Jets Good Work Undone In 2nd Half Blitz
It’s difficult to know how to write this report because for 52 minutes you stood there admiring the performance against what is now a strong Colney Heath team. Make no mistake here, forget the league position, the appointment of the former highly respected London Colney title chasing manager was always going to produce instant results, it was a case of I wish we played them last week not this week and the approx seven debuts being announced supported that belief on arrival.
Jets Man of the Match Sim Armstrong
So it was a welcome surprise to see Jets dominate the first half and lead at the break. Jets were outstanding going up the slope and in particular the defensive play was solid, determined and hard working. Jets have been struggling for goals a bit when they dominate play but Sim Armstrong in the supporting area has been finding the net and he was looking dangerous.
Having turned down the early approach for his services from the Heath in a seven day approach Armstrong showed why he is so important to Jets as he was the catalyst in most moves on the hosts goal in a first period that Jets could and should have tied things up.
Sim Armstrong 0-1 Jets
Jets opened the scoring on 20 minutes when a perfect free kick by Jude Bell was headed home by Sim Armstrong. Jets almost doubled it with a mirror chance that edged just past the post and young Jake Kissiedu nearly caught the keeper out with a curler from the edge of the box.
Jets looked dangerous but too individual at times and the inexperience shows when the ‘me’ replaces ‘team’ on some moves and chances, and work is definitely needed on the set pieces as so many get wasted on deliveries that don’t reach the danger areas.
Another solid defender Jack Robertson almost headed home but again it was scrambled clear and Heath survived at just the one goal deficit but Jets also had the slope in their favour for the second half. The team talk was positive and it was generally agreed how this will hurt after that 45 if Jets end up with nothing from the game.
Sim head denied but Jake finishes
Jake Kissiedu fires home to make it 0-2 Jets
Jets got the perfect start to the second period when again Sim Armstrong was on the end of a perfect delivery and Jake Kissiedu converted from close range (50 mins).
The home sides response was immediate and for half an hour unstoppable and flying, as the bench emptied Heath got stronger and stronger and Jets at the same time capitulated.
No mans land punished as Colney make it 1-2
Suddenly its 2-2
Colney’s third in eight minutes and the game is turned around
Jets let a soft to us and a super effort for our opponents when James Ewington spotted the keeper in no mans land and cheekily lobbed him into the net (52 mins) and minutes later Jets were ripped apart as he converted his second 2-2 (56 mins) then Femi headed home 3-2 (60 mins) so in just eight minutes the game was turned on its head and Jets looked traumatised.
Jets debut for Matt Hodges
Jets rallied only in the final stages, debutant striker Matt Hodges came on and Jets at last went for broke, and then the match referee comes in for my personal criticism, that having had a good hour after a touchy confrontation with the home box he looked to have somewhat surrendered to more home based decisions and two horrendous penalties were denied to Jets in the final four minutes.
Ref gives handball against flattened Dan Taylor
First Dan Taylor won a tussle in the box between him and the defender and as he broke for the clear space he was tripped, incredibly as he fell on the ball hand ball was given and as much as it was a dreadful decision at least the official was up with play, which is more than could be said about the one in the final seconds as Jack Robertson powered forward and was heading in on goal before being felled and nothing given, now who goes to ground in the final seconds when a clear shot on goal is on offer for no reason!
Jack Robertson is bundled over in the penalty area in the last minute but nothing given
Last minute penalty shout but the action is well away from the officials
But, as the photos show, the official was nowhere near play to decide and the assistant innocent of the appalling decision on the other side of the pitch, so points deduction big time for the man in black from me. Colney Heath got the points both with some help from Jets and from fantastic determination and effort to support the side that without doubt will be flying up the table.
After, in the postmortem, it was clear the staff were unhappy with the Jets contribution to the ten minutes collapse and Stedman made it clear NOT to blame the official as it was not him who blew the game away, and I made everything Stedman said correct and the players need to take note, and so do the missing people as he needs a settled squad to continue to build on the new set up. As for the official 100% right he did not lose us the game he just denied us the point that was probably deserved, in fairness to the official he offered to discuss the decisions on the way in after, but it was best I adopted the new but not yet in guide lines of don’t talk to them after a game for ten minutes, as there was nothing that would be met with a polite reply to be said on this occasion, so walk away and put his mark on the sheet while the mind is fresh is best.
Jets Man of the match was going to go to either someone in the back four or Sim Armstrong who looked as if he was the man to make things happen for Jets and the Carlsberg bottle went to him, on a day a few more Carlsberg bottles looked to be needed.
Looks like another goal for Jake as Jets dominated but…
A goal line clearance denies Jake his second
Brazil remembered