Jets Lose A Wild One
Brook House 4 Oxhey Jets 3
2nd December 2023
Combined Counties Division One
The saying is “after the Lord Mayors show.” This was not quite as bad as that, but a woeful second half ensured that Jets paid the full price for complacency and for basically doing their own thing and not playing to instructions.
Luckily the ill feeling on the sidelines caused by the home side’s management’s obsessive dislike for anything Watford in some strange Luton/Watford divide set off by a simple question of “Is there a pitch inspection due to the weather freeze” did not spread onto the pitch during the match.
Jets did again query the pitch as the coaches did not feel it was safe or playable in particular at one end but the referee, who has the sole decision on the subject, insisted he was playing.

Early crossbar strike from Dylan but no way of knowing if it crossed the line or not.
Jets started brightly and it was a good match considering the surface, the home side had two very good long ball attacks and in balance Jets, Dylan Hickman Singh clattered the crossbar and despite the appeals for goal, there was no real way at this level of knowing if the ball has come down and fully crossed the line, unless a very agile assistant is on the game and there has been no sight of that this season as leagues struggle to fill the numbers.

Andre Lopes brought down but the penalty decision was changed to a free-kick outside the box.
Jets were denied a penalty when on a clear run Andre Lopes was brought down as he broke clear of the defenders to just face the keeper but the first weird decision was just a yellow, then it got worse when it changed to a free kick on the line.

Andres goal-bound header

Chippy nicks it on the line and its 0-1 Jets
Jets took the lead with a superb header from the lively Andre Lopes but his goal-bound header was nicked on the line by skipper Harry Brady who claimed, this stands until Veo can be examined! 0-1 Jets

Owen Ayres restores Jets lead 1-2
Brook House were playing the conditions better playing the long ball and chase and levelled but Jets responded instantly when a superb cross by Lopes was superbly placed by Owen Ayres header into the net 1-2

Chippy about to get the nuts

The untracked 7 takes full advantage and its 2-2
Some double unhappiness at their own defending by Jets as Chippy gets nuts for a goal assist pass but how oh how the attacked was allowed to run onto it untracked for the slot is beyond acceptance.
It was a lively first half in difficult conditions 2-2
Jets’ instructions were quite clear at the break. Still, for a long period of the second half the midfield was lost as individual decisions were wrongly taken for tricks and flicks. At the same time, the home side correctly played the long ball and chase, by-passing the pitch conditions, and the price of that and a complete lack of awareness of marking saw Jets crash 4-2 behind.

Archie so close

Save of match denies Dylan.
Jets did rally and did not quit, but a second penalty denial angered them as Dylan was brought down, and the referee put the whistle instantly in his mouth but hesitated, later saying he played the advantage !!! Where the hell is a player picking up a loose ball tracking sideways with defenders filling the box an advantage over a penalty spot kick? Unbelievable day !!

Dylan pulls one back to set up a frantic finish
Dylan Hickman Singh pulled one back with stoppage time looming, but despite a frantic rally Jets could not grab the point, but it was self-inflicted.
Just time for the Luton/Watford anti to fire up again to ensure no goodwill at the end, but in fairness to their players, they earned the points.
Jets man of the match was picked by Taylor Mitchell who chose Andre Lopes, who made a goal, all but scored one and was very effective.
Match Video:
Highlights
Extended Video