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SOUTH MIDLANDS FLOODLIT CUP - 1ST ROUND
ARLESEY ATHLETIC 0 HERTFORD TOWN 7
Physio Matt Barnaby was again in charge for managerless Hertford, this time assisted by another old favourite, Dave Crate.
A new manager had been appointed on Friday, but this website cannot name him until all clearances have taken place.
Team: 1. Mark Virgo. 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Mark Teasdale, 4. John Barker (Capt). 5. Matt Watts, 6. Pablo Ardiles, 7. Leo Turner, 8. Scott Neilson, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used : 12. Joel Maybury (for Barker, 83), 14. Alex Scriven (for Neilson, 57), 15. Panayiotis Panayiotou (for Cooper, 62).
The game was played at the impressive ground of Arlesey Town, with whom Athletic groundshare. The playing surface was even better than that recently enjoyed at Edgware Town, and today the lads showed what they can do on a good surface. Their pace and power going forward was just too much for their Division 1 opponents, and all of the goals came from the strikers, in moves going forward at pace. For the first time this season, the defence kept a clean sheet, and 'keeper Mark Virgo had a relatively quiet afternoon.
Right from the off, Hertford, in their smart red change kit, took control, and it was only 9 minutes before they breached the Athletic defence. A minute earlier KEVIN COOPER had so nearly finished off a good move begun by Lee Roberts, but when he got his next opportunity the prolific striker made no mistake. Scot Neilson fed the ball through from the right, and Cooper was there to lob the ball into the net from just inside the box.
Straight away, Hertford had another golden opportunity, this time Ryan Redford made a superb run down the right wing and crossed to Cooper, who poked the ball just wide of the upright. Arlesey's best real chance of the game came on 13 minutes, when impressive front man Phipps played a 1-2 with a colleague, ran on and fired a shot which just went the wrong side of the left upright.With the flat Athletic back line playing for offside, and usually getting it, it was the 28th minute before Hertford increased their lead. This time the goal came from a free kick when Leo Turner was fouled 30 yards out. Hertford took a quick free kick while the referee was still talking to the offender, and the ball was played to RYAN REDFORD, who cut into the box from the right and drove the ball past the helpless home 'keeper.
On 37 minutes Pablo Ardiles was put clear by Scott Neilson but his lob didn't quite clear the 'keeper, who just managed to hold on to the ball. A minute later Kevin Cooper hit a half volley agonisingly the wrong side of the post, as Hertford continued to play swift, flowing football. Scott Neilson tried his luck, at the end of a long run, but his goalbound effort was deflected for a corner. On 40 minutes, Hertford scored the pick of the afternoon's goals. Scott Neilson produced an outrageous flick to clear an opponent and then sped down the right before playing the ball in to RYAN REDFORD, who caressed the ball home for 3-0. Arlesey's No. 6 saw his fierce shot deflected wide by the lunging boot of John Barker, although Mark Virgo was in position to save, as the home side enjoyed a rare attack.
Half Time: Arlesey Athletic 0 Hertford Town 3
Hertford made it 4-0 on 52 minutes with another delightful goal. Leo Turner played a 15 yard ball into KEVIN COOPER, who volleyed into the net from 15 yards.
This was a day that didn't need a headed goal by a defender, or a penalty, as Hertford continued to increase the score through their front men. It was 5-0 as KEVIN COOPER completed his hat-trick on 54 minutes when he netted from an acute angle. Hertford then made two substitutions in five minutes, as Alex Scriven replaced Scott Neilson, and then Panayiotis Panayiotou replaced Kevin Cooper. On 64 minutes John Barker, giving his best performance to date since moving from St Margaretsbury, kicked off the line to preserve the clean sheet. Ten minutes later, with a lot of the urgency having gone out of the game, Lee Roberts nearly got the reward that his work had deserved when he saw his effort kicked off the line. Pani Panayiotou so nearly scored with a glancing header, and then the raiding Mark Teasdale burst through the middle, only to see his firm shot held by the 'keeper. Joel Maybury replaced John Barker for the last 10 minutes or so, and then PANAYIOTIS PANAYIOTOU scored a lovely goal on 88 minutes when he ran through into the box on to a loose balland lobbed it precisely into the net. It was good to see the big man back in action again after his long absence through injury, and the goal was a bonus to him. In the dieing moments of the game, RYAN REDFORD got his hat-trick when he netted after a fine run from just inside the Arlesy half, and a clinical finish, to make the final score 7-0.
Final Score: Arlesey Athletic 0 Hertford Town 7
The Reserves registered a fine 6-2 win at Holmer Green, making it the second occasion this season when the First Team had scored 7 whilst the Reserves had scored 6.
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