Jets Let It Slip Away
Holmer Green 2 Oxhey Jets 1
17th August 2024
Combined Counties Division One
For 15 minutes it was very promising, changes were made, and just four minutes in, from a free-kick given for an early push, Liam Osborne headed an excellent goal from a practised set move and Jets were on the way, or were they !!
While never actually looking threatened, the dreaded keep ball set in, and the back line was seemingly unable to find blue going forward, so they opted for backwards, sideways tip tap until trying to go forward and, bingo, lost the ball again.
Jets have a fundamental problem scoring goals with only George Rice and young Dylan Roberts netting from any of the forward players, and it was in the final twenty minutes before an actual worthwhile shot was on target that needed a keeper save from Owen Ayres.
Jets for all this were brightened by the excellent debut of Jack McDonnell easily getting the Carlsberg man of the match in a one-man nomination.
Jets went deeper and deeper, and the equaliser seemed inevitable in the second as Holmer Green upped the pace and attacked reluctant Jets, horrendous and naive marking by the centre of defence led to the equaliser as Colverd was allowed to come in unmarked to smash the equaliser past the young goalkeeper who had no chance.
It was a matter of if we hung on, the substitutions did offer some hope as Patrick Brander’s electric pace took the game to Holmer on occasions, but Jets’ big problem is the atrocious passing.
The final nail seemed inevitable when with twelve to go Owen Ayres was sin-binned, a failure by more than one Jets player this season as frustration on form coupled with a total lack of recognition that officials are dishing out cards and bins for their personal decision cover-ups so far this season.
Holmer got the almost anticipated winner Colverd 83 minutes again completely unmarked to tap home back post, once is bad, twice dreadful, and apart from a couple of shots from midfield that were a bigger threat to passing aircraft just one GK save was forced in stoppage by Dom Mosca and some save it was to be fair to the keeper and Dom (94 min)
Frankly, this is nowhere near acceptable, half-hearted, walking and players who have started the season unfit and sulking. On paper, it looks like the side is decent and the strongest for a while, but on the pitch, it’s simply not working yet, and the staff have the job of getting the team moving in the right direction.
Just four games ago an excellent win over now leaders Windsor and Eton gave much hope, with a clean sheet, and the future looked good, even a very positive 1-0 defeat at Langley did not warn us of the two horror shows that have followed.
People will return from injuries and holidays and I’m sure rotation and added players, but players need to do their bit, get fit and play with passion.
One bright spot is Jack McDonnell Carlsberg man of the match.
Abysmal Night For Jets