Hemel 0 Jets 1 : St Marys Cup Final 2012

Jets Stun Hemel To Lift St Marys Cup

Jets produced one of their best EVER cup results in their just a few days short of 40 years history to win the St Marys cup against Evo Stick Premier League team Hemel Hempstead Town in their own back yard to complete an amazing cup winning double ( and third final in 14 days).

Jets, smarting at being described as “Pub Cloggers” on a Hemel fans web site, needed no more motivation to take the game at Town who stand two levels higher than Jets in the FA Pyramid system.

The early pattern was tense with neither side settling down, and the first chance was a Macca header in a fairly dour opening. Jets had Ant Shepherd cautioned for a reckless tackle and the tackle was to cost the defender his shirt as he pulled his own groin and was to be replaced by Chris Killer early in the game.

Jets, with the advantage of the slope in the first half, built the edge on the game and felt a good call for a penalty was in order when the skilful Luke Beardsworth was stopped, but referee Jake Hillier, who had a good game, was not moved by the appeal,

A player from each team was cautioned for an off the ball offence but the Town striker was very lucky to stay on the pitch not long after for blasting the ball out the ground, when most other times it would have been a yellow and in this case number 2 and gone.

Jets were growing in confidence and, after a few telling balls that highlighted him as a major threat, Beardsworth was felled and the unlucky striker was to struggle to the break with a reoccurrence of a back injury and Jets second sub was on at the break. With Ingham and Macca also struggling Jets were in danger of running out of men.

The real difference was the outstanding defence of Brown and Macca, again dominant, but the star man of the match was rapidly becoming the outstanding Andy Lomas who was covering the pitch and defending one minute and setting up the goal attempts the next. Half Time 0-0

The second half was little different although the break looked on when super play fed in hot and loyal striker Lewis Putman, but the tired out striker was denied by a good save but will be disappointed with himself. A goal line scramble then denied Jets again as the pressure mounted.

Chris Ingham was withdrawn injured and young Con Keating from Jets under 18 academy came on and produced an outstanding twenty minutes far exceeding his 16 years of age.

Then the big moment came that felled the Evo Premier team, and how fitting it was that the best player on the day by a country mile got it with a truly outstanding goal. Good inter play involving half a dozen Jets players finally went to ANDY LOMAS and the ball sat up right as a thundering curling 30 yard volley went and curled into the roof of the net to set off wild celebrations for the “Blue Army”.

Andy Lomas drives in the decisive late goal

Andy Lomas is about to be mobbed as he celebrates his goal

Jets played keep ball running the clock down and a rash ball from Orlando almost cost Jets, but good defending completed by, yes, Andy Lomas snuffed out the chance and Jets got their hands on the prized trophy, one of the country’s oldest cups first played for back in 1888.

Skipper Ian Bywater proudly led his historic team to the Cup and wild celebrations as Jets game count went past 65 first team games caused by outstanding runs in the FA comps and the County and League cups.

General Manager John Elliott was ecstatic and proud of his players, management and supporters. “It’s fantastic to go past our anniversary with two major cups in our hands and this fantastic cup side again proved what they can do and leaves us baffled by the poor league position. They have given their all and as tired as they are still managed to party long and hard before getting a well earned summer break. The club is very proud of them and THANK YOU does not start to sum it up!!”.