OXHEY JETS bounced back from their dismal 6-0 defeat to Leverstock Green in style, as they progressed to the third round of the Premier Division Cup with a 4-1 win over Harpenden Town.

Boss Tim O’Sullivan responded to their weekend hammering by making seven changes for the visit of Harpenden on Tuesday night and Jets got off to the perfect start when Nick Kerley opened the scoring from the spot mid-way through the first half.

Jets continued to cause problems and they had one foot in the third round when man-of-the-match Sean Giordmaina doubled their advantage following the re-start.

But with half an hour remaining, Jets looked to have given Harpenden a lifeline as Leigh Steven was sent for an early bath after being dismissed for a second bookable offence.

However, O’Sullivan’s men confirmed their progression to the third round with 15 minutes remaining, as they made it 3-0 thanks to substitute George Hobson’s excellent free kick.

But Hobson was beaten to goal of the day by fellow substitute Harry Beaumont, whose superb 40-yard drive left opposition goalkeeper Mike Davis with no chance. Harpenden talisman Archie McClelland prevented Jets from securing a valuable clean sheet when he netted a consolation late on, but that proved to be the only blot on an otherwise impressive display from the Hertfordshire side.

It was the response O’Sullivan wanted after Jets’ 6-0 away defeat to Leverstock Green at the weekend in the Spartan South Midlands League.

The match was practically over at half-time, as Jonathan Lacey, Mark Smith and Alex Witham all found the net in the opening half an hour to hand Leverstock a dominant lead at the break.

Jets would collapse following the re-start when Vass Mandeville was dismissed for picking up his second booking and Green quickly made it 4-0 when Alex Condon latched on to Luke Preedy’s pass to stab home.

Chris Blunden made it five soon after, before Lacey wrapped up the dominant victory when he secured his brace with nine minutes remaining.

Green, though, were unable to build on that result, as they were dumped out of the Premier Division Cup by London Colney thanks to strikes from Loren Maxwell and Gareth Price on Tuesday night.

Elsewhere, it proved to be an excellent few days for Tring Athletic who built on their weekend victory over Arlesey Town by beating Stotfold in the Premier Division Cup in mid-week.

Ian Richardson’s side progressed to the third round after a strong first half display, which saw them take a 2-0 lead into the break thanks to Billie Busari’s opener and Ashton Campbell’s fourth goal in two games. Basement club Stotfold set up a nervy second half when they pulled one back shortly after the re-start from the spot, but Tring clung on and fortunately, a second half penalty miss from Busari didn’t prove to be costly.

The result comes just days after Tring’s impressive 3-1 victory over high flying Arlesey Town thanks to Campbell’s 59 minute hat-trick.

Athletic’s in form striker handed them an early lead at the weekend when he converted Alex Campana’s cross in the fourth minute.

The duo would link up once again soon after as Campana, who was causing all sorts of problems out wide, got past his man before whipping in a cross which was headed home by Campbell.

Campbell secured his hat-trick just before the hour mark, rounding the goalkeeper after latching onto Joe Fitzgerald’s pass to net his first treble in a Tring shirt.

There was to be no clean sheet for Ian Richardson’s men though, as Ash Fuller pulled one back for Arlesey Town from the spot late on, but it proved to be another good day at the office for Tring, who remain second.