London Samurai 2 Oxhey Jets 0

Jets Fall On Their Swords

London Samurai 2 Oxhey Jets 0
Combined Counties Division One
19th August 2023

It was a nightmare day for completely out-of-touch Jets, after three good matches, this was back down to earth with a severe bump.

The only thing lucky about this performance at London Samurai was that we did not find ourselves down 5-6 goals at the break as the hosts missed four 1:1 and clattered the bar or post several times, actually five times in the whole match.

The first half started slowly with controlled passing of the ball, but then the bad passes or poor choices mounted up but the hosts let us off the hook time and time again.

Superb solo run by Archie James but let down with the finish.

Penalty appeal but Archie got his shot away and nothing given.

There were just three bright spots for us. The best and only solo run by Archie James was superb but unfortunately, the final shot that would have superbly topped it off was wayward and wide and two penalty appeals to the lacklustre officials when first Archie was tripped but adjudged to have got his shot away first, and then a virtual assault by the goalkeeper on Jordan Okwor reminiscent of the incident in the Manchester United game earlier in the week.

Jordan Okwor flattened by the Keeper

Jordan never fully recovered and had to come off

I’m guessing that has set a benchmark for local league referees sadly. Jordan off the long treatment did continue, but not for long and had to be withdrawn from the game.

Half time changes

At half-time, the faults of the staff were made very clear to the lacklustre side and three changes were made immediately to try to inject some fresh ideas, attitudes and legs into this match.

Gio tips a Samurai shot onto the bar

Gio helps to keep the score down

The first 20 minutes of the second half was actually much better although it would’ve been difficult to be worse. Jets now were in the ascendancy and chances were coming and completely being blown as Jets really did look out of touch in front of goal without a couple of their main players in there.

Ato went through 1:1 but the keeper denied and another very good chance was blazed not just over but into the field behind, it was simply unacceptable.

Overplaying and the insistence on playing the harder ball were just like last week to be the Jets’ downfall, a sloppy difficult pass on the halfway line allowed the quick break and with defenders going to ground the decision was easy for the referee to go to the spot that was converted.

Jets huffed and puffed but with no real threat on goal and the killer just before the end sealed a much-deserved home win for the hosts on a superb pitch, no complaints just happy the score wasn’t the thrashing it should have been.

There was some limited praise for the subs going on and only two players shared some positive performance comments, Owen Ayres and Harry Brady, who share Jets star player although not one to be that chuffed with today.