Jets Can Take Pride In Their Cup Run
Oxhey Jets 0 Tring Athletic 4
10th April 2024
Herts FA Charity Shield Cup Final
Jets fell to defeat in the Hertfordshire Charity Shield final at a blustery, bitterly cold County Ground, but with huge pride in the team for their efforts on the night and even reaching the final.
Jets were hit by three departures in deadline week as massive trial and job opportunities abroad opened for the lads. As a community club you can only support the lads on these ventures, and Jets staff did what they have done throughout this rebuild season, they brought more youngsters through to the team.
Big early chance just wide from Remell.
The first half was excellent from young Jets and with Tring a division higher and chasing a playoff position the ask was a big one. Football has defining moments and one big one was the big chance for Remell Stirling in the opening minutes that could and should have edged Jets in front and, who knows, spurred something more but agonising brushing the wrong side of the post.
It was end to end and a good football match to watch by two teams playing good football. Tring were very direct to fast attackers, Jets more touch football that the staff have encouraged all season.
Lewis made some top saves in the Jets goal.
Tring opened the Jets’ defence with a good header from a corner and it looked goal-bound but brought out one of three incredible saves by GK Lewis Lavin for the half while Jets in counter came close with shots across the line that just wouldn’t go the final inches.
The half looked to be even at the break but lady luck was not with Jets as Lavin made another three incredible reaction saves in a ping-pong session of saves and rebounds but football is cruel sometimes and on the final one he could not get a good punch as he was impeded by the player flat on the floor from the previous attempt, and the ball fell to Max Hercules on the edge of the box who executed a powerful drive into the net, 0-1 (42 minutes)
The second half proved too much for Jets lads and Tring got on top, the game swung and done in a fifteen-minute session that ended the contest. The difference in the squads becoming evident as Tring were able to use substitutes who had been with step four Northwood and title-chasing Bedford last weekend while Jets used youngsters from the A team and Spencer Bellotti for his first outing of the season.
Almost a consolation goal from Spencer.
No complaints though from Jets, the stronger side on the day took the trophy. The only sour point from our club was the dreadful penalty awarded following a tackle on Hercules that was an incredible tackle which was clear ball winning and the badly placed official went to the spot, and then as always when they make a complete hash up started brandishing his yellow cards to cover it up.
The penalty was converted for 4-0, possibly a harsh scoreline on Jets but, no matter, the win and loss confirmed.
Joint Carlsberg Man of the Match for Jets were Remell Sterling up top who caused problems all night and the massive leadership and quality shown by Owen Ayres who, added to his own game, was supportive and inspirational to the youngsters.
Jets applaud the winners, Tring Athletic.
Defeat but after eleven years of absence Jets are back in Hertfordshire County Cup finals so a big step forward and huge pride in this young and inexperienced set-up that is once again putting Jets back on the local map and still supporting and passing youngsters through to higher levels chasing their personal dreams.
