JETS v SOLENT DEVILS MATCH REPORT 21/09/24

Oct 3, 2024 | 24/25, Match Report

Dick Bellamy captures all the events from the Jets home opener of the 24/25 season1

‘A new look Solent Devils arrived to give Slough a somewhat tougher test than they had faced the previous weekend, The Devils had no Drew Campbell (has he really retired?!) but did have three ex-Jets players, Harry Harcup, Oli Cackett and Charlie Ottowell.

The Jets included three youngsters, with Soper, Bradburn and Hatfield all missing, in stepped Rosam, Cave-Humphrey, Affleck & Merry. The latter gained his first senior cap for the Jets, impressing on the line with Seb Mohr and Goodchild.

 With two powerplay goals on the first two Devils’ minor penalties, sandwiched between an even-handed effort, three goals were enough to see off Devils netminder Aaron Taylor, inside less than 12 minutes.

Following an early Devils timeout, his replacement, Rory Martin-Edwards fared much better with an excellent second and third-period performance earning him man of the match for the visitors.

Slough’s penalty minutes were boosted by two minor penalties and two very marginal ‘too many men’ penalties on the bench.

 Some dogged defending, no doubt fuelled by Jets Alex Cole facing his old team, and some speedy and aggressive backchecking, limited the Devils to just 14 shots on Matt Smital in the Slough net over the whole game. Slough were quicker to every loose puck, more accurate with their passing and very strong battling in the corners.

 The last of the Jets’ six goals were scored by Harvey Harman from the point, firing a shot high into the net and capping an excellent team performance, expect a much tougher opposition in Solent in three weeks!

The crowd at the atmosphere at the Hangar this week for the first home game was outstanding!

 JETS SCORING – Minter 2+0, C.Mohr 1+1, Redmond, L.Smital and Harman all 1+0, S.Mohr & Goodchild both 0+3, Merry 0+2, Clark & Ealey-Newman both 0+1.

M.Smital – 14/0

Jets SOG – 49/6

Jets MOM – C.Mohr

Dick Bellamy