Dick Bellamy returns with match reports from the three opening games of the 2024/25 season!
14/09/24 – SWINDON WILDCATS 0 V SLOUGH JETS 7
15/09/24 – MK THUNDER 0 V SLOUGH JETS 9
‘A perfect start? Are the tough pre-season challenge games paying dividends?
I am guessing that Jets Head Coach Lukas Smital will be pleased with his team’s showing at the weekend, although the present strength of the opposition, could give little indication of the relative strength of the Jets team for the season-long campaign.
That said, six points is still six points and with 15 different players on the score sheet, these are positive signs of what is to come.
Swindon & MK lacked accuracy in front of the goal, but both teams looked competitive and might have sneaked a goal here and there if it were not for the efforts of the Jets defensive unit, who gave them very little time to get accurate shots away.
Matt Smital in the Jets’ goal stood strong to turn away all of the 26 shots he did face, and the shots on goal tallies told the story of the two games. Nate Gregory was unavailable for both games and may have gotten a shot at the action had shutouts not been on the cards.
There looks to be a nice understanding developing between Jack Goodchild and Brandon Miles, and with Seb Mohr on the same line, these three could cause some serious damage as the season progresses.
Finally, I thought the acquisition of Alex Cole from the Solent Devils was very promising, he made a strong start for the Jets.
WILDCATS v JETS – L.Smital 2+0, C.Mohr 1+3, Ealey-Newman 1+1, Goodchild, Soper, Hemmings-Maher all 1+0, Clark 0+2, Hatfield, Miles, Redmond all 0+1.
M.Smital – 18 shots against (100%)
Jets SOG – 54/7
MOM – Redmond
THUNDER v JETS – English 2+1, S.Mohr 1+2, L.Smital, Bradburn, Goodchild, Miles all 1+1, Hatfield, Cole both 1+0, Minter 0+2, Clark, Hemmings-Maher, Soper, Ealey-Newman all 0+1.
M.Smital – 8 shots against (100%)
Jets SOG – 68/9
MOM – S.Mohr
Author – Dick Bellamy
