Langley 2 Oxhey Jets 2

The Jets earned a great point in the 2-2 draw at Slough Town’s ground against Langley FC on a rare Friday Night away trip.

Jets started slowly, and a very good Langley side settled quickly on the home pitch.

Langley played the artificial pitch perfectly, and a long ball caught the Jets’ back line out when the bounce cleared the Jets defender, and the lively forward Milan Trotman finished for 1-0 (8 mins).

This really shook Jets, and they were superb for the rest of the half in a real end-to-end match, and only a blinding save in the top corner by Jets keeper David Nistor stopped Jets from going further behind. Then, in a flash after the save, Jets were level when Jets man of the moment Joseph Brown released an absolute cutter of a pass through and young Harvey Hoyte sprung the offside trap and went clear, but as he rounded the keeper he was clearly tripped by the keeper, but resembling “Bambi on ice” his legs going everywhere desperately trying to stay on his feet he caught the ball and slotted from an incredible tight angle 1-1 (23 min). It must be said that the referee had his whistle in his mouth, ready to go to the spot. It was just rewards for Jets, and the game was now a stinging end-to-end match-up to the break.

The second period was like the first. Jets slow and too deep for fifteen minutes pinned back and unable to get out, and it was no surprise when Milan Trotman got his second, a blistering shot 2-1 (63 mins).

Just like the first, this ignited Jets and Paulie Schuster-Portes and Danny Fowler were pushing Jets forward, and were pinging the ball about looking dangerous, but what came next was a corker, a bending curler for top-bins just out of reach of the full-length, outstretched keeper by Joseph Brown 2-2 (68 mins), an absolute stunner to level the game.

The last twenty-plus was breathtaking, and either side could have won it. There were openings and saves but in stoppage time alone Jets looked to have won it when Liam Osborne planted a header past the keeper but inches past the post, and while Jets travelling fans were still on their feet Langley looked to have won it but somehow David Nistor pulled a absolute “Worldie” out of the bag, unsighted but somehow he got down at the post for one of the best saves of the season thatwas immediately followed by the final whistle.

I said it was one of the best games I’ve seen this season, with all three teams and the officials included.

The Jets Carlsberg man of the match could have been debated all night, such was the number of good performances. David Nistor made some incredible saves, the on fire Joseph Brown had a great assist and stunning goal, and young Harvey Hoyte had his best first team game, stamping a step on the pathway being created by Dave Barnes under-18 team, but after long discussions, the staff went to Paulie Schuster-Portes, who’s improving every game with his outstanding work rate.