|
SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 2008 - SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
HERTFORD TOWN 1 CHALFONT ST PETER 2
Still struggling for numbers, Hertford faced last season's runners up - who surprisingly had lost their opening two league games. The Blues were without record goalscorer Kevin Cooper, so new signing Reece Lyons had to fight a lone battle up front.
Teams: Hertford Town: 1. Grant Hamilton, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Sean Crossley, 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Kevin Kilroy (capt), 7. Chris Spiteri, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. Pany Panayiotou, 10. Reece Lyons, 11. Adam Mason. Subs Used - 12. Joel Maybury (for Panayiotou, 85), 14. Louis O'Neill (for Hamilton, 49)
Chalfont St Peter: 1. Carl Tasker, 2. Pardeep Ghattoara, 3. Adam Louth, 4. Mark Needham, 5. John Carroll (capt), 6. Alan Hedley, 7. Terrell Lewis, 8. Daniel Hughes, 9. Charlie Strutton, 10. Barry Brosnan, 11. Jerome Okimo. Subs Used - 12. Ryan Welsh (for Needham, 45), 14. Andy Hiblen (for Brosnan, 39), 16. Martin Deely, 84).
Both sides needed the confidence booster of a first win of the season, and it was the visitors who got it, in a close fought encounter. The referee was a busy man all afternoon as neither side took any prisoners. In the very first minute, teenager Charlie Strutton clattered home 'keeper Grant Hamilton quite deliberately and received a yellow card - Hamilton appeared to have been knocked out, and received extensive treatment before playing on with blurred vision.
It was The Blues who took the lead, to the delight of their supporters, when REECE LYONS, making his home debut finished with some style when set up by skipper Kevin Kilroy, sweeping the ball home from 10 yards. The visitors reponded when Terrell Lewis shot in to the side netting from a free kick. Hertford were looking in control at the back and it was a complete mystery how, on 20 minutes, Barry Brosnam was able to find a huge hole in the home back line to run on to a perfect through ball. Still shaken up by his 1st minute battering, Grant Hamilton came out to challenge, and brought Brosnan down after the striker had poked the ball away from goal . The referee awarded a penalty but only showed Hamilton a yellow card, apparently because Brosnan had lost control of the ball before being brought down. DANIEL HUGHES stepped up and took a perfect spot kick, sending Hamilton the wrong way before putting the ball in the opposite corner.
On 24 minutes, Nicky Marsh was on hand to head away in front of goal when Chalfont St Peter threatened. When Hertford mounted an attack on 32 minutes, Reece Lyons nearly doubled his tally with a fine header from a Pablo Ardiles cross, but visiting 'keeper Tasker tipped the ball over for a corner.
Charlie Strutton beat Glenn Draper but his shot from a narrow angle went well wide. A heavy tackle by Terrell Lewis on Pablo Ardiles right in front of the main stand saw the star player booked, then shortly after Glenn Draper hideously mistimed a tackle on Barry Brosnan and caught him on the back of the leg. Draper was booked and Brosnan was unable to continue, being replaced by Andy Hiblen.
Reece Lyons had two good chances in the time added on at the end of the half, first glancing a header just wide and then topping his shot when clean through on goal.
Half Time: Hertford Town 1 Chalfont St Peter 1
The visitors brought on Ryan Welsh for Mark Needham for the second half, and, although Grant Hamilton started for Hertford, he had to come off on 49 minutes, complaining of trouble with his vision. His replacement, Louis O'Neill, made a great start by blocking brilliantly with his legs to stop Charlie Strutton from scoring after a mistake by Glenn Draper. When Hertford won a free kick, Terrell Lewis blocked the ball from about six yards away. There was a long consultation between the referee and one of his assistants before it was decided that Draper and Strutton were equally at fault in a skirmish as Chalfont won a free kick. Pardeep Ghattoara was unable to make good use of the free kick and it began to look more and more like 1-1 would be the final score.
Then, on 64 minutes, Glenn Draper cleverly stole around the back to connect with a fine curling free kick from Kevin Kilroy, and should have burst the back of the net, but the ball went well wide. Terrell Lewis drew a fine save from O'Neill on 70 minutes as Chalfont turned up the pressure. It started to look ominous for Hertford as they seemed unable to counter. Sure enough, on 84 minutes, the ball fell invitingly to Daniel Hughes outside the box and his powerful shot was on target. Nicky Marsh made a desperate lunge for the ball, which hit his foot and bounced up on to his hand. Marsh was sent off for hand ball, and it was a second penalty for the visitors, and HUGHES again sent the 'keeper the wrong way to put his side ahead.
Although Hertford tried hard, they were unable to get an equaliser. With two minutes of time added played, Reece Lyons might have done it with a close range header, but managed to direct it into the grateful arms of Carl Taker.
Hertford will play worse this season and win, and in Reece Lyons may have unearthed a real talent.
Final Score - Hertford Town 1 Chalfont St Peter 2
|
