The youth team had to settle for a draw at home against Mounties Wanderers FC, despite taking the lead twice.
Alex Nunes had an early chance to open the scoring, as Will Dobson drove a low cross with found the attacker in the box. Unfortunately, Alex wasn’t able to direct his effort goalwards. He wouldn’t make the same mistake with his next effort. Nunes was played in behind the Mounties defence, before dribbling the ball past the on-rushing keeper and tapping his ball into the open goal, 1-0 to the Jets.
Wil Southcombe almost doubled the lead just a minute later, as he fired a volley from the 6-yard box which narrowly whisked over the bar. Two minutes before halftime, Mounties found an equaliser, as they headed home from a free kick to send the teams into the sheds even at a goal apiece.
In the 63rd minute, Janni Rafty and Oli Cockle were brought on for Luca West and Wil Southcombe. Both teams were locked in a physical but even battle, with chances few and far between. Alex Nunes had a chance to grab a second, as Makye Buettner floated a ball into the box which Alex got on the end of, but he was unable to keep his header down as it flew over the crossbar.
The next goal went the way of the Jets, as they were able to take the lead once again. Ethan Debono rifled a shot from distance into the apex of the crossbar. The ball dropped down, and as it rolled away from the goal, Oli Cockle was able to chase it down, and finished with a slick backheel to give the youth team the lead with fifteen minutes remaining.
Angus Muddle and Murray Peart were both brought on for Makye Buettner and Kierry James not long after the goal. Lucas Johnson was also brought on for Ethan Debono in the 84th minute. A few moments after the substitution, Mounties were able to equalise again, with a long throw causing chaos in the box before they were able to stab the ball home from close range.
Mounties had a chance to win the game in injury time, as they broke through behind the Jets defence. Kyle McSeveney put in a challenge, but was judged to have fouled the Mounties player as the last man, and was then sent off, leaving the youth team with ten players for the remaining few minutes of the game. From the resulting free kick, Jordan Baylis made a stunning save, as he clawed the ball out from the top corner to keep the score at 2-2 when the full time whistle came.
Earlier in the day, the U20s triumphed 3-1, with Max Wettig, Jayden Deighan-Smith and Shiwa Dul all getting one each as they rose to the top of the table.
