Jets battle back for a point against play-off contenders

Youthful Oxhey Jets showed great character to come from behind with ten men and hold play-off contenders Yateley United to a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

After a goalless first half, the hosts took the lead through David Lopes but were trailing 2-1 with five minutes of normal time remaining when Elliot Harris equalised with a goal of the season contender.

The first half of the Combined Counties League Division One encounter was like a chess match with the two sides taking turns to make their moves.

Patrick Brander looked like he could make the breakthrough, but Yateley organised their defence to stop him and his counterpart on the other side of the pitch, George Rice.

Craig Stephen-Lett was on top of things defensively, getting all the right challenges in to deny the visitors, as Jets were a little sluggish on their feet.

Elliot Harris (No. 16) watches his stunning strike fly into the top corner (Image: Oxhey Jets FC) The first big chance fell to Rice, who got away from the defender and rolled the ball past the keeper but agonisingly inches the wrong side of the post, while at the other end Jets needed Lewis Lavin to keep the score all-square at the break.

Jets made early changes in the second half and improved, looking more lively but it was the arrival on the pitch of Lopes that was to prove key. It took the substitute one minute to latch onto the ball in the box and powerfully drive his side into the lead after 65 minutes.

The goal ignited the game and both sides upped the pace. Eight minutes later, Yateley equalised from a tight angled ball that Harry Lee tapped home, a goal that infuriated Jets who appealed for offside which resulted in Lavin being sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes for his part in the protests.

David Lopes pulls the trigger to score a minute after coming off the bench (Image: Oxhey Jets FC)

Yateley smelt blood and bombarded Jets, forcing one full-length save from stand-in keeper Harry Brady that Lavin would have been proud of. But the pressure told, with the visitors forcing the ball into the net from a corner via Lee again in the 82nd minute.

Jets battled and fought with ten men and their efforts were rewarded three minutes later when Harris equalised with a stunning strike from the left edge of the penalty area.

The home side had to survive another mass game of pinball in the area before Lavin returned for a frantic period of stoppage time in which neither side was able to find a winner.