HEAVY DEFEAT DESPITE GOOD BUILD UP PLAY
MAIDENHEAD TOWN 4 OXHEY JETS 0
COMBINED COUNTIES DIVISION ONE
29TH JULY 2026
A heavy defeat at newly promoted Maidenhead in the first away game of the season, and it was a deserved spanking by full time.
Jets started at pace; it was one-way traffic, but shots on target were poor in relation to the superb touch football build-up and fast attacking football, with only really defender Danny Fowler’s post-hitting effort to raise the hopes, and when rarely things were on target, the home keeper was in the mood for the game.
The shock was that the home side’s first effort was a goal: a sweeping move and interplay by the forwards, leaving Jets players ball-watching, with a place past Lavin 1-0; the second effort was 2-0, as their display of finishing chances is something to wish for!! It was a pushback; Jets never recovered, with players trying individually to open doors and not playing as a unit. It was frustrating and irritating to watch after such a good team performance Saturday.
The second half started much the same, with the first home attempt on target making it 3-0 while Jets basically gave up!! Spencer Bellotti banged the woodwork, but it was only pride, not the match being played for now, and the home side rounded off an easy and dominant 4-0 home win. Jets looked rudderless and like individuals tonight, nothing like the preseason games.
Nugs, the skipper, gave his all and was a bright light on a poor night, and for the same reason, the staff shared the MoM between Danny Fowler and Nugs.
One to forget.
POSITIVE START FROM JETS
OXHEY JETS 1 BERKS COUNTY 1
COMBINED COUNTIES DIVISION 1
25TH JULY 2026
Jets opened their league fixtures just as the schools are breaking up for the holidays, another example of the mad route football is following to ruin the traditional season. On a blistering hot day on a scorched pitch made worse by the water shortage and watering ban, incredibly the two teams put on quite a battle in front of a decent crowd and I’m sure both sides are looking at VEO today wondering where they dropped two points.
Jets have half of a new side and looked much stronger physically than last season, but the first match of the season is always interesting to see the bosses cut !!
Berks County are very strong and bounce between the Premier and Division One, and last season missed the promotion zone by just two points, so this was to be a difficult test on day one.
Berks started the match with more possession, and Jets defended in numbers, with the excellent returning Lewis Lavin in goal showing his ability had not been lost during his time at university. Jets were relying on the break and just as things evened out bad luck struck when a good fast attack by Berks was hit across the box and met by the oncoming Shaun Willie, good move good shot and Lavin was down superbly and got a good hand to deny but unfortunately the ball span upwards and over his outstretched body and rolled just over the line so unlucky for Jets and the keeper 0-1 (18 mins)
Now the test got harder: how would Jets react? That was answered in less than a minute when Joe Entwhistle-Wilkinson found Paulie Portes-Schuster with an absolute peach of a ball and the tricky player showed his Brazilian magic, first side-stepping the keeper then two defenders to slot 1-1 (19 mins)
The game was a real battle now both sides committed to attack, and the cheekiest shot was a swivelling shot by Spencer Bellotti that was a skin’s thickness off target, and it stayed level at the break.
The second half was much the same; Jets were excellent in defence, Joe Reade and Lucio Capuccini getting extra praise from the manager along with debutant Frankie Pierson in midfield.
The big chance came when Bellotti went clear and was axed down by the keeper, but Paulie Portes-Schuster saw his penalty shot saved by the outstretched keeper by the post.
In the last ten, Jets had to dig deep as injuries and fatigue took their toll, and Jets threw all five from the bench into the battle; they didn’t disappoint, and the game ended in a point apiece, but inspection of veo confirmed Spencer BELLOTTI’s disallowed goal was two yards onside! Guess it’s early season for the officials as well as the players, so a good point, but a little disappointed in the two dropped; on possession, Berks can feel the same.
The Carlsberg man of the match was really difficult; so many good performances, debuts and outstanding effort all around. The final decision was between the incredibly hard-working Frankie Pierson and the twin back-line pairing of Joe Reade and Lucio Capucinni, and the decision went to the centre-back pair of Reade and Capucinni, who could not be split and so shared the award.
Big effort by the lads in extreme summer conditions; nothing but praise all around and club debuts for five players.