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THE 61 FC (LUTON) 3 HERTFORD TOWN 1
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Challenge Trophy Round 2
Saturday 1st November 2008
It was an unfamiliar Hertford Town formation that took to the pitch for this cup game against the Division Two table-toppers. Player-Manager Pablo Ardiles reverted to a defensive position to cover for the suspended Joel Maybury, Attila Korsoveczki dropped back into the midfield to cover for the unavailable Dave Hunt, and new signing Omari Chambers-Alert took up a forward role. What followed is probably best forgotten by the Blues players and their travelling support alike.
Teams - The 61FC (Luton): 1. Peter Gray, 2. Shayne Harnett, 3. Stephen Gravestock, 4. Jamie Irons, 5. Kevin McManus, 6. John Frost, 7. Klaudio Petoshi, 8. Ricky Clark (capt), 9. Matt Terry, 10. Arron Lewis, 11. Alex Bennett. Subs Used: Hayden Wills (for Lewis), Chris Mapp (for Wills), Oliver Goundry (for Frost).
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Duncan Hamilton, 4. Chris Spiteri, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Pablo Ardiles, 7. Jamie Abbott, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Andy Chapman, 11. Omari Chambers-Alert. Subs Used: Andros Zavros (for Chambers-Alert), Jack Bruno (for Spiteri).
Fortunately for the supporters of both teams this was a 1.30pm kick-off and it was hoped that the forecast heavy rain would lay off until later in the afternoon. The opening exchanges came to nothing but the first incident of note came in the 7th minute when a 61 FC player clearly handled the ball. It was not however, clear enough for the referee (who had obviously left his spectacles in the changing room) and he waved play on. There immediately followed a break by the home team and Arron Lewis should really have done better than waste his effort on goal. Three minutes later Chris Spiteri beat the 61 FC offside trap but his tame shot was hit straight at the home 'keeper, Peter Gray.
On the quarter of an hour mark Hertford Town won a free kick but it was impeded by the 61FC's Matt Terry, who became the first player in the match to receive a caution. The free kick was well taken by Jamie Abbott who crossed the ball some distance into the 61FC box, where it found Andy Chapman. Unfortunately he scuffed his shot off his shin and the ball went safely wide. A couple of minutes later the home team were on the attack and ALEX BENNETT found himself clear, with only Lee Robinson to beat. The Hertford custodian impeded the advancing striker in the box and a penalty was given, but the referee did not appear to brandish any cards in the 'keeper's direction. Bennett himself took the spot kick himself and finished with some aplomb, giving Robinson no chance with his fierce shot. Within a minute the home side were 2-0 up. From the restart the ball was played back to Robinson, who made a complete hash of his clearance. The ball came to 61's MATT TERRY, who composed himself well and fired in from all of twenty yards, with the despairing visiting 'keeper not able to get close.
On 20 minutes Andy Chapman was fouled on the edge of the home side's box. Jamie Abbott tried a shot at goal but his effort was straight at 'keeper Gray. On the half hour mark Chris Spiteri became the first Hertford player in the book. For the second Saturday in a row he was shown a yellow card for kicking the ball into the net after having been flagged offside. Two minutes later 61FC defender Jamie Irons caught Attila Korsoveczki badly on the edge of the home box and a free kick was awarded. What followed can best be described as a comedy of errors. Jamie Abbott's effort was well-taken but once in the box the ball cannoned about like a pinball on acid, with none of the visiting players able to make sufficient contact for a half decent goal attempt. It was eventually cleared to safety.
In the 40th minute Hertford won a corner, which was taken by Jamie Abbott. His effort was cleared but the ball came out to Chris Spiteri, though his on-target shot was too soft and easily gathered by the home 'keeper. A minute later a good move involving Jamie Abbott, Owen Beale and Attila Korsoveczki was ended when the latter's fine strike was well saved by 'keeper Gray. A brief period of Hertford pressure just before the break led to the visiting team winning two corners. The first was taken by Jamie Abbott but came to nothing. For the second, Owen Beale tried his arm but with a similar end result. The half then seemed to peter out and the referee soon blew for the break.
Half Time Score: The 61 FC (Luton) 2 Hertford Town 0
The home team started to apply the pressure at the beginning of the second half and within three minutes of the restart Alex Bennett had a good chance to increase the lead, but his effort was wide. Five minutes into the half, Owen Beale's clumsy challenge on Arron Lewis left the home player needing treatment. He could not continue and was replaced by Hayden Wills in the first substitution of the afternoon. Shortly afterwards the visitors made their first switch, bringing on young Andros Zavros for the ineffective Omari Chambers-Alert. Ten minutes into the half and Hertford won a somewhat controversial penalty. Although an offence had clearly been committed, the referee appeared to blow for an incident outside the box. Anyway, gift horses should never be looked in the mouth and Andy Chapman duly placed the ball on the spot. His shot was powerful enough but well saved by Peter Gray, who pushed the ball round for a corner - this really wasn't going to be Hertford's day and the resulting corner came to nothing.
On the hour mark Chris Spiteri was clear on goal but his good shot was excellently saved by the impressive Peter Gray and the ball sailed over the bar. It became apparent that the referee had left his hearing aid in the changing room with his spectacles as he inexplicably awarded a goal kick, much to the amusement of the 'keeper and the consternation of the visiting supporters, who sportingly congratulated Gray on his fine stop.
With fifteen minutes to go and the rain, which had unfortunately started earlier than expected, starting to make note-taking difficult, Chris Spiteri again found himself in with a good chance, but again the young 'keeper made an excellent save. Two minutes later the home side made their second substitution, bringing on Chris Mapp for the earlier substitute, Hayden Wills. As he stormed off the pitch he gave a textbook demonstration of the art of throwing one's toys out of one's pram, and my how far he could throw them! Shortly after this there was an incident in the centre of the pitch, which resulted in the 61 FC captain Ricky Clark becoming the second home player to see yellow.
On 83 minutes following good approach work by JAMIE ABBOTT and good interplay between Chris Spiteri and Attila Korsoveczki, the ball found its way back to Abbott, whose excellently struck shot from wide on the right found the back of the net, to make the score 2-1. A minute later the ball was back down the other end and the home team won a corner. When the ball came in Lee Robinson made a fine save from an excellent 61 shot and the ball went out for another corner. This time Robinson was not so fortunate. The ball was well flighted in and found the head of Ricky Clark, who made no mistake in turning the ball into the back of the net. With the score now at 3-1 it appeared that the visitor's luck had really run out.
With three minutes to go however, Hertford did win a corner but it came to nothing. A minute later both sides made their final substitutions. The 61 FC brought on Oliver Goundry for John Frost and Hertford brought on Jack Bruno for the hard-working Chris Spiteri. With the rain getting heavier and the visiting supporters getting thoroughly fed up, the referee eventually blew the final whistle to the relief of all concerned.
Final Score: The 61 FC (Luton) 3 Hertford Town 1
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