Jets fell in the Herts Centenary Trophy to Herts County Premier League side Everett Rovers at a muddy Boundary Stadium.
It was always going to be a big match as Everett is managed by ex-Jets Tim O’Sullivan, who is a terrific motivator of a football team as our past great escape history bears testimony to, and there was no doubt that he would be trying to work his magic again in this semi-final tie.
George Rice 1-0
The pitch was sodden, and 80% was playable; the rest was not, but it was the same for both teams. It was the jets who started brightly, with George Rice opening the scoring, springing the offside line, and confidently slotting after just fine minutes 1-0
Jets held that lead till a chip over the top played Everett in for a 21st-minute equaliser.
The game was open considering the conditions and a massive chance went begging when Dom Mosca went clear and slotted past the keeper but wide of the post.
George Rice beats the keeperDom Mosca is on hand to finish 2-1
Jets then regained the lead, and again, it was George Rice. This time, as a provider, he drove the ball goalbound past the keeper, and Dom Mosca was there to put the Jets back in front 2-1 (34 min), a lead that Jets held at the break.
Jets made changes at the break with the heavy bog side of the pitch wearing legs out, but Everett was strangely riding the condition much better considering they have an Astro pitch and deserved the equaliser on the hour 2-2
From there on, it was Everett in charge of the play, and despite using all the bench, Jets never fired up and stayed in the game mainly due to the visitors missing chances.
Jets’ luck ran out with just two minutes to go before the penalties when jets keeper made an excellent save but spilled the hold, and it was Everett’s strikers on hand with no defenders there to stab home what was the winner.
Jets huffed and puffed a little and had one golden chance to level but put over the bar, and Jets weakly bowed out of the senior competition. Everett totally deserved the big victory and the cup final slot.
For the jets, the form of the last four games has been poor, and heart and commitment are lacking; there is considerable work to do for the staff to work out why such players on paper are not gelling; the ill James Kimber was badly missed at the back, but that should not be the catalyst for this performance.
Man of the match was not hard to decide. George Rice scored one and made one, but the stand-out name was again young defender Henry Atkinson, who’s arrived at the first team with total commitment and vision, something that’s badly lacking in the team on present form.
We wish Tim O’Sullivan and Everett Rovers all the best in the final.
