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SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2006
FA VASE 1st QUALIFYING ROUND
EDGWARE TOWN 3 HERTFORD TOWN 0
This was always going to be a tough fixture - Edgware's very impressive start to the season, plus the fact that they were still smarting from the 4-2 home defeat to the Blues in their last ever Ryman League game meant that they were going to be stern opposition on their own superb playing surface. The score does not entirely tell the whole story though, although the Wares did run out worthy winners.
Hertford, not surprisingly, stuck with the side which had performed so magnificently against Langford on Tuesday evening. Matt Watts, who might have been expected to start, was ruled out with a hamstring strain. Edgware included ex-pro Junior Lewis.
Teams: Edgware Town: 1. Rob Blackburne, 2. Steve Brady, 3. Vince Rispoli, 4. Jason Fermee, 5. Mark Buchanan, 6. Lee GArdner, 7. Junior Lewis, 8. Richard Morton (capt), 9. Stuart Blackburne, 10. Adam Wallace, 11. Ben Hayden. Subs: 12. Adil Saleh, 14. Ben Rain (for S. Blackburne, 69), 15. Paul Killick, 16. Phil Kane, 17. Matt Fletcher.
Hertford Town: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Mark Teasdale, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Robbie Syrett, 5. John Barker, 6. Jamie Nicholson, 7. Nicky Marsh, 8. Leo Turner (capt), 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs: 12. Joel Maybury (for Nicholson, 45), 14. Brendan Brien (for Turner,87), 15. Scott Neilson (for Redford, 68), 16. Tom Neill (not used),17. James Sturgeon (not used).
On a beautiful Indian Summer afternoon, Edgware immediately took the game to their visitors, with Stuart Blackburne 's 18 yard strike being blocked by Jamie Nicholson. But Hertford hit back, and Lee Roberts saw his shot from outside the box also blocked. Mark Virgo made a really good stop from Stuart Blackburne on 13 minutes, and his punch clear sent Lee Roberts away on a swift break, which ended in Kevin Cooper's shot bringing a smart save from Rob Blackburne. Two minutes later Mark Virgo was required to rescue his defence again with a remarkable flying save which produced an Edgware corner. From this the Hertford custoian was again obliged to make a good save. A break down the right by Robbie Syrett led to a cynical foul by Edgware's Ben Hayden on Ryan Redford, leading to a booking for the midfielder, and prolonged treatment for Redford.
Edgware took the lead on 18 minutes when Hertford's hard work was ruined by a defensive error which let in ADAM WALLACE, tapping home with Nicky Marsh unable to get to the ball on the line.
Kevin Cooper and Edgware's Mark Buchanan were both booked for an off the ball clash, and then a really slick move from the home side completely undid Hertford, with Adam Wallace providing the pass for STUART BLACKBURNE to net a 22nd minute second for the home side.
The game then went into a fairly sterile spell up to halftime. It was practically job done for Edgware, and Hertford showed little sign of being able to hit back, apart from a 20 yarder from Lee Roberts, which flew wide of the mark. For Edgware, Junior Lewis went near from a home corner.
Half Time: Edgware Town 2 Hertford Town 0
Hetrtford withdrew Jamie Nicholson at halftime, replacing him with Joel Maybury. Hertford certainly tried to get back into the game and were coping with Edgware much better. The Blues' chances of getting back into the game were dashed on 62 minutes when a fine long range strike by Lee Roberts crashed off the post. A goal at this point would have put pressure on the home side, and Hertford continued to press. Only a minute later they might have had a penalty, when the ball struck a hand in the home box but the referee ignored Kevin Cooper's appeals for hand ball. The visiting fans had been singing throughout and were still trying to urge their side on, but another blow was struck against Hertford when Ryan Redford had to leave the field because of the injury sustained in the first half. Scott Neilson, who replaced Redford, very nearly scored immediately, but his header form a corner was deflected wide. Edgware withdrew Stuart Blackburne on 69 minutes, with Ben Rain coming on.
Edgware sealed the victory on 72 minutes, when prolific skipper RICHARD MORTON picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box, to rifle home for 3-0. Morton nearly repeated the feat on 77 minutes, when another effort skimmed the crossbar. On 83 minutes, Edgware withdrew striker Adam Wallace, replaced by Paul Killick, then Vince Rispoli gave way to Phil Kane, and Hertford's Brendan Brien made his first team debut in place of Leo Turner, but the game fizzled out with Hertford being unable even to get a consolation goal as they fell to their first defeat at the White Lion Ground in recent years, and once again failed to make progress in an FA competition.
Final score: Edgware Town 3 Hertford Town 0
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