Late Brander Strike Wins It For Jets
Colliers Wood 1 Oxhey Jets 2
Cherry Red Combined Counties Division One
29th March 2025
Jets, at last, bounced back after a run of disappointing performances and defeats to get three points on the road in a challenging mid-table game at Colliers Wood FC.
The pressure was on the players today to perform, and it was not a good start pre-travel with pullouts and fair play to young players responding at a minute’s notice in some cases.
Craig Stephen-Lett puts Jets into the lead.
This was a game of sections in many ways, with both teams having sections of the game; Jets were fast out of the blocks, with Rice and Brander causing problems for the home defence. Jets took the lead with a sweet goal; a perfectly flighted free kick by Owen Ayres planted an inch-perfect at the back post for Craig Stephen-Lett to head across the goal into the side netting. (0-1 22min)
Excellent performance from Nugs, key to Jets win.
Strong performance from Lewis Lavin in goal as Wood put Jets under heavy pressure.
An excellent save denies Patrick Brander from adding a second goal.
Patrick Brander had an excellent header denied by a superb save as Jets pushed hard, but then the pendulum swung, and the hosts put Jets under a lot of pressure. Two players really stood out for Jets, GK Lewis Lavin made some excellent saves and “Nugs” Luke Nugent was superb, winning critical little touches and tackles to deny the nippy home forwards time as they took control of the centre ground, but Jets held firm and defended deep to hold the lead at the break.
Strong second half performance from TJ.
TJ came on due to an injury at the break. His strength and Lopes’s were critical for the Jets, holding the early pressure as the home side used the slope on a bumpy pitch to their advantage. Still, Brian McGovern was one player really rising to the challenge, who was winning everything and clearing his lines with no messing.
Wood beat the Jets offside trap and levelled 1-1.
Woods struck early when the long ball over the top sprung the offside line, and Nathan Best slotted well (1-1 57 mins)
Wood keeper trips Owen but only a yellow given.
Now was the big test: would this young Jets side fold again? But no, the game swung again, and in the last quarter, it was Jets starting to open the home side, and a massive talking point was when the home keeper came a long way out of the area to win the ball but messed up. Owen Ayres sprinted towards the area and a simple slot. Still, the keeper dived and tripped him in what looked like a definite Red, but the referee decided on Yellow as it was so far out, and players were coming in from both sides.
Jets then survived with an important decision as a home run into the box saw the Wood forward tumble to the ground, another big call. Still, the referee decided it was a dramatic fall, not a foul.
Just over from Owen.
Patrick’s cross/shot looks goal-bound but somehow stays out.
A header from Ayres looked goal-bound but over; then, the Jets looked to have it as a Patrick Brander shot/cross beat the keeper, and I think a puff of wind must have somehow brought the ball along the line but out.
Henry Atkinson provided the important 95th minute assist with an inch perfect layoff.
What a strike from Patrick Brander to win the match!
The Wood keeper is full stretch but nothing he can do.
At this point, both sides, I think, would have settled, but with five minutes of stoppage played, young Henry Atkinson’s persistence robbed the defender, and lay off to Patrick Brander was inch perfect, and a powerful shot belittling his frame went past the keeper and into the nets for three big points and more importantly a big moral boost for everyone on and off the pitch. A mention and thanks to supporters on one of our longest trips to South Wimbledon and a big and strong following, fantastic.
The man of the match was unanimously given by the bench staff for Brian McGovern, whose performance was superb in the second half. Still, Nugs was also given a big mention, especially for his first half.
It wasn’t a stunning performance, but the effort and desire were back..
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