Jets Power Into Charity Shield Semi-Final
Oxhey Jets 4 Hoddesdon Town 1
Herts FA Charity Shield Quarter-Final
3rd September 2024
Jets at last hit form and the net with a blistering second-half performance against in-form Hoddesdon Town. Both sides had to make changes as the heavy early season fixtures list takes its toll on the players, so with Andre Lopes, Sean Giordmaina, and Dylan Roberts out injured and Liam Osborne lapping up the sun in Turkey it was a reorganisation for luckless Jets.
A tight and cagey first half with both sides probing and keeping things tight with the visitors edging the possession and looking very capable with some good play, while Jets were still loose with the final ball and early shots heading over the trees into the Middlesex fields.
Both sides opened the defence and squandered before a peach of a ball from Eden Bailey split Jets apart for Ben Clarke to slot (36 mins).
Would this be the moment for a shoulder-shrugging collapse by young Jets? Well, not at all, in fact, the opposite as Jets upped their game and countered with more purpose. Immediately Rice forced a save from Jets’ former keeper, and from the resulting corner, Chippy headed inches wide.
With the break closing in, an energetic George Rice powered a ball across the face of the goal and Dom Mosca was unmarked to tap into the empty net. 1-1 at the break and more belief from Jets to work on at halftime.
You would not have predicted what was to come, Jets upped their game and burned off the visitors with some display that has been threatening for a few matches.
Dom Mosca attacked from wide and his powerful shot via a slight deflection hit the net past Nugent (50 min) and Jets had reversed the match.
It was take a breath time as Jets sensed blood and tore into Town who didn’t know what hit them, and some excellent interplay ended with Dom Mosca completing his hattrick with a blistering shot high into the net 3-1 (52min).
The game was topped off when the superb Owen Ayres shuffled his hips and left the chasing pack for dead before curling an excellent finish into the net 4-1 (80 min)
Jets were superb in the second half and need to take this into league form to climb up the table.
The Carlsberg man of the match had so many positives, Archie Sykes possibly his best match of the season and Elliot Harris and George Rice a real energy boost for Jets, but the staff after a long debate could not split the outstanding Owen Ayres with a class performance and goal, and hat trick hero Don Mosca.
Jets of Old was a cup team that continually upset the form guide. Tonight Young New Jets copied their predecessor’s example, and a home match versus the winners of Colney Heath and Wormley Rovers is Jets’ reward.
Finally, a word of praise for the match officials, who were right on their game tonight.
Match Video: –