Jets Enjoy A Double
Oxhey Jets 2 Penn & Tyler 0
27th January 2024
Combined Counties Division One
A league table-splitting win for Jets, repeating the same score as the away match earlier in the season with a 2-0 home win over a good Penn and Tyler team.
Early pressure from the visitors kept Jets on their toes.
Jets set-up didn’t work in the opening spell and Jets were a long way on the defensive against a very lively P&T team, and the possession percentage was stacked against Jets, so this period the back line was incredibly important but, on the counter, James Barnett was having an exceptional match and the ever dangerous Dylan Hickman Singh joined by Lopes and Stirling kept the Penn defence on red alert.
Dylan’s shot beats the outstretched keeper and drops into the net.
1-0 Dylan
Jets opened the scoring on 25 minutes when superb play by Andre Lopes found Stirling in the box and an exquisite back heel killed everyone and Dylan Hickman Singh hit a powerful shot past the full-length outstretched keeper.
It remained a close-to-call game with all teams including the officials contributing to a really good display on a cold afternoon.
Half time the staff held their hands up to the set-up not working and revamped and Jets never looked back. From the kick-off Jets went on the attack and threatened the P&T goal, but no way did Jets have it all their own way and chances from the visitors were made but gladly squandered to Jets relief.
Two big penalty appeals firstly a weak one on Dylan, then a bolt on off the ball as Skipper Ben Delicata was taken down but not seen except by an assistant who was told not to give fouls !!
Owen’s chip beats the keeper and heads for goal.
Jets appeal that it crossed the goal line …
… and the linesman says YES! 2-0
But minutes later the same assistant became the focus of attention as Dylan laid back from the bye line for Owen Ayres to semi-chip the keeper towards the net, defenders hunted down the ball and the hoof clearance was met by instant reaction screams on the line by Dylan and Jets players in the area for the goal, defenders of course immediately denying but this was the decision the assistant was allowed to give and stood flag aloft waving indicating goal and he was right on the line as Dylan had ran the ball along the baseline. 2-0 ( 66 mins)
Owen Deamer made a big impact on the game coming on as a sub….
… as did Olly Pope.
The big turning point for Jets was the substitutions as the staff called them just right as Jets tired and faded. On came Owen Deamer and Olly Pope who completely swung the game Jets way from midfield and along with that came the killer goal.
Lewis Putman also returned to boost Jets forward power.
So the first double for Jets of the season and a split in the two halves of the table as Jets just chase the play-off positions, that’s a hope but the improvements on and off the pitch are coming along leaps and bounds in the club rebuild.
Awesome performance from Ben Delicata.
Excellent first-45 from December Player-of-the-month James Barnett.
Man of the match was a minefield to pick, the display was an excellent team performance.
Ben Delicata had a top-draw defensive performance, Barnett’s first 45 excellent, and after a quiet start birthday boy Danny Long Ball was giving superb overlapping options. it was a mixed bag, but a head above contender pulling in front was Dylan Hickman Singh, a stunning goal and assist and top draw performance.
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