By Michael Nott

After the satisfying win over Harefield on Tuesday evening, Pablo Ardiles, Glenn Draper and Ryan Wade returned to the starting line up at the expense of Michael Bakare, Dave Greenwood, and Paul Taylor respectively.

Hertford Town: 1. Pat O'Brien 2. Ashley McAloon 3. Pablo Ardiles 4. Kevin Kilroy 5. Glenn Draper 6. Ryan Wade 7. Luke Smith (Paul Taylor, 72) 8. Leo Turner (Michael Bakare, 58) 9. Ryan Redford 10. Kevin Cooper 11. Phil Goss. Unused Sub: 14. Mark Seller

Concord Rangers: 1. Robbie Budd 2. Sam Ing 3. Sam Lake 4. Ryan Martin 5. Gareth Thomas 6. John Turnball (Gary Ewers, 117) 7. Jack O'Connor (Hawkins, 58) 8. Taylor Lang 9. Michael Hart (Lloyd Wilson, 70) 10. Danny Heale 11. Oli Baker. Unused Sub: 17. D. Trenacle

Hertford's final chance of silverware slipped away on Thursday evening as the Blues were catastrophically knocked out of the East Anglian Cup on penalties. Despite a strong performance following the win over Harefield United just 48 hours earlier, Hertford were perhaps overawed by the occasion and couldn't find a little extra to defeat a competent Concord Rangers outfit. Rangers signalled their intent after only 3 minutes when Taylor Lang hit the crossbar with a scorching left foot volley from the edge of the area. Hertford failed to respond to the threat of Rangers' forward line and minutes later 'keeper Pat O'Brien was forced into a good save from Michael Hart. Rangers were very much the better team in the opening exchanges as Hertford's passing was sloppy, laboured, and at times criminal.
Ryan Wade, back in the starting line-up after missing the Harefield game made his presence felt with an enthusiastic challenge early on, signalling what would be another strong performance from Hertford's midfield engine.
It took a number of other Rangers chances for Hertford to mount an attack of their own. Ryan Redford, virtually a spectator against Harefield, directed a free header wide from an astute Phil Goss cross. After 23 minutes, another header, this time from the energetic Leo Turner was easily saved by visiting custodian Robbie Budd.
Still not finding their rhythm despite the calm and decisive play of defensive lynchpin Kevin Kilroy, Hertford continued to present Rangers with a series of chances. Hart had two clear chances within five minutes; first shooting wide after some incisive interplay, and then striking the crossbar with a superb curling effort from 18 yards.
With 34 minutes played, Wade, who had presumably had enough with the one-way traffic fired in a fierce low drive from 20 yards which Budd managed to palm away to safety. A slip from Pablo Ardiles almost cost Hertford a goal as Rangers once again piled on the pressure. Hart this time turned provider, squaring for captain Danny Heale to volley wide when it was perhaps easier to score.
Shouts from Hertford for a back-pass were ignored by the referee following a contentious incident. Luke Smith, deputising for the suspended Panayiotis Panayiotou, threaded a through-ball to the onrushing Turner which was deflected towards the goal line by Rangers defender Sam Lake and gathered by Budd. Whether or not there was intent is questionable, however the referee received severe criticism from the amassed Hertford faithful. The two teams went in goalless at half-time but Rangers perhaps had the psychological advantage going into the second half.

Half Time: Hertford Town 0 Concord Rangers 0

Rangers began the second half as they had the first with typical gusto in attack and control in defence. Oli Baker blazed wide after 54 minutes having been played in by Jack O'Connor who waltzed through the Hertford rearguard.
Both sides used the first of their substitutes on 58 minutes with Michael Bakare replacing Leo Turner for Hertford, and Hawkins replacing O'Connor for Rangers. The Hertford change served to inject a greater spirit into the tiring players with Bakare's constant running providing the benchmark.
O'Brien was called upon again to make a smart save at the feet of Heale following a Rangers short corner taken by Martin. O'Brien, playing in only his third first-team match of the season, was a commanding presence in the Hertford penalty area and was more than able to deal with Rangers' chances.
Hertford began to claw their way back into the match as Bakare was given more time on the ball. Bakare's penetrating pass through to Redford signalled a renewed Hertford verve even though Redford's shot was straight at Budd and easily palmed away. Hertford began to press Rangers further back into their end of the pitch with passages of fluent football and movement, with Wade continuing to pull the strings. Rangers replaced Hart with Lloyd Wilson on 70 minutes, and several minutes later Hertford replaced Smith with Paul Taylor.
A foul on Wade some 20 yards out allowed the pragmatic Kilroy to float over a free-kick which, although came to nothing, was the beginning of a spate of chances for the home side, the best of which falling to substitute Bakare. Fellow substitute Taylor picked out the run of Bakare with a beautifully weighted pass however the latter's delicate chip brushed the crossbar and resulted in a goal kick. Wade, who had been providing a cohesive link between the Hertford defence and attack, was booked on 74 minutes following a rather rash two-footed lunge. Minutes later he was to curl a free-kick narrowly over from the edge of the penalty area.
In the dying seconds of the second half and with extra time looming, a strong run from Bakare resulted in him pulling the ball back for Cooper to scuff his shot wide of the mark. As heads began to drop, the referee brought normal time to a close with the teams firmly deadlocked.

Full Time: Hertford Town 0 Concord Rangers 0

An uninspiring first half of extra time was marked only through a strong penalty shout from Hertford. Bakare, again at the centre of Hertford's penetration, was brought down in the penalty area after the ball had gone however the referee waved play on. The two-footed lunge was felt by Bakare as he received treatment from acting physio and former Hertford manager Dave Pentecost.
O'Brien was called into action only once to make a routine save from a powerful drive by Rangers substitute Hawkins. Neither team looked potent enough in attack to take the lead, and penalties looked inevitable at this stage.

Extra Time 1st Half: Hertford Town 0 Concord Rangers 0

Following the change of ends and several half chances for Rangers at the beginning of the half, Hertford finally took control of the tie. Kilroy fired a trademark free-kick into the area following a foul on Wade (Rangers' Sam Ing being cautioned as a result) and Glenn Draper found the ball at his feet and shot well over the crossbar. Goss narrowly lobbed over the crossbar before Hertford took a belated lead in the 116th minute. Kilroy's cross field pass found Redford on the left wing who proceeded to jink past a couple of static defenders and fire into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. With only four minutes remaining, surely Hertford had secured their passage into the final of the East Anglian Cup for the first time since 1970?
Rangers had other ideas, replacing John Turnball with Gary Ewers on 117 minutes. A deep free-kick from Ewers in the 118th minute was met with confusion in the Hertford penalty area, and Martin was allowed to equalise with a low shot for which O'Brien was unsighted. So close to a historic victory, Hertford had thrown away the lead and had to prepare for penalties; a contest the Blues had won only once in their entire 99 year history. Rangers on the other hand were jubilant, celebrating the equaliser as if they'd just won the trophy itself. Draper responded for Hertford with a wild lunge on Lang which resulted in a booking.

Extra Time Full Time: Hertford Town 1 Concord Rangers 1
Penalties: Hertford Town 4 Concord Rangers 5
Wade (1-0), Ewers (1-1), Redford (2-1), Thomas (2-2), Cooper (3-2), Martin (3-3), Draper (3-3), Heale (3-4), Kilroy (4-4), Lake (4-5).

With Draper the only casualty of the shootout, firing wide of the mark, Concord Rangers claimed victory and go on to the final of the competition. It was a shame that their shocking goading of the Hertford fans following the shootout took the gloss off of their victory, and exposed the ill-discipline of the club. The actions of the Rangers players were a disgrace to not only themselves but to their club, their league, and their fans. Hertford should feel proud of their efforts and their grace in defeat.
Hertford's season concludes with an away league tie on Saturday against Biggleswade United at Second Meadow.



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