HERTFORD TOWN 0 BROXBOURNE BOROUGH V&E 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 4th April 2009
For the second Saturday in a row the supporters at Hertingfordbury Park witnessed a goalless draw though this game was played in a far better spirit; Broxbourne Borough coming to play football rather than the more physical game preferred by the previous week's visitors. In truth 0-0 was a pretty fair result between two very evenly matched sides. It seemed nothing would get past V&E's outstanding goalkeeper, Obey Murefu, and the efforts of their danger man, Ryan Wade, were always thwarted by a resolute Hertford defence. As scoreless draw go, this was a pretty entertaining affair, with both sides exhibiting skilful football despite a slightly uneven pitch, and both will surely be teams to look out for next season. Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Rob Luya, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Jamie Abbott, 7. Owen Beale, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Daryl Mitchell, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Troy Alexander-Jarrett (for Roberts), Alex Scriven (for Mitchell).
Broxbourne Borough V&E: 1. Obey Murefu, 2. Bradley Poole (capt), 3. Hilary Umeh, 4. Sheldon Hussey, 5. Matt Watts, 6. Matt Mitchell, 7. Tony Burke, 8. Rob Tungatt, 9. Sam Ruff, 10. Ryan Wade, 11. Murat Karagul. Subs Used: Danny Ward (for Tungatt), Lee Mitchell (for Karagul), Rob Kemble (for Lee Mitchell).
The first good move of the game came from the home side in the fifth minute; Attila Korsoveczki passed to Owen Beale, who played in Daryl Mitchell. He crossed the ball in but it was easily held by Murefu in the Broxbourne goal. A couple of minutes later the home side were awarded a free kick, which was well taken by Mitchell, though it somehow managed to evade everyone in the penalty area and was again picked up by Murefu. At the other end Ryan Wade then caught Rob Luya with a badly timed tackle and was lucky not to get a yellow card. The ball was soon back in the Broxbourne half and Hertford won another free kick, again taken by Mitchell. Joel Maybury made good contact with a spectacular diving header but his effort was well saved by the impressive Murefu. A few minutes later, Korsoveczki was caught by an untidy challenge on the edge of the V&E box. Mitchell again took the free kick and for once Murefu fumbled and the ball fell to Korsoveczki, but he could only find the side netting. Broxbourne's Matt Mitchell then caught Owen Beale in the face with a high challenge and was lucky to get away with just a warning.
In the 20th minute the home side won another corner. Daryl Mitchell's kick was well taken but again managed to evade everyone in the box and went harmlessly behind for a goal kick. Five minutes later, with the ball at the other end, the visitors won a corner. Tony Burke's kick was well taken and it took a good effort by Hertford captain, Glenn Draper, to clear the ball to safety. There was then a short break in play following injuries to Korsoveczki and Broxbourne's Murat Karagul. When play resumed, Matt Mitchell soon became the first player of the game to be booked, for a clumsy challenge on Korsoveczki. Daryl Mitchell hit the resulting free kick straight at 'keeper Murefu. A couple of minutes later, Hertford Town left back, Rob Luya, went on a foray into the Broxbourne half, though his shot from a central position was high and wide. Shortly afterwards, Lee Roberts, now playing on the right, went on a run down that side of the pitch. He cut inside but after all his hard work hit a disappointing shot straight at Murefu.
The ball was soon at the other end and the visitors won a free kick on the edge of the Hertford box. Tony Burke hit a powerful shot but it went right across the face of goal and harmlessly behind, with no-one able to make contact. As the game approached half time Hertford won a free kick at the other end. This time Jamie Abbott chanced his arm. His shot cannoned off the Broxbourne wall and was then well saved by Murefu. With the game now going into first half injury time Hertford won another free kick. Daryl Mitchell's initial effort was headed clear but came back out to him. He hit the ball back in and it took a deflection off a Broxbourne defender to go behind for a corner. The cross from the corner was hit behind for another corner kick. This was cleared and as Hertford tried to maintain their pressure, Korsoveczki was adjudged to have fouled a Broxbourne player. Soon after the resulting free kick was taken, the referee blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 0 Broxbourne Borough V&E 0
Both sides once again matched each other in the opening minutes of the second half, then six minutes after the break the visitors won a free kick inside the Hertford half. Matt Mitchell's shot was well saved by Lee Robinson at the expense of a corner. The corner kick was taken short by Tony Burke to Matt Mitchell, who played it back to Burke. The ball eventually fell to Matt Watts but the ex-Hertford man's shot was wide. The home side soon won a free kick on the edge of the Broxbourne box following a handball by a visiting defender. However, Daryl Mitchell's effort was hit into the Broxbourne wall and cleared. The visitors immediately mounted a counter-attack and won a free kick at the other end. When the cross came in, the resulting shot was hit over the bar. Another Broxbourne break a few moments later saw the ball fall to Murat Karagul, but he shot wide. A Daryl Mitchell free kick for Hertford soon after was easily cleared by the Broxbourne defence. A good move involving Daryl Mitchell and Dave Hunt then saw the ball fall to Lee Roberts, but his shot was wide of the target. Another Hertford free kick moments later again saw Mitchell hit the ball harmlessly at the Broxbourne wall.
Mid way through the half, the visitors made the first substitution of the match, Danny Ward coming on for Rob Tungatt. Soon after, with the home side on the attack, a Korsoveczki cross found Dave Hunt, but his headed effort was just wide. Hertford's Michael Cooper then received what appeared to be a rather harsh booking for a trip on Broxbourne's Tony Burke. Hertford soon won a corner though immediately after Mitchell had taken his kick the referee blew for a foul on 'keeper Murefu. Another Mitchell corner a few minutes later was hit straight into the arms of a grateful Murefu.
With fifteen minutes of normal time to go, Broxbourne's Tony Burke found himself with plenty of space inside the Hertford half. He tried an audacious lob from some distance, and although his effort beat Lee Robinson it also cleared the bar. The home side then made their first substitution, bringing on Troy Alexander-Jarrett for Lee Roberts. Not long after he came on, Alexander-Jarrett was scythed down by Sheldon Hussey, who was shown his side's second yellow card of the game. Daryl Mitchell's resulting free kick was easily cleared by the Broxbourne defence and as Hertford tried to apply pressure the visitors were awarded a free kick for a foul. Broxbourne also made their second change of the afternoon, bringing on Lee Mitchell for Murat Karagul.
After another period of stalemate, the home side won another corner, though Mitchell's effort came to nothing. It was also to be his last involvement in the game as he was immediately replaced by Alex Scriven. It was not long before the visitors were forced to make their third and final change: Lee Mitchell had picked up an injury shortly after coming on, and after only nine minutes on the field he had to retire, being replaced by Rob Kemble.
As the match approached ninety minutes and went into injury time both sides had chances. Firstly Ryan Wade had a good chance for the visitors, but shot wide. Broxbourne then won a corner, but Tony Burke's cross was headed clear by Glenn Draper. With ball down the other end Troy Alexander-Jarrett had a chance but shot wide. A quick counter-attack by the visitors saw Draper forced to clear off his own line after Lee Robinson had committed himself some way out. In the fifth minute of injury time Wade had another chance but shot over, and as soon as the resulting goal kick was taken the referee blew the full time whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 0 Broxbourne Borough V&E 0