that, the stunning performances versus Amersham to a shoulder-shrugging half-hearted effort in this one. The Amersham result has raised the expectations of management, players and fans, and a makes a fall to this level all the more disappointing.
Yet again a dreadful defensive mistake costs Jets the lead. At the moment goals against are gifts that keep on coming and they are costing Jets badly.
In a match featuring numerous 1:1s not taken, and chances put out of the ground, the finger cannot only be pointed at the defensive mistakes. There were too many 4/10s to outbalance the few to escape the wrath of the management on a poor day at work.
James Barnett shot a thunderous equaliser for a deserved point and the Man of the Match went to the only nomination, James Kimber, who probably stopped more damage when Jets sloppily set Spartans up.
The hosts, although worried about relegation, do look far enough away from trouble in our opinion and they will see this as a good point, Jets won’t as the ups and downs are too extreme.
The cup match is on Tuesday vs. high-flying Langley. Let’s hope the right Jets turn up !!
Jets Shutdown by BA
Oxhey Jets 1 British Airways 3
17th February 2024
Combined Counties Division One
Match Photo Gallery: –
Oxhey Jets vs British Airways
17th February 2024 3.00pm
Adrian Flux Insurance January Player Of The Month
With only three matches played in January, we had a clear winner of the Adrian Flux Insurance Player of the Month. Although three different players, James Barnett, Craig Stephen-Lett and Dylan Hickman Singh, won Man of the Match awards, it was Dylan Hickman Singh who featured prominently in all three games and is our January winner.
Against Brook House Dylan provided perfect assists for Jets’ first two goals. In the away game to title-chasing Berks County he was a constant threat and one of the game’s top performers. Then in the win over Penn and Tylers Green, he was a standout Man of the Match with a stunning opening goal, the assist for the second goal, and an all-around top-drawer performance.
Congratulations Dylan on being our January Player of the Month.
Jets Smash Six Past League Leaders
Oxhey Jets 6 (Six) Amersham Town 1
7th February 2024
St Marys Cup Quarter-Final
Oxhey Jets ran riot over a full strength Amersham team, currently runaway leaders of the Combined Counties Division One, in this St Marys Cup Quarter Final at the Boundary Stadium.
Who better to sum up a performance than a message received from club captain Colin Jenkins as he nears 900 appearances for the club
“That’s a great win tonight, very well deserved and possibly the best I have seen the first team play in the last 10 years”
High praise indeed considering Amersham Town’s top of the league position.
Familiar faces galore returned to the Boundary for the St Mary’s Cup tie in dreadful driving rain. Amersham beat Jets earlier this season in the league with former Jet Jake Tabor, the league-leading goal scorer, tapping in the winner (2-1) which he described in a recent interview:
“ As the league is approaching 50% completion, what has been your most memorable moment of the season so far?
Beating rivals Oxhey Jets at home scoring a jammy tap in”
So we were hoping to also give him his worst moments so far last night and we are pretty sure we did !!
Jets are young, the management supports flowing football and although over 30 points behind the visitors on their unstoppable promotion drive they will not be fazed into changing their philosophies of blooding a young team to take into the next campaign, and I don’t think I’ve seen Jets in better shape than the present squad, echoing the club captain’s views.
The tactics were changed like modern coaches like to do and in heavy rain Jets, like ducks to water, took to the system immediately after a few minutes of settling down when GK Lewis Lavin was in command. Jets swung the game and went into the attack and it took a very gymnastic header by no10 Owen Ayres who had turned down a lucrative move to the visitors recently, although he managed to hurt himself on the landing 1-0 (22 minutes)
Jets really put a shift in and although just one goal at the break, it brought Tom Inch to tell the team, that no matter what happens now that display is my proudest moment in management.
Could a young Jets side keep up the intensity against such an experienced side, bursting with players capable of well above step 6 football?
Left-back Danny Fowler doubled Jets’ lead with a driving shot, his first competitive goal for Jets (51 minutes) and Jets went into after-burner mode handing out an awesome display of attacking football.
Owen Ayes added his second (66 mins) and, not to be outdone by Fowler, right back Archie Sykes banged home Jets fourth after an excellent save denied James Barnett (74 min).
The normally deadly Dylan Hickman Singh was twice denied on 1:1s and then Harley Sells pulled a goal back for the visitors (83 min)
Would it be a late comeback, they’re more than capable for sure having scored 110 goals in 28 league games this season
Jets threw their sub-bench on too but again incredible trust by the managers with youngsters such as Cameron Sharpe, another son of a loyal vets player ( Phil) coming through the ranks and Vinny Wade were amongst the changes both just 18 and without senior football experience.
It took Jets just a minute to answer the questions as in a twist of nostalgia on a date very personal to the number 10 shirt it was Owen Ayres, wearing that number 10 shirt that added his hat-trick to make it 5-1 (84 min).
Jets were not finished and Andre Lopes who was rested with knee problems supplied a defence-cutting ball to another sub Remel Stirling to slot number 6 (87 min) in a display of how important a role the sub bench can play with all five playing a big part, to the end Jets attacked and should have increased the scoreline.
Man of the match went clearly to the hat trick hero Owen Ayres who was on the night unstoppable but so many incredible performances also from a team display not seen for years, but not wanting to pop the bubble the staff issued a warning “But” …. You’ve set the bar now this is your new baseline!!
Strong starting line-ups from both teams:
Jets in the semi-final will play the winners of Harpenden Town and Chipperfield (being played Tuesday 13 Feb) at the Boundary.
Match Photo Gallery: –
Last Kick Defeat Tough On Jets
Oxhey Jets 0 Windsor 1
3rd February 2024
Combined Counties Division One
Jets suffered a last kick of the match defeat at home to Windsor who, under their new manager for the first time, outworked Jets in the second half and pounced on an error in the final seconds to grab two extra points.
In a match excellently refereed the two teams put on a real battle with Jets edging in the first half and Windsor in the second.
In the first half whilst never on top of their game Jets were struggling to find their own players while defensively looking solid, up front James Barnett was excellent, but missing the outstanding Hickman Singh supply and energy.
Jets looked leggy on the day and every player has the answer to where they went wrong but too many were under par to expect to win at this level.
First half there were chances the goal looked in for a Barnett header maybe the underside of the bar denied and goal line technology needed, but not given then a couple of chances put just wide left the contest stalemate at the break.
A few things were ironed out but no real improvement from Jets against a Windsor side who were working their socks off to impress the new manager, they were totally outworking the centre of the park leaving chances limited.
Changes were made and an excellent debut for Vinny Wade that post-match brought high praise from the staff and his teammates was a bright spot.
Vinny himself fired just wide and twice from free kicks from Olly Pope good aerial chances were on offer but over, then deep in stoppage time a sloppy mistake left Windsor with one last chance that they took, and the final whistle on the restart ensured no chance to put right. Deserved ?? On the whole game, a draw was fair, for Jets were too careless on the ball but chances a plenty on offer more so first period, but I admit I was hoping for the whistle more than the visitors in the end. Learn from it is the message !!
The man of the match was easily James Barnett who literally gave blood for the team today with a nosebleed throughout that had four changes of his shirt but never flinched or stopped.
Oxhey Jets vs Windsor
3rd February 2024 3.00pm
Jets Enjoy A Double
Oxhey Jets 2 Penn & Tyler 0
27th January 2024
Combined Counties Division One
A league table-splitting win for Jets, repeating the same score as the away match earlier in the season with a 2-0 home win over a good Penn and Tyler team.
Jets set-up didn’t work in the opening spell and Jets were a long way on the defensive against a very lively P&T team, and the possession percentage was stacked against Jets, so this period the back line was incredibly important but, on the counter, James Barnett was having an exceptional match and the ever dangerous Dylan Hickman Singh joined by Lopes and Stirling kept the Penn defence on red alert.
Jets opened the scoring on 25 minutes when superb play by Andre Lopes found Stirling in the box and an exquisite back heel killed everyone and Dylan Hickman Singh hit a powerful shot past the full-length outstretched keeper.
It remained a close-to-call game with all teams including the officials contributing to a really good display on a cold afternoon.
Half time the staff held their hands up to the set-up not working and revamped and Jets never looked back. From the kick-off Jets went on the attack and threatened the P&T goal, but no way did Jets have it all their own way and chances from the visitors were made but gladly squandered to Jets relief.
Two big penalty appeals firstly a weak one on Dylan, then a bolt on off the ball as Skipper Ben Delicata was taken down but not seen except by an assistant who was told not to give fouls !!
But minutes later the same assistant became the focus of attention as Dylan laid back from the bye line for Owen Ayres to semi-chip the keeper towards the net, defenders hunted down the ball and the hoof clearance was met by instant reaction screams on the line by Dylan and Jets players in the area for the goal, defenders of course immediately denying but this was the decision the assistant was allowed to give and stood flag aloft waving indicating goal and he was right on the line as Dylan had ran the ball along the baseline. 2-0 ( 66 mins)
The big turning point for Jets was the substitutions as the staff called them just right as Jets tired and faded. On came Owen Deamer and Olly Pope who completely swung the game Jets way from midfield and along with that came the killer goal.
So the first double for Jets of the season and a split in the two halves of the table as Jets just chase the play-off positions, that’s a hope but the improvements on and off the pitch are coming along leaps and bounds in the club rebuild.
Man of the match was a minefield to pick, the display was an excellent team performance.
Ben Delicata had a top-draw defensive performance, Barnett’s first 45 excellent, and after a quiet start birthday boy Danny Long Ball was giving superb overlapping options. it was a mixed bag, but a head above contender pulling in front was Dylan Hickman Singh, a stunning goal and assist and top draw performance.
There was a different winner of the Man of the Match in each game which brought Danny Fowler, Olly Pope, Harry Brady and Andre Lopes into contention. Goalscoring and good match comments from Archie James (5 goals), Owen Ayres (3 goals) and Dylan Hickman-Singh (2 goals) added more names to the contenders list. Add to that strong performances from the Jets defence and Lewis Lavin in goal and it was a widely competed month.
Top of the list, though, goes to James Barnett. James was the Man of the Match in the strong 5-0 win at London Colney with a goal and two assists in what was described as a ‘head and shoulders’ performance. Another goal at Windsor and two more assists during the month added to his total and made him a deserved Adrian Flux Insurance Player Of the Month for December.
Congratulations James.
Jets Push Berks County To The Limit
Berks County 1 Oxhey Jets 0
13th January 2024
Combined Counties Division One
“A professional performance against an excellent side, I feel we deserved more” was the comment posted by Tom Inch, and “absolutely gutted for the lads, after a proper performance” was Dave Barnes’s reaction, such was the respect for the team’s fantastic performance against Berks County at Ascot FC Racecourse Ground.
For me, the quality of our managers and coach comes to the front here as a special training session changing formation and all tactics were done on Thursday to try to stem the two previous results this season against Berks County. 9-1 at their place in the cup and 0-4 at home. A brave gamble to reshuffle the line-up and hope the lads can take on board all the new requirements.
First, there was a moment to pay our respects to Daniel Dunton who sadly decided to leave this life on Thursday, a reminder that life can turn so suddenly.
Berks County are a class side and have a complete package and it’s hard to see how they can be trailing runaway leaders Amersham by so many points, so our task today was a mountain.
Jets took to the new role superbly, battling and defending to the man as Berks County streamed forward led by excellent wingers opening up the play on the zippy Astro.
Jets had to work hard, and people playing different roles like Andre Lopes had to put in an incredible shift springing Jets from defence to attack, ensuring the front line was not isolated.
The whole back line was incredible. Ben Delicata, taking the skipper’s role and having one of his best games in a Jets shirt, put in an excellent performance. Toju James with his first start alongside Nugs was solid, both of them. Jets were under more pressure relying on breaks and when they were breached GK Lewis Lavin was on top form.
0-0 at the break and a tremendous effort.
Now the shock for the hosts would be the more attacking intents of the second half. Dylan Hickman-Singh was a constant threat tearing at their full backs and the glorious chance fell to Owen Ayres to grab the lead but his shot was wide.
It was more end-to-end in the second half with the hosts expecting to break the deadlock and the visitors trying to spoil the party. Then came a big turning point that settled the match. James Barnett hesitated and went for goal when players were screaming for the layback, the intercept was made and distributed at speed down the wing. Jets full back committed and was passed and the layback was exquisitely met and hammered home for what was to be the winner (63 mins).
Jets used their bench to replace tired legs and everybody played their part as now Jets went on the ascendancy and pressed County, I’m sure Jets were pushing them unexpectedly and to their defensive limits. It’s a compliment to us that their whole bench was pleading with the referee for the full-time whistle as Jets had them pinned in the final minutes for what would have been a hugely deserved reward of a point for Jets’ endeavour.
In fairness, the spirit of the game was excellent, and the officials were equally as good. Berks glad for the final whistle, Jets gutted.
Jets Man of the Match was almost impossible to pick, so many top performers. Andre, Ben, Lewis and Dylan were all spoken about but the final nod went to Craig, his calmness scares the life out of us at times but absolute class performer.
Final comment from me. Class performance and superb effort by all the management and coach to almost pull this one off, they deserve as much credit as the players today.
Match Photo Gallery: –
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Jets Self Destruct Then Salvage A Point
Oxhey Jets 3 Brook House 3
6th January 2024
Combined Counties Division One
Another Jekyll and Hyde performance by Jets on a very wet pitch, not easily playable.
Jets got off to a superb start win. Andre Lopes played a superb cutting ball for Dylan Hickman Singh to take on the full-back and square the perfect ball for James Bennett to steer home 1-0 Jets just four minutes played but slower than last week’s 15-second goal confirmed on the VEO clock.
Jets stayed on top possession-wise, but it was the visitors with many chances that on the day poor defending meant that Lewis Lavin was called upon more than once to deny and Brookhouse for sure would be rueing those misses later in the game.
It was again Dylan Hickman Singh who bamboozled the defender to cut back another perfect ball and again James Barnett was on hand to steer home 2-0 ( 31 min)
Jets were not at their best, with good attacking play in patches but easing away from the visitors thanks to good finishing and some luck on the visitor’s lack of that with chances created.
The pitch was cutting up badly on one side and heavy but the same for both sides and 2-0 was held to the break.
Brook House made three substitutions at the restart and it changed the game, with a goal just two minutes later by Harrison Woods.
Jets were in full retreat and being outworked, thought and played the visitors were all over them and streaming in at the Jets’ goal, unfortunately, the referee became a bit card-happy both ways and the fear of something more happening was a worry as he became more over-reactive, luckily nothing escalated into any colour change of the cards.
Jets were furious with a penalty awarded for hand ball a long delay as the ball was finally cleared but the referee suddenly agreed with the loud appeals and went to the spot and Jacob Adeyemi comfortably converted 2-2 (63 min)
Jets were clearly taken back and fell apart immediately a dropping corner caused chaos and there was a long scramble on the line before the ball finally was given as over the line by Harrison Woods and Brook House had deservedly swung the game on its head 2-3 (65min)
Even now Jets did not really respond and all looked lost we just like last week lost our way in the second half and neither substitutes nor instruction could fire us up.
Time was running out fast and all hope looked lost, then Jets started to respond and Dylan Hickman Singh was upended for a bolt-on penalty, but not given and as a pack of Jets players ran protesting towards the referee he brandished a sin bin yellow to Hickman Singh reducing Jets to ten men for the remaining stoppage time.
Jets now fully woke up and for the eight-plus minutes that followed Jets now threw everything forward it was corner after corner with Brook House protesting for the final whistle and everyone including the Jets keeper in their penalty area.
Then right on cue, a perfect corner by Olly Pope was firmly headed home by James Barnett for 3-3 and his personal hat trick.
There was not much praise for Jets for keeping going and snatching the point, more discussions around the poor performance and the second-half collapse again.
Man of the Match had a single contender – James Barnett for his hat-trick.