Hadleigh Worth It

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Saturday 8 December 2012 at The Millfield
Result	Hadleigh United 2 Oxhey Jets 0
Competition	FA Vase Round 3.  These step 5 clubs play in the Premier divisions of the Eastern Counties and Spartan South Midlands Leagues respectively.
Hopping	Ground 496 on the lifetime list, chosen randomly from my shortlist through Twitter as the first confirmed fixture in my morning timeline.
Pre-match preparation
Hadleigh’s route to the third round: Stanway Rovers 1-4 Hadleigh United (2nd Qualifying Round) Hadleigh United 1-1 Walsham-le-Willows (1st Round) Walsham-le-Willows 0-2 Hadleigh United (1st Round replay) Colney Heath 1-2 Hadleigh United (2nd Round) They are in the top half of their table and could be as high as second if they win a couple of games in hand. Oxhey Jets’ route to the third round: Oxhey Jets 5-2 Bedfont Sports (2nd Qualifying Round) Oxhey Jets 1-1 Hanwell Town (1st Round) Hanwell Town 0-1 Oxhey Jets (1st Round replay - I was there) http://modushopperrandom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/hard-luck-hanwell-job-done-jets.html Oxhey Jets 4-0 Cockfosters (2nd Round) Likewise, they could be second in their league if they win those games in hand.
This match in one sentence
Oxhey contributed to their own exit by gifting an early first goal and missing a second half penalty which might have set up an interesting finish.
So what?
£1500 and a place in the last 32 for Hadleigh United.
The drama unfolds
It had been a calm first few minutes, with both teams trying to keep possession and play a passing game, but then Oxhey gifted the first goal of the game to their hosts.  Under pressure, the ball was played back to goalkeeper Sam Styles on the edge of the area.  His pass out to the left went to Hadleigh's Marcus Josiah.  He hit it firmly towards the empty net, and Styles could only divert it into the roof of the net.  1-0 after 6 minutes Styles kept Oxhey in the game with a fine double save from Josiah three minutes later.  Josiah was dangerous throughout and my scene-setter clip shows the home side coming close to scoring a second after 15 minutes.  Hadleigh are in the white shirts. Oxhey's first real sight of goal came with a turn-and-shot from Lewis Putman after half-an-hour, but it was straight at Dan Heath who saved comfortably.  I was now watching a more even contest, a good midfield battle and with both defences busy and effective.  With ten minutes before the break, Heath had to come out of the area to block Putman again.  Then Josiah, who had switched to the left, broke the defensive line and Chris Ingham's physical presence was just enough to prevent him from getting the shot away so Styles could come out and collect.  I have one more short clip from the first half.  1-0 at half-time Lewis Putman had his half-time gasper, just as at Hanwell in an earlier round, and Jets set about the task of equalising.  I've moved to the opposite touchline.  Hadleigh started to defend a bit deeper and a Jets goal looked increasingly likely as the half wore on. However, Hadleigh's Paul Donnelly came close to heading a second.  With the game in the balance, the pressure was growing as Oxhey got more and more possession.  Here are two short clips from just after the hour mark. What then happened is that Hadleigh scored on the break - Scott Chaplin stayed composed and finished well.  2-0 after 73 minutes Oxhey kept to the task, to be fair.  They earned a controversial penalty two minutes later and home keeper Heath was yellow-carded.  Here's what I can and can't tell you about this turning point - but first a still pic from my position (Heath is being booked and recriminations are in process) to show that I was absolutely level with the 18yd line. Putnam was through one-on-one.  Heath came out at pace.  The ref was about 20m upfield in a central position.  The two players came together in the "D" and Putman went down.  The referee pointed to the spot - I don't think the assistant was involved in the decision.  Heath protested his innocence and accused Putman of diving.  I can't say for sure whether there was contact, but I can say for sure that if it did happen, it was outside the box.  Given the referee's call, I don't understand why the card wasn't a red one.  Anyway, this was a chance for Oxhey to get back in the game and give us a very interesting last few minutes. Andrew Lomas will probably be happy that I messed up with my photo - his spotkick pinged back off the crossbar and in effect that was game over.  Although Oxhey never gave up, Hadleigh looked more comfortable with the two-goal margin and the game petered out.  Final score 2-0
The programme
Something random
A kingfisher in Tinker’s Lane on my pre-match photo walk!  It must be said that this ground is in a delightful location alongside a river - it looked stunning in some early afternoon sunshine.
Hopping for Moorfields Update
Two goals – 116 in 33 games at an average of 3.51 now.
What Next?
No idea – coming up to 500 which may well be completed as part of a Boxing Day double.  Follow @GrahamYapp on Twitter for any developments.

Hard Luck Hanwell, Job Done Jets

The clubhouse has a daytime existence as a nursery school - hence a signed pic of Charlie George next to the policies for Special Needs and Child Protection!

Only three Duffys playing for Hanwell, but Jets have a Killer on the bench

 

The world needs more candid hosepipe photography

 

Hopperational details
Date & Venue	Tuesday 16 October 2012 at Reynolds Field
Result	Hanwell Town 0 Oxhey Jets 1
Competition	FA Vase 1st Round Replay.  Both sides play in the step 5 Southern Midlands Premier League.
Hopping	Number 485 on the lifetime list
Pre-match preparation
Hanwell equalised in the last minute of normal time to force a 1-1 draw at Oxhey in the first game, as there was no further scoring in extra time.  The Jets are higher in the league at the moment, in third place compared with the Town’s mid-table position.
This match in one sentence
Oxhey took just one of many chances and Hanwell spurned all of theirs in a hard-fought game played at a high standard of skill and commitment.
So what?
Oxhey Jets go on to a home tie with Cockfosters in the next round.
The drama unfolds
Having worked on the patch for several years, I was a closet Jets supporter this evening.  the game started at a good pace with both sides serving up a passing game on a decent surface.  I took a couple of clips to set the scene.  Hanwell are in black-and-white. Jets' Lewis Putman, wearing 10, looked lively and a cross from the left almost got the touch it deserved as the home defence missed it.  Then Lee Inch made a burst from midfield and nearly scored as the visitors began to look more threatening.  However, Oxhey couldn't find the final ball and Hanwell had moments of their own.  The match was too close to call.  Regular readers will know that I often defend officials as my neutrality gives me the foundations, but I have to say tonight that I understood the players' frustration with a bewildering number of corner-kick decisions that went the wrong way (at both ends).  Clip2 above was one of them. That third clip was just before half-time as I am edging towards the coffee.  No goals, but a very, very good game and technically one of the best that I have seen at step 5 in a while.  Every bloke on the upper decks of the passing buses watched for a few moments - it is clearly a tradition in these parts.  0-0 at half-time In a rare moment of forward planning, I placed my immediate hopping future in the hands (or feet) of these players and tweeted accordingly, while Putnam had been given leave of absence from the changing room for a half-time ciggie.  My fourth clip is another one of those disputed corner decisions.  Hanwell started the second half brightly and a goalline clearance (Chris McIntyre, I think) was needed as the Jets keeper was out of position.  Lewis Ochoa had a half-chance for Hanwell. Danny Tilbury almost laid on a goal for Putnam as Oxhey continued to look patient in the buildup.  This was good stuff, and again Hanwell were threatening occasionally too.  Lee Inch was unlucky again, seeing a shot stopped by a goalkeeper backpedalling into position.  The next clip gets distracted by a 'bus but shows how Hanwell could and perhaps should have taken the lead as we entered the final quarter. Here's the goal which settled the game, credited to Ian Bywater.  I'd say Jets just about deserved it on balance.  0-1 I had one more clip but it turned out to be unsuitable for family viewing as a Jets player let rip at the lino for one more corner decision.  The player was right but I can't defend him - everyone had long since been playing and appealing for whatever they could get, and the decisions evened out on the night.  The ref tended to support his linos' decisions whereas what he should have done was prodded them with a rolled-up programme.  At least.  Jets spent a fair few of the stoppage minutes trying to run the ball into the corners.  Hanwell had one more chance in the closing seconds, and I imagine that Orlando Rodrigues still has the marks of the heroic block that he made in his own area.  Final score 0-1 Fair play to both teams - I thoroughly enjoyed that while the rest of the world was being rude about TV pundits filling time at the Poland-England washout on Twitter.  Win for me, I feel, especially as I now know where I am going on Saturday too.
The programme
Something random
I decided at half-time, with the score at 0-0, that these teams might as well decide my hopping fate for the weekend.  I have four FA Cup ties at “unvisited” grounds to choose from – Fylde, Hastings, South Park and Yate Town.  I tweeted that the number of goals in the second half (not including any extra time) would decide.  0,4,8… would be Fylde, 1,5… would be Hastings,  2,6.. would be South Park and 3,7… would be Yate.  Hastings it is!
Hopping for Moorfields Update
Just the one goal to add to the tally – I am averaging 3.95 goals per game, very much in line with start-of-season predictions.
What Next?
Maybe something else local in midweek but certainly Hastings United v Blackfield & Langley on Saturday.

Unsung Heroes

Hopperational details

Tuesday 2 November 2010 at the Boundary Stadium, Oxhey Jets 3 Hertford Town 2 in the step 5 South Midlands League.  I am here because I needed a local ground for this particular midweek ‘hop.

This match in one sentence

With the half-time score at 2-2 and having allowed Jets to equalise twice, Hertford Town conceded an own goal just after the break and then missed a penalty before an end-to-end final half-hour.

So what?

Oxhey Jets put a bit of space between themselves and the relegation battle after some variable recent results.  Hertford Town remain in mid-table.

Who caught the eye on the pitch?

It was hard not to notice a certain Pablo Ardiles wearing the #4 shirt for Hertford Town.  I spent several minutes trying to work out which Oxhey player was Chris Killer.  It turns out that he looks as if he has come straight out of a boy band, though he was decisive enough with his side’s second goal.  Jets’ top scorer Lewis Putman had scored the first equaliser, but arguably his strike partner Tim O’Mara created more trouble for defenders with good runs and a willingness to receive the ball.  I will be charitable and not name the Hertford Town player who missed the target altogether with a shocker of a penalty.

This match had the same effect on my pulse rate as …

… welcoming Gareth Malone and a film crew to nearby Bushey Hall School as part of the creation of the BBC series “The Choir: Unsung Town”.  The South Oxhey Community Choir, brought together during that series, has not dispersed since the cameras disappeared and many people have had their musical and personal horizons widened through their experiences. My own historical links with the area stem from the fact that neither Oxhey nor South Oxhey have a secondary school, and BHS was one of several schools to which pupils travelled.  BHS closed as planned on 31 August 2009 to be replaced by The Bushey Academy, and I stepped aside after two interesting but successful years as headteacher of the transitional period, to take up, as it has turned out so far, almost full-time groundhopping!  The evidence above right confirms that Mr Malone is much more comfortable in front of cameras than I am.

A snippet from the programme

The programme pulls no punches in its assessment of the team’s previous performance.  “Jets really look down and beaten before they start these days … players are lacking in confidence and the “hot potato” effect on the ball makes the situation worse.  The side needs to unite more as a team, but the only thing that had less support today than the Jets players had for each other was the Club’s fundraising Halloween disco.” To be fair, the Jets showed some desire this evening.  Their heads did not drop at any stage, and they had several half-chances for a fourth goal.  This really was a good game for any passing neutral, with the result in doubt until the end.

What I learned today

www.oxheyjets.com is a really excellent website compared with most step 5 clubs and a refreshing change from the identikit “hosted” ones that are often seen at this level.  The clarity and standard of photography are exemplary.  www.hertfordtownfc.co.uk is rather good too. I therefore now know that a recent former BHS pupil, Michael McRoberts, has made several appearances for the Jets’ reserves and has come off the bench twice for the first team.  He therefore joins Chris Neal (Shrewsbury goalkeeper) and Ricky Perks (Slough goalkeeper) as players that I particularly look out for in match reports.

Modus Hopper Random Talking Point

Like in many matches at this level, there was a good deal of audible dissent and backchat, leading to several needless bookings, especially towards the end of the game.  A shout of, "He's gotta go, Ref, if only for that haircut!", kept things in proper perspective.