|
WEDNESDAY 13 AUGUST 2008 - SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS PREMIER DIVISION
BIGGLESWADE TOWN 1 HERTFORD TOWN 0
With The Waders being most people's favourites for the league this season, and this match being their first league game at their palatial new ground, it was going to be tough enough for The Blues without manager Dave Greenwood losing new signings Dean Harding and John Mackie to injuries. Still struggling for numbers because of injuries and holidays. Greenwood was forced to turn out himself for the first time in a year, in an unaccustomed midfield role.
The Waders fielded ex Blue Ryan Redford and Hertford's Glenn Draper was playing against his former club.
Teams: Biggleswade Town: 1. Aaron Springham, 2. Dave Daniels, 3. Neil Morgan, 4. Peter Gatti (capt), 5. Liam Folds, 6. Daniel Stark, 7. Jack Weeden, 8. Glen Lamarcraft, 9. Dan Heron, 10. Ryan Redford, 11. Paul Barrett.
Hertford Town: 1. Louis O'Neill, 2. Joel Maybury, 3. Sean Crossley, 4. Kevin Kilroy (capt), 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Panayiotis Panayiotou, 7. Dave Hunt, 8. Dave Greenwood, 9. Nicky Marsh, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Chris Spiteri. Sub Used: 12. Chris Odell (for Greenwood, 45)
Hertford's game plan, given their limited resources was to contain Biggleswade rather than atack them, and they almost achieved their aim. The home 'keeper didn't have to make a save until the dieing seconds, and poor finishing by the much vaunted home strikers meant that this was a game of very few real chances. The only goal of the game came from a 13th minute free kick from which Glen Lamercraft beat Louis O'Neill, who only managed to push the ball n to the post and in.
Ryan Redford was lively early on down the flanks but the Blues' defence coped well enough with his crosses. When Redford did get a shot in on 12 minutes, Louis O'Neill made a comfortable save.
Then disaster struck for the young Hertford goalkeeper when The Waders won a free kick on the edge of the area. GLEN LAMERCRAFT struck the free kick well enough, but O'Neill seemed slow in getting down to the ball, and could only push the ball on to the post and in. Hertford did not let this setback affect them and continued to compete well. Jack Weeden went close for the home side on 18 minutes and then Glenn Draper was booked for a heavy challenge. . The subsequent free kick was wasted by the home side however. Kevin Kilroy required treatment, and left the field for a few minutes before returning to the fray. Hertord won their first corner on 38 minutes when Lamercraft turned a Nicky Marsh cross behind. Marsh took the corner and Dave Hunt's diving header cleared the cross bar by some distance.
Ryan Redford got clear down the left but Dave Greenwood was on hand to head his penetrating cross behind for a corner.
When Paul Barrett crossed a minute later, Dan Heron's header was well saved by O'Neill for another corner to the Waders. As half time approached ,Kevin Cooper got a half chance in font of goal but cleared the bar from 7 yards. The half ended with Hertford on the attack again, with Pany Panayiotou laying the ball back to Kevin Kilroy, whose shot was blocked.
Half Time: Biggleswade Town 1 Hertford Town 0
Dave Greenwood did not re-appear for the second period, with Chris Odell replacing him. Glenn Draper was forced to concede a 53rd minute corner and from this, Liam Folds mishit the ball under pressure, when the goal was at his mercy. The game was rather sterile but controversy struck on 62 minutes. With Hertford on the attack, the referee's attention was drawn to Joel Maybury laying injured at the other end of the pitch. After consulting both assistants, the referee showed a red card to home striker Dan Heron, with the spectators mystifed. Investigation after the match revealed that Heron had stamped on Maybury in retaliation. Then Biggleswade's Lamercraft was booked for pulling back Chris Odell as he sped down the wing. . Next booked was The Waders' Neil Morgan for a similar foul on Nicky Marsh, as Biggleswade struggled to stop Hertford from taking advantage of the extra man. Once they had adjusted, however, ther ewas little to show that they were man light. Glenn Draper was performing heroics at the back for The Blues and hacked away a Redford centre to clear the danger on 81 minutes. Joel Maybury was the next player booked in what was a fairly physical encounter.
As the game went into added time, Waders' Paul Barrett missed an absolute sitter by firing wide, then Hertford's Chris Spiteri brought the only save of the game from home 'keeper Aaron Springham . The game ended with Hertford about to take a second corner in succession as they strove to nick an unlikely point a tthe death.
Final Score: Biggleswade Town 1 Hertford Town 0
|
