CHALFONT ST PETER 4 HERTFORD TOWN 1
Molten Spartan South Midlands league - Premier Division
Saturday 10th October 2009
Going into this match the hosts lay in a very healthy second place in the league whilst the visitors had hoisted themselves up into tenth after a much improved midweek performance (compared to recent outings) against Hatfield Town. It was certainly the Dr Jekyll side of Hertford town that turned up that evening, but unfortunately for the first half of this game against Chalfont St Peter, Mr Hyde made an unwelcome re-appearance. Things improved in the second half, but the damage had been done in the first forty-five minutes. Teams - Chalfont St Peter: 1. Mark Oliver, 2. Lewis Cumber, 3. Jerome Okimo, 4. Edward Chemlal, 5. John Carroll (capt), 6. Alan Hedley, 7. Ben Stack, 8. Lee Togwell, 9. Charlie Strutton, 10. Lee Thompson, 11. Adam Louth. Subs Used: Luke Brook-Smith (for Stack), Adam Bunce (for Thompson), Ben Sturgess (for Cumber).
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Alan Barker, 4. Matt McArdle, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Harry Atkins, 7. Daryl Mitchell, 8. Pablo Ardiles, 9. Rob Luya, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Ryan Gordon (for Mitchell), Ryan Redford (for Roberts), Dominic Musafiri (for Barker).
The home side set out their stall early-doors, when in the first minute of the game a long throw into the Hertford box found an unmarked Chalfont player, though he hit his shot just over the bar. Two minutes later a good through ball by the hosts split the Hertford defence and found Charlie Strutton, who rifled home his effort to give his side an early lead. Chalfont did not have everything their own way however and a short while later Hertford were awarded a free kick inside their opponents half. Daryl Mitchell's kick was headed behind to give the Blues a corner. Mitchell's cross found the head of Glenn Draper but he hit his effort just over the bar.
The ball was soon at the other end and the home side were awarded a free kick. Draper headed the ball behind to give Chalfont a corner, though this came to nothing. As the game approached the quarter of an hour mark Matt McArdle became the first player booked for a foul on a Chalfont player. A corner for the home side a short while later came to nothing. Alan Barker then became the second Hertford player booked. Disaster soon struck again for the Blues as Glenn Draper lost possession of the ball inside his own 18 yard box. Charlie Strutton took immediate advantage of the situation and lashed the ball into the back of the net for his and his team's second goal.
Just after the half hour mark the home side were awarded another free kick in a dangerous position, though Adam Louth hit his effort just wide. Another long throw into the Hertford box then again unsettled the visiting defence. The ball was initially cleared but only as far as Chalfont captain John Carroll, who smacked the ball into the back of the net to give his side a 3-0 advantage. Kevin Cooper then became the third Hertford player booked by the card-happy referee. Cooper's offence was allegedly to kick the ball away after the third Chalfont goal. The home side were soon awarded another free kick in a dangerous position. As the Hertford wall lined up, the referee, who by this time had completely lost control of the game, showed a second yellow card to Matt McArdle and sent the Hertford defender off. McArdle had been shouting at his team mates but the referee interpreted this as dissent and issued the card. He also booked Pablo Ardiles at the same time for good measure. When the free kick was eventually taken, it was a disappointing effort and came to nothing. As the game went into injury time at the end of the half, Daryl Mitchell became the latest Hertford player to see yellow, this time for a foul. Nothing came of the resulting free kick and the half time whistle was soon blown.
Half Time Score: Chalfont St Peter 3 Hertford Town 0
As so often happens when a team is reduced to ten men, the Hertford Town side that took to the pitch after half time put in an altogether better performance than in the first 45 minutes. Daryl Mitchell did not re-appear for the second half but was replaced by Ryan Gordon. The home side began in much the same vein as they had the first and a dangerous attack brought an excellent double save out of Hertford Custodian, Lee Robinson, within a minute of the restart. The Blues soon used up the rest of their substitutions, replacing Lee Roberts and Alan Barker with Ryan Redford and Dominic Musafiri respectively. They then won a corner, though Redford's cross was headed clear. With the addition of Redford the Blues soon began to up their game. A great solo effort by the Hertford replacement on the right saw him take the ball past three home defenders before putting an excellent cross into the box. The ball found Kevin Cooper, who hit a superb powerful header past home custodian, Mark Oliver, at his near post, to give the visitors a lifeline with the best goal of the match.
The Blues soon won a corner, though Redford's cross was cleared. Redford then had a couple of half chances but on each occasion his efforts were thwarted by a lack of close support. Lee Robinson was again called upon to make another magnificent save twenty minutes after the break, when he was left exposed by his defence. Ben Stack's resulting corner was cleared by the Hertford defence and this was effectively Stack's last action of the game as he was replaced by Luke Brook-Smith. Ryan Redford then became the latest player booked, apparently for dissent.
The home side soon restored their three goal advantage. Alan Hedley had control of the ball inside the Hertford box and after a number of attempts, finally found the back of the net. The visitors soon had a chance as they were awarded a free kick well inside the Chalfont half. Redford's shot was hit behind for a corner and Rob Luya's cross was cleared upfield. Chalfont then made their second substitution as Adam Bunce replaced Lee Thompson. A few minutes later the final change was made as the hosts brought off Lewis Cumber and sent on Ben Sturgess.
As the game went into the final few minutes the Blues were awarded a free kick just outside the Chalfont box. Redford's excellent shot was well saved by Oliver at the expense of a corner. Redford also took the corner and his bending cross was heading goalwards when Oliver tipped it behind for another corner kick at the other side. Luya's kick was taken short and inevitably the chance was wasted as the ball was eventually hooked clear. With the game well into injury time the visitors mounted one final attack. After a good move the ball eventually fell to Dominic Musafiri, but he blasted his powerful effort just wide. It was not long before the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the game.
Final Score: Chalfont St Peter 4 Hertford Town 1