HERTFORD TOWN 0 BROXBOURNE BOROUGH V&E 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Tuesday 22nd September 2009

This was definitely a better effort from the Blues than the lacklustre performance on Saturday against Langford, though still not one that is likely to set the league alight. The visitors dominated for long periods in the first half with their blistering pace, but could not find a way through the resolute Hertford defence. The second half was more even and with Broxbourne visibly tiring, the home side could almost have nicked it in the final minutes.
The visitors had five ex Hertford players in their 16, in Matt Watts, Bradley Poole, Rob Tungatt, Lee Mitchell and Pany Panayiotou. Their inclusion of Matt Mitchell in centre midfield gave the relatively rare opportunity for brothers to oppose each other, Matt being the younger brother of Hertford's Daryl. Hertford's Danny Ward was playing against his old club for the first time.
Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Alan Barker, 4. Daryl Mitchell, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Harry Atkins, 7. Attila Korsoveczki, 8. Pablo Ardiles, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Danny Ward, 11. Lee Roberts. Sub Used: John Ward (for Ardiles).

Broxbourne Borough V&E: 1. Obey Murefu, 2. Danny Swift, 3. Fred Dooling, 4. Michael Nathan (capt), 5. Matt Watts, 6. Bradley Poole, 7. Rob Tungatt, 8. James Osborn, 9. Murat Karagul, 10. Matt Mitchell, 11. Tony Burke. Subs Used: Lee Mitchell (for Karagul), Sam Ruff (for Poole).

The visitors were immediately on top and forced a corner in the first minute of the game though this came to nothing. Two minutes later Bradley Poole tried a shot from distance for the dominant V&E team but it was off target. After another two minutes Tony Burke also had a good chance but shot wide. The home side came back into the game in the seventh minute when they won a corner. The cross in found the head of Glenn Draper but his effort was over the bar. Five minutes later Lee Roberts then had a chance but also shot just over.

The visitors' dominance soon returned and they won a free kick inside the Hertford half, though Matt Mitchell's shot was too high. They soon won a corner that Draper headed clear. Midway through the half the home side made a rare foray into opposition territory and were awarded a free kick. Daryl Mitchell's dangerous effort caused a scramble in the Broxbourne box but the ball was eventually cleared to safety.

The visitors soon won a corner and the incoming ball found a free head but the goal-bound flick was easily smothered by Lee Robinson. The ball was immediately cleared up the other end and the home side won two successive corners. The second of these was taken short and as so often happens in these circumstances, the chance was completely wasted. On the half hour mark, Ryan Redford then had a good chance but hit his shot wide.

The visitors soon won a free kick that found its way dangerously into the Hertford box, though when the shot came it was hit over the bar. A Broxbourne corner soon followed, which was flapped away by Robinson, though fortunately for him, to safety. The visitors were soon awarded another free kick, which was taken by Matt Mitchell. His effort was on target but not a problem for Robinson, who saved with ease. V&E had the chance to equalise on the stroke of half time when an excellent cross into the box by Danny Swift found the head of one of his team mates, but the effort was just wide.

Half Time Score: Hertford Town 0 Broxbourne V&E 0

The second half took a little while to get going but six minutes after the break Lee Robinson pulled off an excellent save from the impressive Murat Karagul. Three minutes later the visitors were awarded a corner though the chance was headed clear. Another three minutes, another Broxbourne corner. This time the cross found the head of a visiting player but the ball was hit straight at Robinson. Five minutes later Broxbourne's Matt Mitchell was booked for dissent. Not to be outdone, Glenn Draper then got himself booked for a foul on the edge of his own eighteen yard box. The resulting free kick was taken by Matt Mitchell but he hit his effort over the bar.
Lee Robinson was soon called upon to make another fine save as a powerful shot was lashed in. The visitors' Matt Watts was then booked for a foul. Daryl Mitchell's resulting free kick was cleared and the home side then made the first change of the evening as John Ward came on for Pablo Ardiles. Hertford soon won a corner though Mitchell's cross was headed clear. A further two corners for the home side followed but neither came to anything, then just after the hour mark the visitors made their first substitution, bringing on Lee Mitchell for Murat Karagul.

With less than ten minutes to go Hertford were awarded a free kick. Daryl Mitchell's well-hit shot was initially saved but the ball rebounded to Lee Roberts. However, he hit his shot wide. The ball was soon at the other end and Broxbourne's Tony Burke hit a free header just wide. With the ball back at the other end, Hertford were awarded a free kick for a foul by James Osborn. Somehow Daryl Mitchell's effort evaded everyone in the danger area and the ball was cleared. It soon came back to Mitchell, who unleashed a rasping shot from all of thirty yards out. The impressive strike brought an equally impressive save from Obey Murefu in the Broxbourne, who tipped the ball over for a Hertford corner. Mitchells' kick however, was not his best effort of the night and the ball fell harmlessly behind.

With the game now in the final few minutes the home side were clearly taking advantage of their tiring visitors, who made a second substitution as Sam Ruff replaced Bradley Poole. An impressive move involving Attila Korsoveczki and Danny Ward resulted in another Hertford corner, which was taken by the tireless Mitchell. His cross was initially cleared but the ball fell to the lurking Glenn Draper, though he shot over the bar. In a final throw of the dice the home side were awarded another free kick in the Broxbourne half. However Mitchell's effort was cleared and the referee blew the full time whistle.

Final Score: Hertford Town 0 Broxbourne Borough V&E 0