Saturday 27 December 2008
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Hertford Town 3 Biggleswade United 0
Report by Jack Roberts.Another freezing match day at Hertingfordbury Park and another healthy turnout as a festively plump crowd squeezed through the turnstile and into the ground for the visit of Biggleswade United. The Blues came in to the match 12th in the table, three points and two places above the visitors and having scored six goals in the last two games. With Hertford having played four more games however, it was a good opportunity for Biggleswade to close the gap while still having games spare.
Hertford Town: 1. O'Neill, 2. Jamie Abbott, 3. Duncan Hamilton, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Pablo Ardiles, 7. Owen Beale, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Michael Cooper, 11. Chris Spiteri. Subs Used: Andy Chapman (for Spiteri, 54), Rob Luya (for Abbott, 80), Andros Zavros (for Korsoveczki, 85.)
The game started at a fairly slow pace, with both teams struggling to keep possession on what was a very difficult surface. The first chance of the half came from a Hertford corner which was flicked on by Maybury, only for Michael Cooper to have his shot charged down by the Biggleswade defence. After eight minutes and the visitors had a corner for themselves. Lincoln delivered the ball and after a scramble it was fired toward goal only to be saved on the line by what looked like the hands of the Blues full back Duncan Hamilton. The match officials thought otherwise however and the ball was cleared out of danger.
A few moments later and there was further concern for the Hertford defence as Biggleswade's Luke Lincoln wriggled into the box, beating onrushing defenders with ease before hitting a shot low across the face of goal, which fizzed agonisingly wide of the post. It was then Hertford's turn to show their dribbling ability as Jamie Abbott danced across the pitch from right to left and won a corner at the flag, which unfortunately for the Blues came to nothing. There followed ten minutes of Hertford pressure as they attacked the Biggleswade goal with increasing menace. A beautiful Ardiles pass played Owen Beale through on goal only for him to shot straight into the keeper's chest. Moments later and Beale was again put through on goal, this time firing a good shot just wide of the post. After 25 minutes, Michael Cooper found himself on his own with only the keeper to beat, having fooled the Biggleswade defence by being played onside by the distant full back. With the pressure on, he allowed Lawrence in the Biggleswade goal to close the gap and his subsequent shot was easily saved. Four minutes later and ATTILA KORSEVECZKI, Hertford's number nine, found himself in an almost identical situation. With a drop of the shoulder he rounded the keeper and stroked the ball into the empty net, one-nil Hertford.
The game remained open however as the ball was moved from one end of the pitch to the other. A Biggleswade corner was flicked on for Hilaire to hit a shot at goal which was well saved by the Hertford keeper. On 38 minutes another Biggleswade corner resulted in a goal mouth scrabble which saw Dan Gaskin putting the ball wide when only two foot from goal. This wasteful finishing was soon to be punished as on 43 minutes Korsoveczki played the ball across the pitch to DAVE HUNT lurking on the edge of the box. Controlling the ball, he smashed a shot into the top left hand corner of the net, leaving the keeper no chance of saving. But for a mistimed run, Hertford could have finished the half three to the good. A fantastic Ardiles pass played Korsoveczki down the right channel, who in-turn swung a cross into the box which unfortunately for the Blues found Michael Cooper just offside. As it was, without ever dominating the game, the half time whistle sounded with Hertford holding a two goal lead.
Half Time: Hertford Town 2 Biggleswade United 0
If the first half was an even contest, the second belonged to the Blues, as they enjoyed almost complete dominance. Hertford were unlucky not to be awarded a free kick early in the half when Spiteri seemed to be impeded on the edge of the Biggleswade area when he had put the ball past his marker. The referee saw nothing amiss however and play was allowed to go on. After nine minutes Korsoveczki round the keeper to get to the by-line and played a fantastic ball across the goal. Unfortunately for the Blues it was well cleared by the Biggleswade defence.
Hertford continued to probe and press as they attempted to turn their dominance into goals. They again came close as player manager Pablo Ardiles, who was completely controlling the midfield, split the defence with an incredible pass which saw Chris Spiteri scampering toward goal only to see his shot well saved by the goalkeeper. Hunt was next to work the goalie, with a driven shot low to the keepers left which he did well to save. On 61 minutes the Blues made an attacking substitution with Andy Chapman taking the field to replace Chris Spiteri.
In the 67th minute, ATTILA KORSOVECZKI received the ball just inside the penalty area and curled the ball brilliantly past the outstretched fingers of Lawrence and into the net for his second goal of the match and his fourth in three games. It was no more than Hertford deserved. The lead could and should have been further increased not long after, when Owen Beale played the ball across goal to Chapman, leaving the keeper stranded and the goal gapping. Inexplicitly, Chapman shot the ball weakly and straight at the covering defender, letting Biggleswade off the hook.
In the 78th minute, Biggleswade tried to change things with a substitution, seeing Kane replaced by Paul Lawrence. It was Hertford next on the attack however, as Korsoveczki dummied brilliantly, allowing Hunt a shot at goal which was saved by the Biggleswade keeper. With ten minutes remaining Rob Luya took the field for his Hertford debut, replacing Jamie Abbott. Within minutes of being on the park, Luya brilliantly beat his full back marker, pushing the ball through his legs before sending a wonderful cross into the penalty area which was frantically put over the bar by the Biggleswade defence.
Attila Korsoveczki was next to leave the pitch to applause and chants from the Hertford fans after a brilliant attacking display, allowing a run-out for youngster Zavros. The last action of the game saw a Duncan Hamilton shot that was easily gathered by the Biggleswade keeper. So the final whistle sounded bringing an end to a game of football that showed Hertford at their best. "We're only going upwards here" goalscorer Dave Hunt remarked after the game. It must be nice to get on the score sheet with such a good goal? "I do it all the time in training but it's nice to get a few! My target is to get ten."
Final Score: Hertford Town 3 Biggleswade United 0