Deadly Drapes Downs Tenacious Tigers

Report by Mr Matthew Harris

A string of good results in the league and cup had stopped The Mercury prefixing Hertford Town with the words ‘Crisis Club’, but it was important that the Blues built on those performances and sealed three points in this match.

London Tigers fittingly took to the pitch in Halloween orange but it was their keeper who nearly provided an early horror show as he flapped at a Micky Nathan long range effort and pushed it just over. The Blues were dominant at this point and creating half chances without really troubling the keeper again for the first quarter of the game.

Then, on 35 minutes, Lee Roberts was sent clear down the left and his whipped in cross was met powerfully by Chris Bangura. With the keeper nowhere, the ball clattered into the cross bar and bounced to safety. Did it cross the line? Chris was certain it had but that elusive goal line technology that the Spartan League desperately needs is still years away.

Hertford gained confidence from this and Lee and Chet were looking dangerous down the flanks. Finally, on 42 minutes, the Blues were rewarded for their dominance as Jamie Packer shaped to send in a deep cross to the far post.

As Jamie connected with the ball, he’d clearly overhit it but with the wind gusting away, the cross came down swirling over the keeper’s head, taking goalie in with it. It was 1-0 from the most freakish of circumstances but it was no more than we deserved.

(NB – if Jamie ever claims he meant it, the audible expletive as he hit the ball suggests otherwise)
For a time, happy memories of Nayim in the 1995 Cup Winners Cup final came flooding back but there was no time to enjoy them as Tom Wade came close to doubling the lead with a header that came back off the bar.

Half Time: Hertford Town 1 - 0 London Tigers

Although Hertford had dominated possession in the first half, the Tigers had played some tidy football. They were calm at the back and dangerous going forward with their number 11 causing problems throughout the first period.
It was Hertford however that started the second half brighter but the nervous fans in the Stable End knew that we would have to find more goals to secure the three points.

Slowly, the Tigers began to get back into it and their equaliser on the hour was well deserved. Sadly, it came from our own free kick deep into Tiger country that was cleared and with the defence chasing back, the elusive number 11 twisted and turned before thumping a low drive past Robbo in goal.

The Tigers were overjoyed, and in celebration, they ran to their travelling fans, both of whom were ecstatic.

Marvin Samuel needed to ring the changes and on 68 minutes, Mark Draper was on for Tom Wade upfront. Within a minute, Draper nearly scored with his first touch, a volley that almost grazed the bar as it went over.

His second touch however, was more telling as he picked up the ball on the left of the box and cut inside before drilling it low and under the keeper. The strike was met with a mixture of joy and relief but could the Blues hang on for the next twenty minutes?

Once again, we’d have been far more comfortable if we’d extended the lead and Chet came as close as you can get without scoring as his powerful goal bound volley was directed straight onto the forehead of the man on the line.

By now we were hanging on: The Tigers hit the post and then Robbo saved point blank to round off a period of desperate defending. Hours of injury time ensued and there seemed no reason for it. All we could remember was Chet being scythed down before having a chat with Vicki for a couple of minutes but other than that, it had been an incident free game.

Finally however, the whistle blew and the Blues had secured what had seemed like their first three points since the great FA cup run of the early 1970’s. Fans were in good voice as players applauded and on the same day that Sir Jimmy Savile passed away, he had fixed it for us to get back to winning ways: Goodness Gracious…

Full Time: Hertford Town 2 - 1 London Tigers

Hertford Line-Up
1. L.Robinson. 2. Packer. 3. N.Robinson. 4. Bailey. 5. Nathan(c). 6. Hewitt. 7. Bangura. 8. Hussain. 9. T.Wade. 10. Johnson. 11. Roberts.

Subs Used: Draper (for Wade 68mins), McArdle (for Hewitt 70mins) & Nzuruba (for Bangura 75mins)

Photos © 2011 Natalina Verta
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