Leys kick up a storm

OXFORD LEYS 13-3 JET FC

In a contender for the worst ever team performance (alongside the worst weather), JET succumbed to the elements and was easily beaten by Oxford Leys in Rose Hill.

The UTVSL was the only league to go ahead on Sunday after all other matches across the county – and some of Europe – was postponed due to Storm Ciara.

With the severe gales and torrential hailstorm making the match almost unplayable, Oxford Leys ‘blew’ aside the visitors in the first half, scoring a very easy six goals despite a bright start from the visitors.

A further seven goals were scored in the second half for Leys as JET fell apart, with one foot already [hoping] to be in the dry and warmth of the changing rooms.

The visitors managed to score in between Oxford Leys’ second half goals as Joshua Golding’s effort ricocheted to Jamie Tricker, our first choice goalkeeper, to shoot low into the net.

Leys temporarily slipped into JET’s mindset when a pass back to the goalkeeper fell straight to James Broughton who stabbed in for his second in two matches, while substitute Grant Robinson scored a trademark header through the goalkeeper’s legs from Nathen Cox’s corner.

But the consolation goals were in vain as both sets of players, the referee, and spectators look back at the match and still wonder how on earth it went ahead.

JET FC GOALS: Jamie Tricker, James Broughton, Grant Robinson
JET FC MAN OF THE MATCH: Jamie Tricker
H/T SCORE: Oxford Leys 6-0 JET FC

JET miss out on final

BARTON UNITED 4-1 JET FC

Another disappointing performance saw JET miss out on a place in the final of the Sam Waters Cup.

The visitors welcomed back James Broughton from his loan spell in London, whilst Warren Ralph returned in midfield alongside debutant Mason Churton.

In front of a ‘large’ crowd, the first 30 minutes of the match was a closely fought contest as both teams cancelled each other out in defence. Goalkeeper Jamie Tricker kept out a few early efforts and Barton’s winger failed to convert with the goal agape being the pick of the early highlights.

But Barton took the lead with a little under ten minutes of the first half as their striker ran on to a through ball and tucked his effort nearly under Tricker.

Within minutes, Barton and their striker doubled the host’s lead when good, persistent work from their winger ended with his low cross being tapped in from three yards.

JET’s best opportunity came through Andy Chilver’s bicycle kick that went narrowly wide.

Similar to the Culham outfit’s season so far, a positive team talk was followed by an instant third when United’s striker completed his hat-trick with a close-range scissor kick at the near post.

As JET heads dropped further, so did their slim chances of a comeback when Barton’s substitute winger did find the net with his low, front post effort after the defence failed to clear.

With the game all but over, the visitors pulled a goal back when Richard Buckle’s corner found the unmarked Broughton to poke home, and Barton was later reduced to ten men for foul language towards the referee.

Overall, the result was a fair one with JET rarely threatening and United proving clinical.

We wish Barton all the best in the final as we push on in the league.

JET FC GOAL: James Broughton
JET FC MAN OF THE MATCH: Andy Chilvers
H/T SCORE: Barton United 2-0 JET FC

JET FC P-P Greater Leys Blues

 

The harsh weather conditions – combined with midweek usage – have taken its toll on our mud-bath pitch and Sunday’s match against Greater Leys Blues has been postponed.

The rescheduled fixture date is yet to be confirmed.

 

What the duck?! JET lose again

JET FC 1-6 The Village Inn

There was to be no revenge for JET as they lost twice in a fortnight to The Village Inn, albeit by a smaller margin this time.

JET lined up for the match, which was fortunate to go ahead as the pitch was a mud bath, with five in defence, welcoming back Richard Buckle and Kevin Kogel to the starting line-up.

But the formational switch failed to pay dividends as JET suffered a miserable first-half display that saw the Village score four goals in quick succession – the first of which a well-struck free-kick from 25 yards that nestled into the bottom corner.

Though the start of the second half threatened a comeback when half-time substitute Aaron Aquilina scored within minutes of coming on – running on to Andy Chilver’s clever through ball to stroke home through the goalkeeper’s legs.

But, unlike the pitch, further JET chances dried up and Berinsfield went on to score two more goals as well as miss an open net from two yards.

Goalkeeper Jamie Tricker was on hand to deny any further goals while the rest of the team showed somewhat more desire and passion then they have in the previous two fixtures either side of Christmas.

The one JET spectator – a deceased duck behind the goal – had seen enough (sources say he was alive at kick-off) and so had the pitch. Here’s hoping JET’s home fixture this weekend will still be on.

JET FC GOAL: Aaron Aquilina
JET FC MAN OF THE MATCH: Graeme Smith
H/T SCORE: JET FC 0-4 The Village Inn

JET ‘hand’ Berry the win

THE VILLAGE INN 10-2 JET FC

JET crashed to another double-figure defeat as they started the new decade with a thumping loss against title-chasers The Village Inn in Berinsfield.

It was a poor performance by the visitors overall, who had to play 70 minutes with ten men after player-manager Jamie Stroud’s rush of blood to the head/hand.

Having been two-nil down early on, JET halved the deficit when Aaron Aquilina’s left-footed effort from 18 yards somehow evaded the goalkeeper’s dive and trickled into the corner.

And as the Culham outfit looked to have got back into the match, Stroud was on hand to gift Village a penalty, clawing the ball – volleyballesque style – away from goal having previously blocked two off the line legitimately.

Surprisingly, their midfielder missed the penalty, but it didn’t make much of a difference, as the home side hit a further eight goals all from within the area.

JET managed to pull back a consolation goal when Jonathan James done well to win a penalty and Andy Chilvers coolly slotted in.

If it wasn’t for goalkeeper Jamie Tricker, JET would have suffered an even more significant goal difference, though they’d feel hard done by with two of the goals scored.

They will be hoping for some early revenge (or at least a smaller goal difference) as they host The Village Inn this weekend at Culham.

JET FC GOALS: Aaron Aquilina, Andy Chilvers (pen)
JET FC MAN OF THE MATCH: Jamie Tricker
H/T SCORE: The Village Inn 2-1 JET FC

Catherine Wheel-ie Good

Catherine Wheel 10-0 JET FC

A woeful performance from many. 0 shots on target. Four-down at half time. We go again this weekend and try to end the year on a high.

JET FC MAN OF THE MATCH: Jamie Tricker
H/T SCORE: Catherine Wheel 4-0 JET FC

Oh my Josh! JET win again

JET FC 2-1 OXFORD LEYS

Substitute Joshua Golding scored his first-ever JET goal as they beat Oxford Leys to move off the bottom of the table.

Ashley Presley and Chris White returned to JET’s starting line-up as they looked to build from their impressive performance (albeit narrow loss) against high-flying Greater Leys Blues last weekend.

But it was Oxford Leys who started on the front foot with goalkeeper Jamie Tricker dirtying his gloves early on and Presley making some goal-saving blocks to deny the visitors.

Though Leys did take the lead inside 20 minutes when their player raced into the box and finished beyond Tricker, with JET’s heads still seemingly in the dressing room.

And after a number of close offside calls for the visitors, JET eventually woke up and it wasn’t long before they dispatched their first real chance at goal; Warren Ralph capitalised on a poor goalkeeping clearance to expertly thread through Aaron Aquilina who curled in at the near post for his fifth of the season.

After an even first half, both teams came out knowing the next goal would be the important one, and JET had Tricker to thank as he produced a number of decent stops.

Despite the minimal clearcut opportunities, the home side eventually got their chance and 17-year-old Golding took it with aplomb.

A top managerial move saw Golding and Aquilina swap wings, resulting in the former racing clear and crossing for Golding, who danced past the defender before poking into the far corner of the net.

The crowd of three thousand celebrated deliriously and the makeshift substitutes bench was rocking, though whether that was from joyous scenes or hazardous building skills we’ll never know.

As the match grew older Leys’ frustrations kicked in (literally), but after two yellow cards, they remained humble in defeat.

Some key performances all over the field – most notably in defence – in a match with little opportunities saw JET deservedly win their third game in all competitions. Next up: a simple away trip to first placed Catherine Wheel.

JET FC GOALS: Aaron Aquilina, Joshua Golding
JET FC MAN OF THE MATCH: Sam Gibson/Ashley Presley
H/T SCORE: JET FC 1-1 Oxford Leys

Greater Leys give JET the Blues

GREATER LEYS BLUES 3-2 JET FC

High-flying Greater Leys Blues narrowly avoided an upset as they were pegged back until the very end against JET to remain unbeaten.

On paper, Greater Leys should have easily won this game, but they came up against resilient opposition who deserved more from the match.

The visitors welcomed back Mark Baker in the centre of defence, whilst striker Robert Padbury returned to the starting line-up for the first time this season, replacing the injured Ashley Presley.

And it was JET who produced the first meaningful chance of the game when Warren Ralph’s shot from inside the area rolled inches wide of the post.

But like most of their matches this season, JET went a goal behind after the referee overruled the linesman and players to award a corner, leading to a Leys’ player firing in from close range after pinball in the box.

Yet the away side’s heads didn’t drop and within minutes they were awarded a penalty when Ralph took a tumble in the box under pressure. Up stepped Padbury who coolly drove his penalty home for his first of the season.

The goal spurred JET into life and Aaron Aquilina shot just over from near the penalty spot before Padbury’s effort was kept out by the goalkeeper.

Though the striker made no mistake with his next effort as Ralph was again involved, dancing his way into the area before the loose ball fell to Padbury to steer into the corner via the goalkeeper’s leg.

But within minutes, JET’s excellent work was undone when Greater Leys’ impressive winger was given too much space in the area and shot high into the roof of the net.

After an action-packed first half, the second followed suit and it was the home side’s turn to pile forward in search of the important next goal.

Their striker saw his name on the Christmas DVD of worst misses when he somehow shot over an open goal from two yards, whilst his teammate was unlucky to see his effort crash against the post as JET’s defence held firm.

Goalkeeper Jamie Tricker then produced a number of fine stops to frustrate the title challengers as they looked to be heading for a surprise draw.

But with ten minutes to go, JET’s resilience was broken as Greater Leys’ substitute struck low beyond Tricker to put his side ahead for the second time.

The visitors failed to create any real clearcut chances in the second half, but some impressive individual performances capped off by an all-round fighting spirit proved they can be amongst the big clubs.

With the Christmas break fast approaching, JET will be hoping for at least another point on the board.

JET FC GOALS: Robert Padbury 2
JET FC MAN OF THE MATCH: Graeme Smith
H/T SCORE: Greater Leys Blues 2-2 JET FC

Didcot Win Ten-goal Thriller

DIDCOT CASUALS SUNDAY 6-4 JET FC

Didcot Casuals Sunday edged JET in a ten-goal thriller that saw the latter hit the woodwork four times, miss a penalty, and have three attempts cleared off the line.

JET lined up in a similar fashion to last week’s win over Exeter Rangers, with Chris White coming in for centre-back Mark Baker and Aaron Aquilina returning to the starting line-up.

And it was the visitors who got off to the perfect start inside ten minutes when Richard Buckle’s free-kick was fumbled by the goalkeeper, leaving Jonathan James to tap in for his third goal in as many games.

But Didcot replied almost instantly as their impressive striker headed in from a corner after he was left unmarked from five yards.

In an action-packed 20 minutes, JET went up the other end and was awarded a dubious penalty when Andy Chilvers was brought down after lining up for a shot. But their goalkeeper made up for his earlier error when he produced a low save to deny James, who was better off going for an ‘R1’, ‘circle’ with no direction.

At the other end, Casual’s striker turned the game on its head yet again when he finished low from close range with only his side’s second shot of the match.

With JET pressing for a deserved equaliser, Didcot showed how to finish as their striker turned provider this time, weaving through JET’s defence before setting up his partner to knock home.

With a change of formation at half time and the introduction of an extra striker, the visitors came out flying for the second half and Aquilina’s volley somehow stayed out after hitting the inside of the post and rebounding out.

Though JET did pull a goal back moments later when a corner rebounded to James, arguably via a hand, who finished well through a crowd of bodies on the goal line. Having not scored since the erection of the Pyramids, the striker now has 4 goals and equals the club’s top scorers this season.

Aquilina was then unlucky to see his left-foot effort hit the post for a second time as the Culham outfit pushed for a third, but it was an audacious 35-yard lob from Didcot’s substitute that eventually knocked the wind out of the JET sails.

Like the first half, Didcot proved ruthless in front of goal and their striker completed his hat-trick with a low finish passed an unwell Jamie Tricker.

JET’s Warren Ralph then had an effort cleared off the line before striking the post himself, whilst a Casual’s defender twice cleared Graeme Smith’s efforts from the goal line to keep the score at 5-2.

But Aquilina eventually scored from inside the area with a deflected toe-poke before substitute Clint Hedges struck the crossbar for the fourth time with what would have been a rare goal for the Hedges household to celebrate.

The visitor’s misfortune played into the home side’s hands and Didcot snatched a sixth from a counter-attack as their player raced cleared and side-footed the ball into the bottom corner.

There was time for Ralph to bundle his way into the area, round the goalkeeper and tap in, but unfortunately it was too little too late for the Tangerines.

Despite the loss, JET created a host of chances and improved on their 6-0 drubbing here last season.

JET FC GOALS: Jonathan James 2, Aaron Aquilina, Warren Ralph
JET FC MAN OF THE MATCH: Andy Chilvers/Jonathan James
H/T SCORE: Didcot Casuals Sunday 3-1 JET FC

JET fly to second straight win

JET FC 3-1 EXETER RANGERS

JET recorded their second win on the bounce – for the first time in over a year – and was minutes away from another clean sheet as they beat Kidlington’s Exeter Rangers.

The home side kept to the same formation as last week, as Kevin Kogel replaced Aaron Aquilina upfront and Chris White returned to the squad.

Both teams matched each other in the opening minutes, and JET had goalkeeper Jamie Tricker to thank after he pulled off a tremendous one-handed save to deny Rangers’ striker from five yards.

At the other end, Jonathan James showed how to finish from close range when he turned in Andy Chilver’s low cross for his second goal in as many games.

Captain Ashley Presley then saw his header saved and James almost squeezed in a second as the Blues (or for this match, the Tangerines) pushed for a second.

Exeter looked to threaten for an equaliser but Tricker and his defence stood firm as a tightly-fought first half ended with JET the happier.

Similar to last week, the Culham outfit impressed in the early stages of the second half and Kogel tapped in his second of the season from two yards after defender Mark Baker done well to turn his effort goalwards from a cross.

As JET uncharacteristically finished most of their chances, they added a third when substitute Aquilina’s cross wasn’t cleared and Chilvers drilled in from the edge of the penalty area under the goalkeeper.

The only downside to the scoreline was the last-minute consolation as Exeter’s substitute defender scored the goal of the game when his 20-yard volley went through a crowd of players and nestled into the bottom corner.

The win sees JET notch their first points on the board this season as they travel to Didcot Sunday Casuals this week.

JET FC GOALS: Jonathan James, Kevin Kogel, Andy Chilvers
JET FC MAN OF THE MATCH: Jonathan James
H/T SCORE: JET FC 1-0 Exeter Rangers