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SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER 2006 - SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
AYLESBURY VALE 2 HERTFORD TOWN 3
Hertford were seeking to gain revenge for an early season home defeat by Vale, but had to try without Kevin Cooper. The 26 goal striker was unavailable through work commitments, so Hertford opted for 4-5-1 formation, with Cooper's replacement, Nicky Marsh playing wide right and teenager Scott Neilson moving inside as a third centre midfielder.
Team: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Ashley McAloon, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Kevin Kilroy (capt), 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Panayiotis Panayiotou, 7. Paul Taylor, 8. Scott Neilson, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Nicky Marsh, 11. Lee Roberts. No subs used.
Hertford wasted no time going ahead. After only 3 minutes, Paul Taylor fed Lee Roberts out on the left, and he got to
the by-line before chipping up a cross to RYAN REDFORD, who opened the scoring with a rare headed goal. Vale responded well to this early setback, launching several attacks of their own between Hertford's attempts to increase their lead. Lee Roberts was trying his luck with long range shooting, and after his first effort was well wide, his next effort drew a save from the home 'keeper. Glenn Draper started a move which saw Roberts play the ball in to Ryan Redford, but the lone striker was unable to control the ball, right in front of goal.
It was the home side who scored next, on 27 minutes. Scott Neilson conceded a free kick in a dangerous position right in front of goal, and the free kick was deflected for a corner. When this came over, it fell to centre forward PAUL TALBOT, who headed home unchallenged.
Scott Neilson set up a six yard chance for Ryan Redford but the keeper held on to the ball. At the other end, Mark Virgo had to make a flying save from an 18 yard effort. Right on half time, a Redford shot was deflected onto the angle of post and bar by a home defender.
Half Time: Aylesbury Vale 1 Hertford Town 1
Hertford looked to have upped the tempo early in the second half, and from an early corner, Kevin Kilroy saw his shot deflected for another corner. From this a Scott Neilson 20 yarder was also deflected for yet another corner kick. From this Glenn Draper sent a header looping over the bar. Play switched to the other end, and Ashley McAloon looked to have chested the ball down, just outside the penalty area. The referee, quite close, appeared to wave play on, but the assistant referee on the far side flagged for handball. PAUL TALBOT stepped up to fire his, and his team's, second goal of the game. Rather than drop their heads at this injustice, Hertford pressed all the more, with Scott Neilson taking the attack to his opponents' last third repeatedly. Pany Panayiotou forced another good save from the home'keeper and then Hertford, and their supporters behind the goal, twice appealed for penalties for handball as the ball pinged about the home box several times. Paul Taylor tried a shot from long range, which cleared the crossbar by a foot or so and then good efforts by first Ryan Redford and the Scott Neilson were deflected for corners. Hertford took their corner tally to 13 as they attacked incessantly, and the expected equaliser came on 73 minutes from, of course, RYAN REDFORD, who took a superb pass from Pany to plant the ball into the back of the net. REDFORD completed his sixth hat-trick of the season on 78 minutes when he netted another close range effort as Hertford piled on yet more pressure. Mark Virgo had to make a good save on 81 minutes as Vale showed that they would not conced the game easily, but Hertford managed to see out the last ten minutes or so safely, and the game ended with Nicky Marsh playing keep-ball by he corner flag at the Aylesbury end. There were no bookings in the game, and unusually, not one substitute was used by either side.
Final Score: Aylesbury Vale 2 Hertford Town 3
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