Brook House 3 Oxhey Jets 2

Jets Downed By Last Minute Strike

Brook House 3 Oxhey Jets 2 Combined Counties Division One 26th July 2025

Jets were absolutely floored with defeat with the last kick of the match from a dreadful free kick that unfortunately settled the game.

The Jets had played really well at possibly one of their most dreadful grounds, results-wise, a hoodoo that was to continue, but I think Brookhouse will be around the promotion pack come season’s end.

Jets with multiple debuts are a much-changed side with far more experience joining the squad, meaning seven of the starting eleven were returning to the club or making their first debut, as were four of the five substitutes. So, a very new setup and six of the seven missing players, as the combined counties league decided to force a league kick-off even before some schools have broken up for the summer. Therefore, July and August team selections will be interesting to say the least.

The game considering the heat started at some pace and BH known for their superb attacking play opened three chances that were saved or blocked a big warning to Jets, but in counter with the excellent James Barnett back his strength contributed the George Rice and debutant Paulie Schuster causing the home side problems, and it was Rice who along with another returning player Liam Osborne whose strength held off the defenders from an excellent Lopes long throw for Rice to fire Jets into the lead (George Rice 10 mins).

Jets had chances, but this was a battle, and there were always going to be goals.

The hosts pulled level with a cutting through ball that was looking like the keeper’s ball, but the nippy Reece Keary got there and slotted coolly past the keeper (1-1, 27 mins)

Jets had an excellent chance that looked goal-bound when Chippy dead centre connected with a header, but just wide, and literally within a minute, Jets were punished when from a corner, David Lopes’ head diverted the ball into the net 2-1 ( OG 41 mins).

It was a knock back, but Jets rose to the occasion when James Barnett, who was the most fouled man on the pitch, was taken down as clear on goal and would have been a straight red had it not been for the double jeopardy rule. James stood up and coolly slotted in stoppage time 2-2 (45+3)

Note: The double-jeopardy law states: “Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.) the offending player must be sent off.”

Positive talk at the break and one change as two debutants swapped in a forward for a forward move. The ongoing Nicolas Hotgebe had a glorious chance missed but dreadfully unlucky to see his lob over the keeper agonisingly tip the top of the bar and stay out.

Jets survived a close call penalty appeal when, for the only time of the match, hesitation led to the foul; however, fortunately, despite pressure, the assistant stood firm in ruling it outside the box. Jets were soaking up the pressure but were forced back, and their counters were frustratingly ended by offside time and time again. Then disaster for luckless Jets as deep into stoppage and well past the referees indicated time to be added a free kick was awarded thst could only be given as a foul by someone who has not played football, a dreadful mistake that prompted a much longer moas report, was fired home straight over the wall and into the net 3-2 ( 90 + 7) Trey Pender Brown. The ground hoodoo continued!!

The Carlsberg man of the match was a big option. George Rice was energetic and a good goal, while James Barnett was strong and took a ruthless battering. However, the unanimous decision went to Liam Osborne on his return from his university year, where it seemed he spent more time learning football than his chosen subject.

Many positives in defeat.

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