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veteran o'connor scores twice to put jets through

Jets 'B' 3 Hunton Bridge 1
Stanley rous Cup
15th November 2008

The fourth team entertained Hunton Bridge in the Stanley Rous cup in a welcome distraction from the league. Looking to carry on the recent good form against a team from the same division but below us in the table, manager Alan Carter was forced to make several changes from the last game due to late withdrawals and injuries. I’d heard rumours that Rob Howard was a good keeper (although it was him that had told me!) and he was forced to put the gloves on due to a drastic shortage of available keepers. He did mention that he was very good at getting down to shots, but not very good at getting back up again. With Dave Prouten, Gerry Brown and Andy Whiting all missing (combined age 435), Will Brereton went from being the youngest in the back four to the eldest with Immy Ali in an unfamiliar right back role with Tom Marsh and Steve King the lanky partnership in the middle.  Alan couldn’t play himself due to injury, so had to put James Kern and James Evens in unfamiliar central midfield roles.

Playing with a bit of confidence after a win and a draw from the last two games, Jets attacked from the off and looked steady and in control in the early stages although Hunton had a lot of old heads and we knew we had to be wary.  Good work from the wingers and tireless running from Ryan Dalton led to several half chances although most ended up over the bar and Steve Paynes effort was miles wide, and his frustration got the better of leading to a booking for dissent. Hunton had a strong 10 minutes and pushed forward in numbers and a diagonal ball over the top left Tom and Steve flat footed and despite a late lunge from Will Brereton the Hunton forward got the shot away from 12 yards and Rob Howard produced a fine save to tip it wide of the upright.

A couple of corners followed and some classic goal mouth scrambles occurred however Jets were well organised and determined and blocked everything that was thrown at them.  The passing was very good at times from Jets, but the end of the first half petered out and we were grateful to hear the half time whistle.
 
The half time team talk was a simple one from Carter, keep on doing what we’re doing and we’d win the game. We wanted to get it out of the way in 90 minutes as well as the conditions were worsening and the light was fading. It wasn’t long before Jets took the lead. Substitute Russell Tarabin flicked on a header and Ryan Dalton ran on to it to lift the ball over the keeper for the first goal and he deserved it after his tireless running.

Jets grew in confidence and several good chances with the Hunton keeper making several good low saves and keeping them in it as we should have been 3 or 4 up at this point. After one of our corners broke down, a swift counter attack led to a diagonal through which the Jets defence wide open and the experienced Hunton forward ran onto it and slipped it under the advancing Rob Howard for the equaliser.

This shocked Jets into life and straight from the restart we pressed forward trying to kill the game off and the chance started to come with veteran w(h)inger Eddie O’Connor making inroads down the left hand side.  A break down the right wing and good running from Russell left him on the byeline and driving into the Hunton box, 999 times out of 1000 he would have gone for goal himself, but a rare moment of actually thinking about something led to slide the ball across the goal to an onside Eddie O’Connor (making the kind of run he only does when he thinks he might score) the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net for 2-1.

It was a matter of if not when the next goal came and Hunton didn’t really threaten the Jets goal and when the Hunton defender clumsily fouled a Jets player in the box right in front of the ref it was a good chance to kill the game off. There was some dispute over who was going to take it but stand in skipper Will Brereton marched forward from the back line to loudly tell everyone “Eddie O'Connor's taking it, I’ve never seen him miss”, which obviously put him under no pressure what so ever. Luckily, he came through and buried it for his second and Jets third and killed the game off.

The final whistle came soon afterwards and it was a good win for Jets and Carter will be pleased at the number of chances we created although we are still missing too many……

 

hard fought win for the 'b' team

Mark Davies & Ryan Dalton scored in the 3-2 win over Hadley 'B'

Jets 'B' 3 Hadley 'B' 2
West Herts Division 2
1st November 2008

After the previous weeks humiliating cup exit (thrashed by a team from the division below), the B team returned to league action in desperate need of some points to avoid being involved in a relegation battle over the Christmas period.  Manager (and occasional player) Alan Carter had deliberated long and hard during the week as to what team and formation to use, writing down no less than 6 different team setups.  He finally decided on a 5-3-2, with Will Brereton coming in at left wing back and veteran Eddie O’Connor (still chasing the all time Jets appearance record) coming in at centre midfield along with Oggy returning in goal for his 4th return to the Jets  Miserable conditions on Oxhey playing fields (as per usual) and the other team turning up 45 minutes didn’t put us in the best of moods, although Hadley did only turn up with 10 men, so this forced Carter to re-organise the team into a 4-4-2 just before kick off.

As expected, Jets enjoyed a lot of possession against their opponents who had a man less, but equally Hadley were well up for it and were attacking when they could and forced a succession of corners from them early on but Jets held firm and Oggy was holding everything that was thrown at him.  Ryan and Immy up front had a lot of room and were running directly at the Hadley back line after numerous through balls from Carter, but Hadley had some experience at the back and weathered the early storm. Jets took a stranglehold on the game and created several good chances, a shot from 12 yards from a corner was superbly saved by the Hadley keeper, while Immy had too much time on a one on one and again the keeper saved.  Eddie O’Connor made room for himself in the box and screwed his shot wide when it seemed easier to score and it seemed like it wouldn’t be Jets day.

This looked even more likely when after a Jets corner broke down and Hadley broke leaving Jets short at the back. An excellent through ball split the Jets defence and the small Hadley forward (the son of former Jets player Alan Weston, always a Jets connection somewhere!) expertly slotted the ball under Oggy and just inside the post to put them 1-0 up.  The half time whistle went soon afterwards and Carter told us to keep going and it would come for us.  

Amazingly, we listened to him and straight from the kick off we started going at them again and from a corner a shot was deflected off the backside of James Evans and wrong footed the keeper (he claims he meant it but is definitely lying!) Regardless, this got us right back in it and took the wind out of Hadley and in order to take advantage of their tiring legs, Carter bought on Mark Davies into centre midfield and put himself up front to try and kill the game off.  With literally his first touch, Mark guided the ball past the Hadley keeper after a lofted cross, and despite being the smallest player on the pitch knew he had to score as Will Brereton was waiting behind him and he knew that if Will scored his first goal for 4 years he would never hear the end of it.  

After a long goal kick from Oggy which was flicked on, Ryan Dalton scored with a low shot under the keeper to put us 3-1 up and seemingly out of reach. With nothing to lose Hadley pushed men forward going for broke, and a lofted ball into the box with more than a hint of offside about it left the Hadley forward with acres in the box and he slotted the ball under Oggy to make it 3-2.

Despite pushing even more men forward to try and nick a point, Jets held on for an important win and need to be aware that Hadley will be much stronger opposition when they have a full squad. Another important game awaits a Hunton Bridge next week……
 

a hard earned point stops the rot

Glenn Sports 2 Jets 'B' 2
West Herts Division 2
18th October 2008

The fourths have not done particularly well against Glenn Sports over the last few seasons, and bearing in mind the form of the fourth team recently it looked like it might be a bad day in the office for Alan Carters team.  Andy Whiting came in at centre half alongside Gerry Brown, and Carter played himself in an unfamiliar centre midfield role alongside Mark Davies in a classic little and large combination. There was concern before the game that the long grass at Callowlands may affect our tactics and the way we play, until it was pointed out that the play is constantly up in the air due to our long ball tactics and that it wouldn’t be a problem.  Right from the off, Jets looked like they were up for it, and with Gerry Brown marshalling the back four, Alan Carter was making surging runs from the midfield and playing through balls like he’d been doing it for years through to the lively front pairing of Ryan and Russell.

For once we looked like we could actually score, having several good chances which the Glenn goalkeeper was equal to, although the one of the saves did come of his head and went over the bar.  Glenn were resorting to the long ball due to the conditions and also the shocking lack of pace in the Jets back line (no offence lads!) and it was one such ball which fell to the stock Glenn forward who surged through down the byline and cut inside riding some tackles on the way and hitting a low hard shot which somehow went between the near post and keeper Joe Marsh, hit the post and rolled along the goal line before hitting the other post and almost in slow motion trickling in to give them a 1-0 lead.  The same forward clattered Joe Marsh in a hard but fair challenge leaving him with a heavily dead leg, but al credit to him he finished the 90 minutes and his handling was solid throughout.  

The same Glenn forward tried the same route as the one where the goal came from, but found Andy Whiting in the way who wouldn’t let him past and make a superb tackle leaving him on the floor, apparently injured. Despite calls to put the ball out, Jets played on and Alan Carter played Ryan through with a defence splitting pass, he then laid it to Russell Tarabin who smashed the ball past the keeper for the equalizer. It has to be noted that the Glenn forward who was previously injured was well enough to get up and run to the ref protesting about us not putting the ball out!
 
In the second half, Jets started well again but it was Glenn who had the best chance when a corner dropped in the six yard box and was hit by a Glenn player which should have surely been a goal, apart from the fact Joe Marsh pulled off an amazing point blank save and then recovered quick enough to turn the ball round the post to safety.  Chance after chance followed for Jets, although none were absolutely clear cut, and when a corner broke down, Glenn broke and a long ball was run onto by the Glenn forward when he was adjudged to have been bought down in the box by Andy Whiting in the box, and a penalty was awarded which was duly scored.  

This galvanised Jets and the tireless Alan Carter was creating chance after chance but nothing seemed to be working out and it looked like a fifth consecutive loss was on the cards. Mark Davis had other ideas though, and on a marauding run into the Glenn box he was clearly pulled back from the Glenn defender and the ref had no option but to award the penalty which Alan Carter easily scored from.  The game finished 2-2, and although the much needed win didn’t arrive, it was a good away point and unlike previous weeks at least we created chances in this game, despite not scoring any and hopes will be high for next week. Credit also goes to the Glenn player who dropped out of the game and refereed the match after the late withdrawal of the appointed referee.

lack of goals cost the'b' team again

Jets 'B' 2 Aldenham 5
West Herts Division 2
4th October 2008

The 'B' team seem to have forgotten how to win games recently, and despite taking the lead in this one, they still went down heavily in the end to a much changed Aldenham side.  After the previous weeks loss to L'Artista, the 'B' team were looking to put things right and climb up the table, and manager Alan Carter started himself up front with Russell Tarabin in a new look 3-5-2 formation with wing backs and old fashioned inside right and inside left positions (ask your Dad!). Chris Walker also made his comeback from a long term injury between the sticks and Ryan Dalton started in an unfamiliar midfield role.

The conditions were not great (although the same for both sides) with the strong winds and hard pitch (despite the recent rain) making it hard going, although the only good thing is the moaning of everyone was drowned out by the wind!! It looked like the tactical switch would pay dividends when a headed flick on from Steve King led to wing back Will Brereton drifting a high cross into the Aldenham box. Aldenham failed to clear their lines, and the ball fell to Alan Carter who hit a low shot into the bottom corner of the net to put Jets 1-0 up.

Straight from the restart, Aldenham pushed forward looking for an equaliser, and they eventually got one although it was after a Jets corner broke down and we were left short at the back. A long ball was played over the top to the Aldenham forward who edged ahead of Gerry Brown who then bought him down in true Dave Prouten style (although he made the most of it) inside the box and the ref gave a penalty which was duly dispatched.  

A scuffle with Dan Hayes and the Aldenham forward was made worse when Will Brereton ran 30 yards to get involved and this unsettled Jets and Aldenham had several chances, one of which bought an outstanding save from Chris Walker which will probably see him back in a higher team before long.  Aldenham had several old heads and this showed, and goals two and three weren't far behind. 2 quick goals which Jets could and should have defended better against left us shell shocked and as per the previous weeks, we didn't create many chances to equalise.  A low shot followed by a long range shot which fizzed into the goal giving Chris Walker no chance, but it should have been shut down by the Jets midfield and defence.  

At 3-1 down, Jets looked dead and buried, and a low shot at the near post from the Aldenham right winger and a neat chip from the striker left it at 5-1 with 25 minutes to go and ended the game as a contest.  Jets did pull one back when Gus Hodge upended the Aldenham forward in the Jets area which looked like a penalty to most people including the Aldenham players who stopped expecting the ref's whistle. It never came however, and Jets broke forward in numbers and the ball eventually found it's way over the line after a small goal line scramble with Ryan Dalton getting the final touch to nudge the ball over the line for his first goal for the club, although it was too little too late.  Yet again, not enough goals and not enough chances, and I'm not too sure where the answer lies......

september blues

The first game of the season was a hard fought win against Potten End, but since then it has gone a little bit downhill with no more victories registered in September and going out of the County Cup in the first round. At times the football played has been good, but as we all know the most important thing in football is scoring goals and we just haven’t done enough of that, so that will be the focus in the next few months as we need to steer clear of the relegation places as we don’t want to find ourselves down there over the Christmas period.  

Plus points have been the emergence of several new youngsters to the side, although some of them have shown enough to suggest they will move up through the sides at the club.  Also, the attitude of the vast majority of players has been good, despite being beaten several weeks in a row, which is something that needs to continue.  Hopefully this time next month will see a rise up the table, watch this space……

former jets win it for the visitors

Jets 'B' 0 L'Artista 4
West Herts Division 2
27th September 2008

Several former Jets players lined up for L’Artista against the B team at Oxhey Playing fields on their return to league action after the cup exit the previous week and they made the difference on the day. Rob Howard and Eddie O’Connor were both missing, which meant a much, much quieter afternoon than the previous week for the remaining players.  Steve King started up front after his goal scoring exploits last week, Will Brereton made his first start of the season at left back and Russell Tarabin was available after his emergency signing had come through, starting at right midfield and seeing Jamie Rous sliding back to right back.   A very dry, bumpy pitch was a great leveller, well it was for the first 5 minutes until a big cross from the right led to two headers from the Jets defence going straight up in the air and the ball falling to the L’Artista forward Chris Malski who half volleyed home from 10 yards giving Alex Butcher in the Jets goal no chance.  This spurred Jets into some sort of life and they had a short period of attacking although much like Arsenal there was no end product and we didn’t trouble the (stand-in) goalkeeper at this time and he didn’t really have a save to make for the whole game. Although L’Artista didn’t make many chances, the ones they did get they took which was the big difference between the two sides and they made no mistake from the spot when the referee awarded a penalty for handball against Will Brereton although he argued that the ball was smashed into his arm from 5 yards and he had no chance to get out of the way the ref said he could see daylight between daylight and body, so a penalty it was. Chris Malski hit the ball low into the bottom corner for his second. 2-0 at half time and Jets had not had a shot on target.
 
The second half lineup was unchanged and Jets had to have a go in order to try and get something out of the game but they managed to muster nothing more than a couple of half chances and from a L’Artista corner the towering centre half rose unmarked to head number 3.  In an effort to chase the game, Carter bought Dave Prouten on and switched to back 3, but it made no difference and we still didn’t have a clear cut chance that I can remember. Dave Prouten did what he does best and gave away another penalty which was duly dispatched for a scoreline that maybe flattered L’Artista slightly, although the lack of firepower and chances will be a worry to manager Alan Carter, who may well have to play himself if this carries on, watch this space…….!

no fun in the sun for the b team

Warriors XL 2 Jets 'B' 2 (aet. Warriors win 5-3 on pens)
Herts FA Junior Cup
20th September 2008

It was County cup day for the fourths, and a trip to Verulanium Park in St Albans was in order to play newly formed Warriors XL.  The blazing sunshine didn’t help either side, and neither did the late kick off due to the Warriors players being stuck in the car park due to the fun run that was going on the same day. Right from the start you could see that the opposition were lively and up for it, still searching for the first win in their history. They were committing men forward to try and take an early lead, but Jets didn’t take advantage of the space that this gave them, with Rob Wicks and Ryan Dalton looking isolated upfront.  This was a game of few chances and played at a slow pace due to the heat, but a hopeful long ball down the left wing for the Warriors left their forward to cross into the box and after a little game of head tennis, the ball was finally headed in by the Warriors forward past Alex’s dive.  This gave Jets a second wind and they pushed forward with crosses firing in from both sides and with the increasingly nervous Warriors keeper fumbling more than one of them it was looking like a Jets equaliser was on the cards. A lofted ball from the left hand side left Gus Hodge in the 6 yard with a chance that was put on a plate for him, but he went for the Hollywood and tried to hit as hard as possible and hit it over the bar. A number of half chances followed for Jets, but disaster struck when a break from Warriors lead to a deep cross which evaded the keeper and all the Jets defenders and left the Warriors the simple task of heading in to an empty net from 2 yards. Half time 0-2. 
 
A lot of shouting, finger pointing, accusations and insults were traded at half time (first bit of passion seen by Jets on the day), but the upshot of it all was a re shuffle with Will Brereton coming on at left back and Steve King being pushed up front. (this gave a back four of Dave Prouten, Rob Howard, Gerry Brown and Will Brereton – potentially the oldest combined age of a back four in Jets history!)  This paid instant dividends when he was played through just after the restart and slipped the ball under the oncoming keeper to make it 2-1. From then on it was all Jets for a period of 25 minutes, with James Evans coming close and a number of chances falling Jets way.  Due to tiredness (or possibly laziness!) the Warriors had 4 or 5 men when they counter attacked, but some assured goal keeping from Alex Butcher kept us in it. A goal mouth scramble in the last ten minutes left Steve King an easy header from a yard to equalise, which left us (particularly Gerry Brown) dreading the thought of extra time in the heat. The usual predictable stale mate of extra time was played out with the only highlight being a chip off the crossbar from James Evans that had the keeper beaten.  Warriors proceeded to score all 5 of their penalties while Steve King saw his low one saved by the keeper to send them through. Not a great performance, but a bit of character was shown to get back from 2-0. Plus anyone who was there would have seen Gerry Brown complete 120 minutes, which if you know him you will understand is a minor miracle…….