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SATURDAY 23 DECEMBER 2006 - SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
HERTFORD TOWN 3 COLNEY HEATH 0
Hertford welcomed back Kevin Cooper and Nicky Marsh dropped to the bench.
Team: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Ashley McAloon, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Kevin Kilroy, 5 Glenn Draper, 6. Panayiotis Panayiou, 7. Paul Taylor, 8. Scott Neilson, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 12. Nicky Marsh (for McAloon, 23), 14. Michael Bakare (for Ardiles, 79), 15. Mark Seller (for Taylor, 63)
The fog and frost of the last few days had relented, and the pitch played remarkably well. The opening few minutes were really eventful, with the visitors testing Mark Virgo in the second minute, and then The Blues launched several quick attacks which ought to have brought some reward. On 3 minutes, a great run by leading scorer Ryan Redford saw him beat three defenders in turn before crossing to strike partner Kevin Cooper, whose shot from 8 yards cannoned off visiting 'keeper Statham. A minute later, Cooper was inches wide from a cross by Scott Neilson. After 5 minutes Statham stopped another close range effort, this time from Neilson.
After this opening flurry of excitement, the game settled down a little, and ebbed and flowed until, on 21 minutes Ashley McAllon and ex-Blue Danny Staples slid into each other in a tackle, with McAloon coming off worst. He had to leave the field and go to hospital for stitches in a shin injury. Nicky Marsh came on to replace him.
A good move saw Kevin Cooper pass to Ryan Redford but the ball was intercepted to save the day and then, at the other end, Colney Heath striker Phil Jackman came close with a good overhead kick. On 36 minutes, a Heath defender skied the ball really high and it eventually fell to Kevin Cooper in the box but when he passed out to Lee Roberts, the winger wasted the opportunity with a poor finish.
When the opening goal did come, it was from an unexpected source. A Hertford attack in the 38th minute broke down, and the ball came out to PABLO ARDILES, a good 30 yards from goal on the left wing. The left back let fly with a wonderful strike and the ball fairly arrowed into the net, giving 'keeper Statham no chance. The pre-Christmas crowd simply loved it! It was nearly two on 43 minutes a s Scott Neilson set up Ryan Redford, who's shot was only just wide. There was still time for Colney Heath to strike a 30 yard feee kick over the bar, and for Redford to go close again before the halftime whistle.
Half Time: Hertford Town 1 Colney Heath 0
The first real action of the second half saw Colney Heath's Phil Jackman shooting just over from the right hand side of the box. This only served as a wake up call to the Blues, and on 49 minutes, Ryan Redford's run into he visitor's box was halted by defender Wes Awad with a foul in the "D". Hertford got a free kick and Awad got a red card. From the free kick, Kevin Kilroy's powerful strike was deflected for a corner. In the next Hertford raid, Lee Roberts was comprehensively fouled by Scott Lacey, and the Magpies' skipper was yellow carded. Roberts took the free kick himself but it was cleared to safety by 10 man Colney Heath. Striker Jackman was now playing at the back for the visitors, and doing a good job marking KEVIN COOPER, but on 58 minutes he could do nothing as Lee Roberts broke clear on the left and played a magnificent crossfield ball over the Magpies' defence to the unmarked striker and he calmly slotted home for his 149th career goal for Hertford.
Colney Heath were not done yet though, and continued to press for a goal to get back into the game. They brought on Jack Coombes for Darren Gibb on 63 minutes and almost immediately won another corner as Mark Virgo was only able to parry the ball clear. Hertford withdrew Paul Taylor and sent on Mark Seller on 70 minutes, and the sub seemed to spend most of his time shoring up the home defence, as the Blues looked for a rare "clean sheet". Central defenders Draper and Kilroy were giving nothing away, and Mark Virgo had very little to do other than catch high balls. Pablo Ardiles came off to rousing applause for his special goal, on 79 minutes, and youngster Michael Bakare got onto the field at last. With the game safe, Hertford attacked at will in the final minutes, and after Scott Neilson had seen his shot blocked on the line, PANAYIOTIS PANAYIOTOU neatly headed home in front of goal on 89 minutes, when Ryan Redford floated over a tempting cross from the left bye-line.
Final Score: Hertford town 3 Colney Heath 0
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