Spellthorne Sports 1 Oxhey Jets 1

Ricardo to the Rescue

Spellthorne Sports 1 Oxhey Jets 1
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
13th August 2022

Jets battle back for a deserved good point on the road in their first ever game in the Combined Counties Premier North in blistering hot conditions on a parched pitch.

Jets had the better of the first half as both teams clearly suffered in the conditions, and with the referee only allowing one water break in each half, it was clearly going to be a game of preserving energy and not trying to play high-octane stuff.

Jets failed to take advantage of their first half territorial advantage.

Jets had the better of the half, some good chances but, through over playing they failed to pull the trigger early, and the chances were lost.

Keeper looks to have handled to deny Sean but no card

No pen given for Spellthorne

There were two or three very contentious decisions, the Spelly GK handling outside the area to deny Sean Giordmaina, a penalty awarded by the referee when Jets Jack Fletcher was judged to have brought down the striker, but consultation with the Lino was adamant that the Jets keeper got there first and was actually the player fouled.

Then late in the game Vass was heavily pushed to the ground at 1-1 but I think so soon after the red card to Spelly, the ref didn’t fancy a second one right in front of the home bench.

Jack was the busier of the two keepers in the 2nd half.

In between the moments, it was a half each on edge to play, Jets the first and the home team the second as they looked more and more likely to edge it as jets midfield very young did wilt in the conditions.

Club debut Sam Cahill

Owen Ayres came on as Jets pushed for their equaliser

With 10 to go, Jets went behind to a good strike and in fairness, the game looked gone, but Jets actually rallied and with the manager using all the subs to take advantage of the new rule, refreshed the side and one of the oncomings scored the goal for the point.

Jets capitalised with an added time equaliser from the free-kick after the red card

Superb header won by Sam Denham to set up the goal chance for Ricardo.

Ricardo Barratt strikes Jets equaliser in added time.

Jets broke powerfully down the wing, but we were thwarted by the “take one for the team” foul that saw a red for the player. From the resulting free-kick, a superb win high in the air by skipper Sam Denham outreached the keeper, and Ricardo Barrett was on hand to drive into the net with stoppage time starting.

Jets celebrate their goal

1-1 now Jets went mad for the winner and could easily have got it, but it was played out and, in fairness, a point each fully deserved in atrocious heat for the players.

Impressive league debut from Reid Sims

Excellent match by Kyle Matthew

Lads gave their all in tiring conditions

Man of the match was a two-man race, Kyle Matthew and our own Father Time,Tom Inch, and the decision on the vote went to the players’ Uncle Tom who was outstanding and essential in Jets getting a very good point from an M25 trip.