Late Penalty Decisions Deny Jets A Much Needed Win
A point but not enough with Tigers getting a win at Cockfosters.
Holmer Green has been on an excellent unbeaten run and again withdrawals made the task all but impossible, a further indication why things can’t stay as they are in the upcoming season no matter what happens in the relegation struggle.
Chris Blunden’s shot beats the keeper for 1-0
Jets grabbed an early lead on their first attack when the keeper could not hold a Chris Blunden drive, and the sheer power took it into, the net.
It wasn’t a sparkler, but with players playing their first game for months in some cases Jets were grafting well and got to just 90 seconds from the points again but were denied by a late goal and two highly contentious decisions by the match official.
Strong game from Jude Bell
Jets were getting pushed back more in the second half, but they looked to have sprung the offside when a long ball out of defence put Blunden in the clear. The young assistant, however, miles behind the play and caught match watching, caught up and put the flag up to deny Jets an opportunity to extend the lead.
Jets were defending more but it was comfortable, so it was surprising that two late substitutions were made in the final seven minutes to alter the back line.
Late pen for Holmer
Stil, though, Jets got to the last gasp when Brad Thompson was judged to have brought down the Holmer forward for a penalty, much disputed as it looked from the other side that it was Thompson himself that was brought down.
To make matters worse, Thompson got a second yellow/ Red for dissent to hit Jets survival hopes.
No mistake from the spot for a late Holmer equaliser
Holmer tucked it away to level it 1-1 but Jets went straight on the attack from the kick-off, and it was a bolt on penalty that saw Blunden upended as he composed to fire the winner (we hoped) but the ref said no.
Blunden in control and about to shoot
Then Blunden bundled over but no pen
So 1-1 a strong point but will it be enough, we are still in the battle to escape relegation, but it’s looking more difficult now.
Man of the match was going to Brad Thompson whose defence all game was outstanding and much discussion re still getting it after the red has taken place and yes he can, his red was a consequence of others’ actions.
Match officials