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HERTFORD TOWN 2 AYLESBURY VALE 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 25th October 2008
Before this game, two points and two league positions separated the two teams. At the end of the match, Hertford Town had climbed two league positions, leapfrogging St Margaretsbury and today's defeated visitors. The Blues new management team had continued to rebuild the squad, which was evident in the team that took to the field: Lee Robinson returned in goal, former Hertford Town Reserves Captain, Ryan Gordon, came in at right back, Glenn Draper was back in the centre of defence following suspension, and new signing Simon Eden came in up front with Attila Korsoveczki unavailable. The only departure this week was Kevin Kilroy who joined former fans' favourite Kevin Cooper on the bench at league big spenders, Biggleswade Town.
Teams - Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Ryan Gordon, 3. Duncan Hamilton, 4. Joel Maybury (capt), 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Pablo Ardiles, 7. Jamie Abbott, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Simon Eden, 10. Dave Hunt, 11. Chris Spiteri. Subs Used: Nick Goodwin (for Eden),Michael Cooper (for Abbott), Andy Chapman (for Spiteri).
Aylesbury Vale: 1. Eddie Farmer, 2. Alex Bateman, 3. Justin Gordon, 4. James Baxter, 5. Kyle Kilmartin, 6. Neil Roberts, 7. Stuart Corbould (capt), 8. Daniel Jones, 9. Vincenzo Iannone, 10. Luke Melisi, 11. Daniel Wright. Subs Used: Aaron Usmani (for Jones), Jamie Rudd (for Roberts)
The game began slowly, with both teams trying to play a neat passing game, despite the rather bobbly nature of the Hertingfordbury Park pitch. The first threat came on five minutes when Hertford Town won a free kick wide on their right. Although Owen Beale's kick found its way into the Aylesbury box, the visiting defence were able to clear up comfortably. Three minutes later a Hertford attack caused confusion in the visitors' box, but the ball fell harmlessly in to the grateful arms of Vale 'keeper, Eddie Farmer. The ball was soon up the other end of the field with Aylesbury's first serious attack of the game, but the solid Hertford defence were able to mop up confidently. The game was then stopped for a few minutes, following an injury to Vale midfielder, Neil Roberts.
On the quarter hour mark, Dave Hunt, working down the left side, switched the ball to Jamie Abbott over on the right. The ever-improving utility man controlled the ball and tried a long-distance effort on the Aylesbury goal, which was just over. There then followed a brief period of end to end action, which was quite pleasing on the eyes of the home and visiting supporters alike. This culminated in a good strike from Dave Hunt on the edge of the Aylesbury box, but 'keeper Farmer saved well. In the 23rd minute great work again from Dave Hunt saw him square the ball to Chris Spiteri. He rifled in a powerful shot, which he was unfortunate to see deflect off the post and go harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
On the half hour mark, the visitors mounted a dangerous attack on the Hertford goal. A cross into the box by Vale's Daniel Jones found the head of one of his colleagues, but the ball then landed on the roof of the net. However, it had taken a deflection and a corner was awarded, though this came to nothing. Five minutes later, good work in the centre of the pitch by Owen Beale saw him pass the ball left to Chris Spiteri. The auxiliary striker let loose a rasping shot from all of twenty yards, which just cleared the Aylesbury cross bar, though with Farmer well beaten. Approaching the end of the half, Jamie Abbott, surging down the right, passed the ball to Simon Eden, but the diminutive striker's hooked shot was well wide. On the stroke of half time the home team won a free kick wide on the right, but this came to nothing and the referee soon blew the whistle to signal the break.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 0 Aylesbury Vale 0
The second half began with neither team making a serious threat on the others' goal. However ten minutes into the half, and an impressive move by the home team involving patient build-up play saw the ball fall to Chris Spiteri. Again he shot from distance, and again his shot was just over the Aylesbury bar. Just after the hour mark, left back Duncan Hamilton made progress down the left side of the pitch, passing the ball to Owen Beale and receiving it back again, before putting a cross into the Aylesbury box, though the ball was cleared by the visiting defence.
A key moment came in the 63rd minute. Again Hamilton on the left passed to Beale, who in turn crossed to Chris Spiteri in the centre of the pitch. Spiteri again unleashed a powerful shot, which the visiting 'keeper may have had covered, but SIMON EDEN popped up to turn the ball past the wrong-footed Farmer and into the back of the net. With the home team having taken a well-deserved lead they were soon on the attack again. Another good move down the left saw the impressive Spiteri pick up the ball in a wide position, but he was adjudged to have been offside by the linesman on the far side. The following shot/cross by the frustrated player was deemed by the referee to have been a case of kicking the ball away, and the unfortunate Spiteri was shown the Blues first yellow card in two games. Aylesbury Vale took the opportunity of this break in play to make their first substitution of the afternoon, bringing on Aaron Usmani for Daniel Jones. Hertford Town soon made their first change, bringing on new signing Nick Goodwin for the hard-working Simon Eden, who left the field to an ovation from the home supporters. There then followed a period of more Hertford pressure though the home team was unable to extend its narrow lead.
The Blues were not having everything their own way, however. On seventy-five minutes, Jamie Abbott was disposed by an Aylesbury Vale player in the centre of the park. He tried a lofted shot from distance, but his effort fell just wide of Lee Robinson's goal. A minute later the ball was up the other end and Hertford won a corner. Abbott put the ball into the box and found the ever-threatening Dave Hunt, but his header was just wide. Two minutes later, Aylesbury were again on the attack and won a free kick on the left side. This time the ball was played into the Hertford box and found the head of a visiting player, but was hit harmlessly behind. The visitors soon made their second substitution, bringing on Jamie Rudd for Neil Roberts.
The home team made their second substitution on eighty five minutes, bringing on the recently re-signed Michael Cooper for the battling Jamie Abbott. Soon after, good work down the left by Chris Spiteri saw him put in the ball for Nick Goodwin, but his shot ended up safely in the arms of the visiting keeper. Vale immediately launched a counter-attack, which resulted in a fine save by Lee Robinson at the other end. Play was then stopped for a few minutes following an injury to Hertford Captain, Joel Maybury. The Blues also made their third and final substitution of the day, bringing on Andy Chapman for Spiteri. Within three minutes of entering the field of play, the big man was on the scoresheet. Fine Hertford pressure down the left saw the ball whipped over to the far side for Michael Cooper. He put an excellent cross into the box, which found the head of ANDY CHAPMAN, who made no mistake in sending the ball into the back of net, which was greeted by rapturous applause from the home supporters behind the Stable End goal.
Chapman's goal was timed at ninety minutes, but there was still a little more of this match to run. Soon after, the ball was down the other end and Joel Maybury conceded a free kick on the edge of his own box. The kick was well taken into the box and found an advancing Aylesbury player, but he made a complete hash of his shot, spooning the ball harmlessly behind, much to the relief of the Hertford defence. Five minutes into injury time and the visitors were again threatening, this time winning a corner on their right. The home defence nervously cleared the ball to safety. Having survived a worrying final few minutes, the Hertford players and supporters were relieved to hear the referee finally blow the final whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 2 Aylesbury Vale 0
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