Mosca the six-minute hat-trick hero in remarkable Oxhey Jets victory
The great escape, the comeback of the season. All descriptions applied after Oxhey Jets produced an astonishing last six minutes to turn a 3-1 defeat into a 4-3 win at Windsor.
The six-minute hero was player of the month Dom Mosca, who came on as a substitute to score a six-minute hat-trick and trigger wild celebrations on and off the pitch.
Jets had early chances in Friday night’s Combined Counties League Division One clash but the tight Windsor defence saw them off, before the hosts took the lead in the 22nd minute when former Jets academy player Avtandili Akhsiashvili cut in off the flank to score with a deflected shot.
Windsor had the upper hand but their opponents kept countering, equalising after 37 minutes through an excellent Owen Ayres header at the near post from an Elliott Harris cross.
Jets were wobbling but level and held on until the break, although they were now without joint boss Dave Barnes after he was controversially sent off.
The visitors started the second half much as they had finished the first, only showing a rare glimpse of their recent form, but there was more controversy when they lost possession after a foul and Windsor capitalised, with Troy Williams making it 2-1 four minutes after the resumption.
The hosts looked to have sealed the points when Samuel Johnstone Healey scored their third on the hour, with Jets then reduced to ten men when Ayres was sin-binned.
With nothing to lose, Jets’ remaining manager Tom Inch changed everything, throwing on all five substitutes, and the effect was extraordinary.
With Patrick Brander teasing one wing, this sparked George Rice who had swapped to the other, while Mosca was on a mission to make a statement after not being in the starting XI.
The comeback began when a Rice through ball put Brander through on goal, only for him to be upended from behind and Mosca converted the spot kick.
Jets sensed they had a chance and streamed forward, and again it was Rice going direct who found Mosca to chip the keeper and make it 3-3 after 86 minutes.
There was still time for more drama and on 90 minutes Henry Atkinson saved Jets' bacon with an incredible interception to stop Windsor from going clear.
Atkinson controlled the ball and immediately sent it through to Mosca. He got his shirt pulled back but the referee played a great advantage and Mosca managed to break clear and blast the winner into the net to spark wild celebrations after securing a remarkable three points.