Oxhey Jets 1 Haringey Borough 3
Molten Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division
At: Boundary Stadium
Kick-off: 3-00pm
Admission: £6 including 44 page programme
Attendance: 67
Weather: sunny
Duration: first-half: 46:32; second-half: 48:21
It was time today to let ‘the train take the strain’ and tick off a county sufficiently far from home that the cost of the rail fare was on a par with the cost of petrol. An enticingly-priced day return with London Midland to Watford Junction encouraged me to leave the car at home to embark on another trip south using only public transport and foot power. The Molten Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division between Oxhey Jets and Haringey Borough fitted perfectly with the plan.The beginning of the journey wasn’t without its problems and I needed luck to get me onto the 10.21 Stafford to London Euston train via Northampton. A necessary detour to the post office didn’t help, nor did bumping into to someone from church who was buying his daily newspaper there. All seemed lost until a number 3 bus stopped at The Oval bus stop. (fare/change???) So, instead of being late, I was now early and even the crossing by The Grapes was showing the green man without me waiting. Luck was now with me. Fast forward two-and-a-bit hours to 12.33 and arrival on time at Watford Junction.
With an hour to spare before I needed to make my way to Carpenters Park station, and the car safely at home, I was able to do something a lot of football travellers do but I can’t, seek out some real ale at a local pub. I did enjoy a half of Woodforde’s Wherry Bitter at The Moon on the Water on Watford High Street which, according to a sign promoting the town’s ‘Café Quarter’, is one of the longest high streets in the country and once formed the main road from London to Birmingham.
Carpenters Park, three stops from Watford Junction and two stops from Watford High Street where I boarded the train, is closest to Oxhey Jets. The walk south from station through the suburbia of South Oxhey to ground took around 15 minutes via Station Approach, left down Prestwick Road, a short cut on Ormskirk Road, left along Little Oxhey Way, across the main road by the parade of shops and right into Altham Way, where the ‘Oxhey Jets FC’ pointed the way.
Looking at the Premier Division table before kick-off, Oxhey occupied 17th position in the 23 team division with 13 points from 12 games. A bit further up the table in 13th position were Haringey with 17 points from 11 games.
With rain-threatening clouds gathering, I opted for a seat undercover in the stand. Visitors Haringey decided to attack the ‘houses’ end in the first half – after the referee had spent what seemed like an age giving instructions to the two captains. And, that wasn’t the only delay as Oxhey keeper Sam Styles had to change from grey to a green top to avoid clashing with the grey top worn by his opposite number.
Eventually, the visitors (wearing yellow shirts, green shorts and yellow socks) got the game underway and, to be honest, the first decent chance led to a goal… in the 26th minute. From near the left corner of the area, Jamie Brandon hit a well-struck left-foot volley which the leaping Styles could only fingertip into the top-right corner.
Early in the game Haringey’s keeper Nick Christofi picked up an injury which he clearly aggravated in the 41st minute and was forced to limp off. On came Jamaine Edwards and Nick Nicou took over the captain’s armband.
At half-time, I spotted the ‘Oxhey Jets FCMoaners Mount Stand with a bench in memory of ‘John Sinnott from his friends’. Nice touch.
Back to the action and the second half got underway in sunshine with hardly a cloud in the sky, and the visitors were unlucky not to extend their lead. Harry Honesty got down the right and pulled the ball back to Constantinos Georgiou who in turn set up David Boal to fire a low 30-yard shot that hit the outside of the right-hand post.
Oxhey (in blue shirts and shorts with white socks) got back on level terms in the 65th minute. Nathan Roberts crossed deep from the right to the far post where Tim O’Mara sent a right-foot volley into the far corner of the net.
With Haringey threatening to regain the lead, Styles produced several fine saves including one to turn round a header from Micou. However, the keeper couldn’t prevent the visitors finding the net in the 87th minute. From a move down the left, Brandon crossed low to the far post where Daniel Alley sidefooted home.
Haringey added a third goal in stoppage time. Fabiano Durimel exploited gaps at the back to fire home a close range.
“Wasn’t brilliant was it?,” said one local to me. I think the Oxhey manager agreed as he held an inquest on the pitch that was still continuing a good ten minutes after the final whistle.
Oxhey Jets (blue/blue/white): 1. Sam Styles, 2. Ian Bywater, 3. Lee Grace, 4. Steve Brown, 5. Chris Harding, 6. Chris Ingham (capt), 7. Luke Reid, 8. Nathan Roberts, 9. Dean Seabrooke, 10. Tim O’Mara, 11. Lewis Putman. Subs: 12. Colin Jenkins (not used), 14. Ant Shepherd (not used), 15. Lewis Cook (for Putman, 86), 16. Lee Armitt (for Seabrooke, 62).
Haringey Borough (yellow/green/yellow): 1. Nick Christofi (capt), 2. Rakim Richards, 3. Demetri Stratis, 4. Andrea Loizou, 5. Nick Nicou, 6. Constantinos Georgiou, 7. Miguel Martins, 8. David Boal, 9. Harry Honesty, 10. Daniel Alley, 11. Jamie Brandon. Subs: 12. Tolu Popoola, 13gk. Jamaine Edwards (for Christofi, 42), 14. Fabiano Durimel (for Martins, 81), 15. Daniel Couldridge (for Richards, 61), 17. Paul McGiven.
Referee: B. Zbirka.
Assistant Referees: D. Elkins and G. Garnham.
Goals:
0-1 Jamie Brandon (26)
1-1 Tim O’Mara (65)
1-2 Daniel Alley (87)
1-3 Fabiano Durimel (90+2)
