Overloaded Jets
Egham 6 Oxhey Jets 1
Cherry Red Combined Counties Premier North
22nd April 2023
So near but so far as the maths caught up with luckless Jets at second-placed Egham.
The maths now say relegated but a win in the final match at Hilltop could, with luck, offer one of the prized reprieved spots in the FA Lotto.
Jets’ young and totally inexperienced team have given their best for Jets and I’m both grateful and proud of the way Tom Inch, Dave Barnes and the lads have given their all to try to save Jets’ status while learning on the job.
The team were doing well when the normal football was in play but once it went Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday every week the legs, heads and hearts just found it too much after hauling Jets back from the massive deficit taking over Jets with only two points.
The run-in was too much in a week, champions and points centurions Ascot, then 5th placed Virginia Waters and now second place Egham, who are warming up for their playoff final for their next match.
Jets started brightly, very brightly and it’s with amazement that they were denied a penalty in the opening minutes by the referee as David Levy was upended on a powerful run into the area. I’m sure if at home with a big crowd and near the top of the league it would have gone our way !!!
Jets had chances and were playing really well and as halftime approached a little disappointed to be a goal down.
Then disaster, but disaster averted, as Lewis Lavin in goal committed a foul but in a flash became a hero by saving the spot kick.
Jets started really brightly in the second period and ex-Egham forward David Levy scored a great solo goal being put through and chipping the keeper superbly. Boy did he enjoy it and with twenty to go the sidelines were praying for a miracle.
It was not to be though as Jets ran out of steam as the promotion favourites threw everything at Jets and the goals rattled in going from 1-1 to 6-1 in a flash, legs and hearts broken.
These young lads have given their best, more minutes than 16-17yr olds could dream of at step 5, and they have grown fast, but then the suspect fixture list caught up with them, and it feels like we fell at the final fence in a steeple chase.
Carlsberg’s Jets man of the match was a two-man nomination from Tom Inch, skipper Tommy Kennard and Sean Giordmaina both covering every blade of grass on the emasculate pitch, and it was decided to share the award, they deserve the bottles.
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