TUES 7 FEBRUARY 2006 - ROY BAILEY MEMORIAL TROPHY
BRIMSDOWN ROVERS 1 HERTFORD TOWN 1 aet
PENALTY SHOOT-OUT BRIMSDOWN ROVERS 5 HERTFORD TOWN 4
Hertford fielded a strong side as they looked for a morale boosting win ahead of Saturday's league game. Their Spartan South Midlands Div 1 opponents looked very big and strong however, so a close game was in prospect.
Team: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Ashley McAloon, 3. Mark Teasdale, 4. Phil Leggatt (Capt), 5. Adam Spenceley, 6. Joe O'Driscoll, 7. Simon Eden, 8. Daryl Mitchell, 9. Ryan Wade, 10. Ryan Brown, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs: 12. Panayiotis Panayiotou (for Brown, 70), 14. Bradley Poole (for Spenceley, 45), 16. Phil Goss (for Mitchell, 60)
The Goldsdown Road pitch looked in good condition but was quite hard, so it was no surprise when the game set off at a frantic pace, with little pattern to it. A route 1 move on 4 minutes started by Mark Virgo saw the ball propelled immediately to the other end when Ryan Brown cleverly backheaded on to Ryan Wade, who found home 'keeper Paul Daley fully up to the job. There was little else to write about until, on 13 minutes, home right back Darren Reid cut in and let fly with a wonderful 25 yard strike that left Mark Virgo helpless, despite a flying leap across his goal.
Far from daunted by this unexpected setback, Hertford hit back within two minutes, when more good work by Ryan Brown led to RYAN WADE netting from an acute angle on the left, with a sweet strike. Both sides had opportunities to take the lead without being able to cash in, and the, on 42 minutes, Lee Roberts saw his shot take a wicked deflection off a defender and thump against the upright.
Half Time: Brimsdown Rovers 1 Hertford Town 1
Hertford had to replace the injured Adam Spenceley at half time, with Bradley Poole coming on at right back and Ashley McAloon switching to centre half. The game continued to be quite disjointed, with a cross wind adding to the difficulties. Phil Goss came on for Daryl Mitchell on the hour, and the midfielder slotted in as if he had never been away, despite a six week absence travelling the world. Brimsdown had their own misfortune when they hit the bar on 64 minutes, then Pani Panayiotou came on for Ryan Brown as manager Gary Conner looked to change the pattern of play up front. The big Brimsdown defenders had been revelling in clearing balls out of the sky, with Hertford's forwards conceding several inches in height. Neither side were able to make the decisive break though, and the game went into extra time, with penalties looking an odds-on bet.
After 90 minutes: Brimsdown Rovers 1 Hertford Town 1
Almost from the restart, Hertford looked to have taken the lead, when an almighty goalmouth scramble saw Ryan Wade hit the bar and several of his colleagues narrowly missed putting the ball away. Five minutes into the second period of extra time, Joe O'Driscoll headed powerfully goalwards from a Phil Goss free kick, but, with the visiting supporters cheering a goal, home 'keeper Daley somehow managed to tip the header wide of the post. With a minute left Lee Roberts got very close with a shot as he finally began to get round the back of the home defence.
Final score: Brimsdown Rovers 1 Hertford Town 1
So to penalties. Hertford have an unenviable record of only two penalty shootout wins ever, so hopes were not high amongst the supporters. However, when Brimsdown went first, Mark Virgo pulled off a good save to give the Blues immediate hope. Ryan Wade did not disappoint, dispatching an excellent pen. Brimsdown made it 1-1 and then Ashley McAoon pulled his effort narrowly wide of the left post to leave the score at 1-1. Brimsdown made it 2-1 but Pani Panayiotou applied enough power to see his effort get through the despairing arms of 'keeper Daley for 2-2. Another success by the home side, and a confident spot kick from Phil Goss made it 3-3. Home 'keeper and captain Paul Daley then took responsibilty for Brimsdown's fifth. To everyone's surprise, he blasted it over the bar to present Phil Leggatt with the chance to win the tie. However, the Blues' skipper saw his kick strike the left hand upright, so it remained 3-3. Now to the less confident kickers! Brimsdown missed, so Mark Teesdale could win it, but didn't. Brimsdown scored, 4-3, but so did Simon Eden, 4-4. Brimsdown scored again 5-4, so Joe O'Driscoll needed to score to keep Hertford in the shootout. Agonisingly, Daley saved, so it was a win for the home side, in this cruel way to decide a tie.