HERTFORD TOWN 1 DUNSTABLE TOWN 3
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 31st October 2009
For the second time in eleven days, Hertford Town entertained Dunstable Town at Hertingfordbury Park. Also for the second time in eleven days, the home side had no available goalkeeper; this time Jason Coughlan drew the short straw and went between the sticks. The first half was a pretty even affair but after the visitors scored two early goals in the second, there was only ever going to be one winner. In their two visits to Hertingfordbury Park in those eleven days, Dunstable Town have now scored seven goals and conceded just one. Fortunately for Hertford Town, there is no chance of any further visits from Dunstable this season. Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Jason Coughlan, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Harry Atkins, 4. Ryan Gordon, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Joel Maybury, 7. Rob Luya, 8. Joe Scales, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Dominic Musafiri, 11. Lee Roberts. Sub Used: Alan Barker (for Maybury).
Dunstable Town: 1. Paul Taylor, 2. Wayne Mills, 3. Scott Wood, 4. Shane Wood, 5. Luke Flood, 6. Neal Perrin (capt), 7. Russell Preston, 8. Danny Ryan, 9. Douglas Kisuule, 10. Karl Davidson, 11. Lee Burgoyne. Sub Used: Terry Billy (for Burgoyne).
The home side were the first to show and applied a little pressure to the visitor's goal in the first minute or two, though without result. The ball was soon at the other end and Dunstable won a corner, though the referee blew for an infringement as the kick was taken and Hertford were awarded a free kick inside their own box. This was taken quickly and the Blues mounted a quick counter-attack, though this came to nothing. The home side soon won a corner and Lee Roberts' cross found Glenn Draper but the Hertford skipper headed over.
The deadlock was broken in the eleventh minute when a Dunstable cross was flicked on and found the unmarked RUSSELL PRESTON at the far post. He had time to control the ball and then blasted it into the roof of the net giving Coughlan no chance. A few minutes later Ryan Redford received the first booking of the afternoon for disputing a refereeing decision. A Dunstable corner then found their skipper Neal Perrin, but he headed his effort over the bar.
On twenty-five minutes the home side had a half-chance but Roberts just failed to make contact with Rob Luya's cross. Parity was restored nine minutes later when an excellent cross from Michael Cooper, wide on the right, found DOMINIC MUSAFIRI. He controlled the ball well in front of goal and slotted the ball past visiting custodian, Paul Taylor, to level the scores. A few minutes later a good Hertford move saw the ball crossed to Redford but he headed just wide.
With four minutes of the half remaining, the visitors won a free kick well inside the Hertford half and to the right of the Blues' goal. Lee Burgoyne's delivery was well-hit and on target, but Coughlan took no chances and punched the ball clear. A minute later the ball was at the other end and Musafiri passed to Joe Scales. His shot was cleared off the line but came back to Musafiri, who tried a spectacular overhead shot, but his effort was wide. A couple of minutes later the referee blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 1 Dunstable Town 1
The visitors made a change at the break, Terry Billy replacing Lee Burgoyne for the second period. It was the home side who again made the early running and three minutes after the break a cross fell to Roberts, but his well-taken shot brought an excellent save out of Taylor. Hertford then won two corners in succession, the second of which was cleared with dire consequences for the home side. Dunstable mounted a quick counter-attack through Karl Davidson. He advanced rapidly into the Hertford half and with too many of the home defence committed upfield was easily able to find the unmarked DOUGLAS KISSULE, who had advanced in support. He easily slotted the ball past the unprotected Coughlan to restore the visitors' lead.
The home side did not let their heads drop, however, and immediately set themselves up with an equalising chance. Ryan Redford, who can't even buy a goal at the moment, found himself clean on goal, but somehow hit his effort wide. Twelve minutes into the half, the home side's frailties at the back were once again exposed. RUSSELL PRESTON shot through a crowd of players in the Hertford box and somehow the ball trickled across the line for his second and his side's third goal of the afternoon.
A Hertford free kick two minutes later should have created a scoring opportunity but Roberts' kick was taken short to Draper and the chance wasted. There was then an altercation between Hertford's Ryan Gordon and double goal scorer, Preston, which saw both players booked. Shortly afterwards the visitors were again on the attack and a Wayne Mills cross was headed over by Terry Billy. With play at the other end Luya passed to Redford, but he once again shot wide. Another quick break by the visitors then saw them win a corner at the other end, though as the ball came in, Billy hit a glancing header wide of the target.
Harry Atkins soon received his customary booking for a poorly-timed tackle, before the home side made a substitution, Alan Barker coming on to replace Joel Maybury. A few minutes later Draper became the latest home player booked. The referee told him it was for shouting too loud!
The home side were still looking to get something out of the game, but a Luya cross was just too close to Taylor with Redford following up. They then won a corner. Roberts' cross was cleared but only as far as Luya, though he mis-hit his shot out of the ground. As the game went into the final few minutes, Coughlan pulled off a magnificent save at the expense of a Dunstable corner. Again the referee spotted an infringement as the kick was taken and the home side were awarded a free kick. Well into stoppage time, Michael Cooper became the latest Hertford player to see yellow as he was booked for a foul, and it was not long before the full time whistle was blown.
Final Score: Hertford Town 1 Dunstable Town 3