HERTFORD TOWN 1 AYLESBURY 1
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division

Tuesday 6th April 2010 The visitors came into this game having scored an incredible nineteen goals in their previous two outings with no reply and the situation looked ominous for the slightly weakened home side who began with no recognised striker and two players; Ben Bouchnak and James Halsey both making full first team debuts for the club. The signs were not good when Aylesbury took the lead midway through the first half but a commendable battling performance from the Blues saw them snatch a deserved equaliser at the death.

Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Tom Neill, 4. Matt McArdle, 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Joel Maybury (capt), 7. Andy Chapman, 8. Pablo Ardiles, 9. Ben Bouchnak, 10. Lee Roberts, 11. James Halsey. Subs used: Dominic Musafiri (for Chapman), Scott O'Donoghue (for Halsey), Masangu Mwetaminwa (for Bouchnak).

Aylesbury: 1. Aaron Bufton, 2. Ben Stevens, 3. Danny Mead 4. Ed Chemlal, 5. Matt Hayward, 6. Matt Butler, 7. Gareth Price, 8. Greg Williams (capt), 9. Nathan Graham, 10. Alex Stewart, 11. Kieron Schmidt. Subs Used: Craig Henney (for Stewart), Sam Swonnell (for Schmidt).

As expected the visitors came out like a team on a mission and dominated the opening quarter hour of the game. Alex Stewart headed just wide from a Gareth Price corner just three minutes into the match, though the Blues' defence managed to deal with most of the pressure that was heaped upon them. It was not until the 20th minute that Hertford had a chance when they won a corner, though Matt McArdle hit his cross too long.

The inevitable came five minutes later: Michael Cooper lost the ball deep inside his own half and the Aylesbury player who robbed him of the ball crossed to his more centrally placed skipper, GREG WILLIAMS. The unmarked number 8 had time to control the ball before rifling it past Lee Robinson and into the net for 1-0. A few minutes later Aylesbury's Ed Chemlal got his head to a cross from one of his team mates but his effort fell just wide. It was not long before the referee showed the first yellow card of the evening as Ben Bouchnak was booked for a reckless challenge in the middle of the park. The visitors continued to dominate though Lee Roberts hit a shot from distance for the home side that only just cleared the bar shortly before half time.

Half Time Score: Hertford Town 0 Aylesbury 1

For some reason Aylesbury started to play a long ball game in the second half and despite early bookings for Glenn Draper and James Halsey, Hertford came right back into the game, putting in one of their stronger performances of the season. Draper's yellow was for a rather strong challenge and Halsey's was for dangerous play. On the hour mark a McArdle free kick was well played into the Aylesbury box but headed clear and was immediately followed by the home side's first substitution as Dominic Musafiri came on for Andy Chapman. A Lee Roberts cross then found the head of Halsey though his well-directed effort was saved by Aylesbury 'keeper Aaron Bufton.

With 20 minutes of normal time remaining Aylesbury brought on Craig Henney, who had scored four goals for his side against Biggleswade United on Saturday. Hertford manager Scott O'Donoghue also brought himself on to replace Halsey. The visitors then replaced Kieron Schmidt with Sam Swonnell and the third Hertford substitution saw Masangu Mwetaminwa replace Bouchnak.

A good Hertford effort in the 82nd minute saw a Lee Roberts corner played to Musafiri, who passed to Glenn Draper. He shot on goal and although O'Donoghue slightly changed the course of the ball, Bufton comfortably saved. Soon afterwards Matt McArdle became the fourth Hertford player booked, this time for a late tackle.

As the game went into stoppage time, McArdle found himself one on one with Bufton, but hit the ball straight at the Aylesbury stopper rather than placing it past him. Although Hertford continued to battle hard it seemed the equaliser would never come. That was until an Aylesbury goal kick four minutes into stoppage time. Bufton's kick was not great and the ball was soon back in his box. After a scramble the ball came to DOMINIC MUSAFIRI who managed to compose himself enough to slot it past Bufton and just inside the post to level the scores. There was little more time before the referee blew the final whistle.

Final Score: Hertford Town 1 Aylesbury 1