Oxhey Jets 1 Irchester Utd 1

STRONG JETS DISPLAY ENDS WITH SHOOTOUT LOSS

BIG PERFORMANCE FROM NICHOLAS BRAYSHAW

The game started with the almost expected pattern, with Jets digging deep and defending faultlessly against a very strong side that was physically bigger than Jets. Still, Jets never blinked, and in particular Nicholas Brayshaw and Lucio Cappuccini were faultless, along with Austin Ayres in goal, who is coming along in leaps and bounds as he gains match experience.

BLATANT PENALTY DENIED.

The big talking point was when Kaashan Darr went clear but delayed his shot and was flattened after the hesitation; the match official said no, and the assistant, so close to the incident, told a player yes, but not my call!! (So why can’t he at least indicate and ask the referee to make the decision?)

Half time 0-0 and quite a battle.

Jets really were not producing the counters, as the visitors were much stronger in the middle, but the management made changes that swung the game the other way, and Jets went on the attack.
It was now very entertaining, with both sides going for broke, but the Jets were far more menacing than the first, and with 48 minutes gone, the breakthrough came in the form of a goal to open the scoring.

ANOTHER FREE-KICK ASSIST FROM ALEX MORE.

PAULIE HITS A BEAUTY INTO THE TOP BIN.

Alexander More took a perfectly weighted free kick, met unbelievably on the volley by Paulie Schuster, steering it into the top corner; there was absolutely no chance for the keeper. 1-0 ( 48 mins)

The game continued in the same vein, but the hosts got more physical against the Jets’ lighter frame. When the equaliser came, it was disputed and disappointing again, with the Jets player down and in clear trouble from the contact; the player lobbed it over the keeper. Still, the effort was parried wide by the defender but was easily slotted into the net by Dylan McGinley. Jets believed the scorer was offside; VEO shows it was a close call but just off, and Jets were disappointed there was no flag. (1-1 67 mins).

SO CLOSE TO A WINNER

Now it was Jets pushing and on top, and the visitors defending desperately with a toe-line clearance; then the big chance came but was blazed high over the bar, and the game ended 1-1.

A TREMENDOUS FIRST PENALTY SAVE FROM AUSTIN RAISED JETS HOPES

The dreaded penalty shootout started giving Jets high hopes, with an excellent full-length save giving Jets the edge up to 3-2 ( on 3/5), then it was Jets who crumbled with two soft penalties that were on target but saved, and the Wembley dream was on hold for another season.

The favourites went through but were pushed all the way, and the game was decided on the penalty lotto; Irchester were excellent visitors to the Boundary post-match.

The only criticism of the day for such a prestigious competition is that we should have expected a more experienced referee.

The Man of the Match award was narrowed down to the outstanding performances by Nicholas and Lucio, and the Carlsberg Man of the Match was Nicholas Brayshaw.