Westside 4 Oxhey Jets 2
Cherry Red Combined Counties Division One
21st September 2024
We’ve seen some good and bad performances this season, but none as baffling as Saturday’s defeat.
Jets’ first half was absolutely stunning. It was a complete football display, with the team spraying the ball around, making multiple passes, and doing everything the Jets staff coaches and asks of their youngsters against a top-six side.
First start for young Noah
Young Noah Softleigh Moore made his first start and had a good chance in the first two minutes but was denied by a good save from the keeper. It was an early warning of what was to come: Jets, we’re putting on a Rolls Royce display like years gone by.
The hosts were frustrated, and the first player was sent to the sin bin after just twenty minutes.
Elliot Harris puts Jets into the lead
Three minutes later Jets took full advantage, and, after a period of pressure and despite multiple saves by the keeper, Elliot Harris drove home 0-1 (23 min)
Elliot doubles Jets lead in an impressive first half.
It was all Jets and a flowing move started by returning full-back Danny Fowler tearing up the wing was finished off by Elliot Harris for his Brace 0-2 (29 mins)
Three more yellows and another sin bin for the home side, and Jets swamped forward, but their failure to convert chances into goals proved a disaster. The half-time whistle made the two-and-a-half-hour drive seem worth it.
Positive talks and joy, at last, seeing the old Jets form had the loyal supporters who had made the horrendous trip to West Wimbledon buzzin’.
Jets concede early after the restart.
The second half was to show the optimism was too early as Jets’ notorious slow start after the breaks again swung the game with loose passes. Jets were punished just five minutes in when Emmanuel Folorunso pulled one back in a goal-mouth scramble 1-2 (50 min).
Westside level from the spot, and Jets are unravelling big time.
The body language said things were not good, and as Westside pounced on Jets slackness, Jets GK was judged to have fouled, the penalty was converted, and a yellow card was issued. (2-2 55min) Alex Foord.
The referee kept giving both sides cards, judging every contact to be a yellow despite the fact that there was not a bad tackle in the game. What are these lads being told to do?
Jets go behind from the spot, and there is no way back.
Westside took the lead with another rash penalty as Jets completely lost their heads, and again Alex Foord converted (76 mins) 3-2
Deep into stoppage time, Kai George (90+3) wrapped up the score, but in honesty, the Jets were gone and never looked like levelling up.
Baffled is an understatement. The swing was total, conditions were the same, and the Jets even had the slope advantage, but it was a total collapse.
The Carlsberg Jets man of the match went to two-goal scorer Elliot Harris.
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