Oxhey Jets fell to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Tring Athletic in the Herts Charity Shield final at a blustery and cold County Ground, Letchworth, on Wednesday night.

With Tring playing a division higher in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division and currently sixth in the table, it was always going to be a big ask for the youthful Jets squad who had also seen three players depart in deadline week.

Dave Barnes and Tom Inch’s side performed strongly in the first half, but they were to rue missing a big early chance when Remell Sterling put a clear opening agonisingly wide of the post.

Both sides sought to play positive football, with Tring going close when a header from a corner forced keeper Lewis Lavin into one of several top-drawer saves he made in the first half, while Jets’ attacks foundered at last.

Watford Observer: Oxhey Jets' Herts Charity Shield final squadOxhey Jets' Herts Charity Shield final squad (Image: John Elliott)

The first half remained goalless until Lavin produced another three superb reaction saves following a game of ping-pong in the penalty area, but, impeded by a player on the ground, he was unable to get a good punch following the last of those stops and the ball fell to Max Hercules on the edge of the box to score with a powerful drive.

The second half proved too much for the Combined Counties League Division One outfit as Athletic got on top and wrapped up the win in a 15-minute spell thanks to a quick-fire brace from Harry Shepherd and a George Carbery penalty, awarded after Jets felt they had won the ball cleanly in the penalty area.

The difference in squads becoming evident as Tring were able to use substitutes who had been with step four Northwood and title-chasing Bedford at the weekend, while their opponents had to call on youngsters from the A team and Spencer Bellotti for his first outing of the season.

Despite the outcome, there was still great pride in the achievement of reaching a first county final in 11 years for the young and inexperienced Jets squad.