Vets Knocked Out Of County Cup
Hoodwood Vets 2
Oxhey Jets Vets 1
County Cup 1st Round
2nd October 2016
Jets Vets crashed out of the Hertfordshire Vets cup on Sunday at the first hurdle, which was disappointing after the semi-final achieved last season.
Jets struggled badly with the injury rocked team, without half the side many more ‘old boys’ were called to arms, some that had played their last games for Jets some twenty years ago.
Jets went a goal down in the first half while enjoying more of the possession but their opponents Hoodwood Vets had very nippy forwards that could swing defence into attack at an instant. Jets were punished by that, a hit and hope aimless punt upfield not reaching the desired target and in two quick passes the one on one was converted despite Gary Crossley’s best diving effort.
Jets will be disappointed to have lost this because the massive balance of possession was with them, and the hosts containing then breaking.
The controversial point for Jets was a blatant foul on the former goal hero Darryn Stewart and the referee agreed, but amazingly gave a direct free kick on the penalty box line, when the photo evidence shows it an easy two yards inside. Jets carried on and hoped this would not be the killer, but again they pushed on and on and continually worked the keeper until Simon Conway rose high to head a super equaliser in his first game for Jets since the early 90’s at Chilwell Gardens, the former school home.
Jets were odds on to win the game and streamed forward at pace, well Vets pace, then proving age on the football pitch does not stop a blood rush, a rash as it comes challenge sent Jets out to the bolt on penalty rightly awarded.
First Team manager Lee Stedman made his Jets debut and Paul Turner twice threatened as did Stewart and Conway but it was not to be this season for the early league leaders in the West Herts league.
Manager Tony Marren will be disappointed as he really thought this was a target trophy, but too many odds stacked against them today and with Gladdy, Rackham, O’Connor, Sharpe, Barrowcliff to name just some of the absentees it was a big ask.
On the positive side it was great to see Darryn Stewart back in a Jets kit, now manager at Hatfield in the Herts County league, he stays in contact with his long term club, playing friendlies and following each other’s seasons as he comes like many of this team from an era where loyalty was high.
Also good to see Simon Conway back and scoring on his shall we call it re debut !!
Disappointing yes, but this set of lads are built on loyal and dedicated footings that mean so much to the club and its staff, so there is no doubt they will all be there next season in the County Cup again, but for now it’s back to chasing the teenagers around the pitch in the West Herts league, and showing those kids that brains and ability can beat them even if the legs fade and kits get bigger !!