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BRIMSDOWN ROVERS 2 HERTFORD TOWN 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 8th November 2008
For the second Saturday in a row, Hertford Town succumbed to defeat away to a lower-placed side. After a well-deserved midweek win over Hanwell Town, during which they played a very attractive style of football, the Blues inexplicably reverted to a long ball game on a Brimsdown pitch that really should have suited manager Pablo Ardiles' favoured passing style of play.
Teams - Brimsdown Rovers: 1. Allan Buck, 2. Luke Hughes, 3. Shaun Reece, 4. Ekram Yilmaz, 5. Paul Campbell, 6. Matt Toms, 7. Adam Wells, 8. Charlie Moxom (capt), 9. Ryan Dear, 10. Davy Edmee, 11. Dale Archer. Subs Used: Andrew Edmunds (for Dear), Taylor Sussex (for Wells), Hilaire Tchongouang.
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Chris Spiteri, 3. Duncan Hamilton, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Pablo Ardiles, 7. Jamie Abbott, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Owen Beale, 11. Simon Eden, 14. Michael Cooper. Subs Used: Andy Chapman (for Abbott), Alex Scriven (for Spiteri).
Unusually for a Spartan League game, the Hertford Town starting line-up included a player wearing a number 14 shirt. Ryan Gordon had failed a very late fitness test so Michael Cooper took his intended place in midfield. It was the home team however, that had the upper hand in the opening minutes of the game. The visitors' first threatening move came in the 8th minute, when good work by Jamie Abbott and Simon Eden saw the ball fall to Duncan Hamilton. The big defender's shot was well-hit but saved by home 'keeper Allan Buck after an initial fumble. On the quarter hour mark more good work by Simon Eden put in Attila Korsoveczki, but his shot was wide. Four minutes later there was another promising move by the Blues, started by Glenn Draper, who passed to Michael Cooper, who in turn found Korsoveczki, but the move petered out when the striker was unable to get in a shot.
On 21 minutes Hertford won a free kick. Duncan Hamilton crossed the ball well into the hosts' box, where it found the head of Korsoveczki, but he guided it just wide of the post. A minute later the Blues were on the attack again. This time the advancing Jamie Abbott squared the ball to Michael Cooper, but his shot lacked power and was easily gathered. Over the next few minutes there were two further attacking moves by the visiting side. Firstly Korsoveczki laid the ball on to Abbott, who passed to Chris Spiteri, with the move ending with a Hertford Corner. Abbott took the kick and the ball found Duncan Hamilton, but he headed straight at 'keeper Buck. Shortly after, good interplay between Abbott and Korsoveczki ended with the former again shooting straight at Buck.
This brief spell of Hertford dominance was followed by a deadly counter-attack from the home side. Ekram Yilmaz passed to Adam Wells, whose cross into the Hertford box caused mayhem amongst the visiting defence. The ball finally crossed the line to give Rovers a 1-0 lead, but it was the unfortunate Glenn Draper who was credited with an own goal.
Just before the half hour mark the Blues were again on the attack and the chasing Simon Eden won a corner, however this came to nothing. Another dangerous counter saw the ball fall to Brimsdown's Ryan Dear, but his good effort was well saved by Lee Robinson at his near post. The ball was soon up the other end again and Hertford won another corner, though Duncan Hamilton's kick came to nothing.
The first booking of the game came on 35 minutes when Ryan Dear was cautioned for a foul on Hertford's Owen Beale. Two minutes later the same player was guilty of another poor challenge, this time on Chris Spiteri. The referee again had words but took no further action. Dear should think himself very lucky as any other official would probably have shown him the red card. Hertford were unable to take advantage of the resulting free kick and the final few minutes of the half passed without incident.
Half Time Score: Brimsdown Rovers 1 Hertford Town 0
The hosts again started the stronger team at the beginning of the second half. For the opening minutes of the period they simply wouldn't let their visitors play, which was frustrating for players and supporters alike. The first good chance of the half fell to Brimsdown's Davy Edmee who forced an excellent save from Lee Robinson. The visitors' first chance of the half came eleven minutes after the break. They were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Brimsdown box following a foul by Paul Campbell on Attila Korsoveczki. Jamie Abbott's kick was powerfully hit, but straight at the home custodian. The home team then made the first substitution of the match, bringing on Andrew Edmunds for Ryan Dear, probably a tactical move to ensure the latter didn't get red-carded later in the game. There then followed a prolonged period of Brimsdown pressure and they won a succession of corners, though fortunately for their visitors, nothing came of any of them.
The Blues' next chance didn't come until the 70th minute of the game. Korsoveczki passed to Beale but his shot was weak and easily gathered by 'keeper Buck. Three minutes later the home side should have gone 2-0 up but for an excellent save by Lee Robinson. Just after the half hour mark Hertford made their first substitution, bringing on Andy Chapman for Jamie Abbott, the latter not being best pleased with his withdrawal from the game. A few minutes later the visitors' second change saw Chris Spiteri come off and Alex Scriven take the field of play for the first time since re-signing for the club. Almost immediately the home side brought on Taylor Sussex for Adam Wells, they also brought on Hilaire Tchongouang.
On 88 minutes the Blues won a free kick but it came to nothing, and as the game approached injury time Owen Beale became the first and only Hertford Town player booked. Shortly afterwards Brimsdown's Paul Campbell was also shown a yellow card. The visitors then mounted their most promising attack of the whole game. Immense pressure on the Brimsdown box should have led to a goal but the home team managed to clear the ball for a corner. The kick was well taken and found the head of Glenn Draper, but his powerful header was inches wide of the post. Brimsdown immediately went on the counter-attack and with so many Hertford players out of position, Hilaire Tchongouang was able to advance with some ease and calmly slot the ball past the helpless Lee Robinson. This was effectively the last play of the match and the referee soon blew the final whistle.
Final Score: Brimsdown Rovers 2 Hertford Town 0
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