HAREFIELD UNITED 1 HERTFORD TOWN 2
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 17th January 2009
Both teams went into this game on a tide of optimism; the hosts were eleven points clear at the top of the Premier Division and the visitors had won their previous three league games on the bounce, having scored nine and conceded just a solitary goal. Something had to give and fortunately for the visitors and a number of teams near the top of the league table, it did.
Teams - Harefield United: 1. Charlie Miller, 2. Alex Brown (capt), 3. Tom Kirk, 4. Luke Eldridge, 5. Murray Williamson, 6. Joe Kelly, 7. Jamie Houliston, 8. Paul Haynes, 9. Danny Buckle, 10. Chris Drake, 11. Warren Gladdy. Subs Used: Luke Willis (for Buckle), Denver Morris (for Houliston).
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Jamie Abbott, 3. Duncan Hamilton, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Pablo Ardiles, 7. Owen Beale, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Matt McArdle, 11. Michael Cooper. Subs Used: Alex Scriven (for Cooper), Ryan Gordon (for Ardiles), Andy Chapman (for Korsoveczki).
Prior to the match the home team were presented with an award by Molten, the league sponsors, and as in so many cases before, this appeared to put added pressure on their players to perform. Within three minutes of the start of the game however, they had taken the upper hand and won a corner, though this was hit long and out to safety. A minute later the visitors had their first chance. Attila Korsoveczki passed to Owen Beale, who threaded a pass through to Dave Hunt. His shot was on target but saved by home custodian Miller. In the eighth minute the home side won another corner but this came to nothing. A minute later the visitors won a free kick in a dangerous position. Duncan Hamilton played the ball to Jamie Abbott, who crossed into the Harefield box, but the ball was cleared behind by Miller at the expense of a corner. Owen Beale took the resulting kick but the ball was punched clear by Miller. Abbott tried a follow-up shot but his effort was wide of the target.
After twelve minutes, and following some dangerous play by the visitors, the ball found its way into the Harefield box. After a somewhat panicked scramble the home defence were able to clear the ball to safety, when it seemed the visitors might score. There then followed a period of near stalemate with play concentrated in the middle third of the pitch and either side unable to make an attempt on goal.
On twenty minutes Michael Cooper did well to dispossess a Harefield defender just outside his own box, but the Hertford winger's shot was just wide. A minute later Harefield's skipper, Alex Brown brought down Korsoveczki and the visitors were awarded a free kick. Duncan Hamilton played the ball to Beale but his cross was over-hit and the ball sailed safely behind. The visitors then had two chances in quick succession but on each occasion Jamie Abbott over-hit his cross to safety. With 26 minutes gone the visitors were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the Harefield box. Hamilton stepped up to take the kick but in common with other recent attempts, his effort was high and wide of the target.
Six minutes later Hertford won a corner and again Hamilton took the kick but this again came to nothing. Harefield then mounted a rapid counter-attack and found themselves in a good position but their effort on goal was headed wide. Shortly afterwards they won a corner, but this also came to nothing. The ball was soon up the other end and Hertford won another free kick on the edge of the Harefield box. Hamilton again took the kick but his effort was cleared.
With five minutes of the half remaining Dave Hunt showed great control and was able to back-heel the ball to the Blues' player-manager, Pablo Ardiles but his shot was wide. Within a minute the ball was back down the other end and the hosts were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Hertford box. Joe Kelly stepped up and took a powerful shot but his effort was hit straight at Lee Robinson. Two minutes later the home side were again in an attacking position and the ball was played in to the unmarked Kelly, but he put his effort wide. In the dying seconds of the half the home side won another free kick, which was taken by Warren Gladdy, though his effort came to nothing and the referee soon blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Harefield United 0 Hertford Town 0
The second half began in the same manner that had dominated much of the first; both teams playing good football but each unable to penetrate the opposition defence. Seven minutes into the half during a foray into the Hertford half by the Hares, Jamie Abbott appeared to upend a Harefield player in the Hertford box and there were loud calls for a penalty from the Harefield players, bench and supporters. The referee, however, saw things differently and waved play on, the ball eventually being harmlessly kicked out for a throw in. A minute later the visitors were attacking and were awarded a free kick on the edge of their hosts' box. Hamilton played a good ball into the box but it was cleared by the home defence. The home side had another good chance on 55 minutes, but their effort was headed against the Hertford bar. A minute later the visitors won a corner but Hamilton's kick cleared everyone and went safely behind for a goal kick. Two minutes later the visitors were awarded a free kick and Harefield's Murray Williamson became the first (and only) player of the afternoon to be booked - for not retreating when the kick was about to be taken. Five minutes later the home side made the first substitution of the game, replacing the normally dangerous Danny Buckle with Luke Willis.
The breakthrough came in the 64th minute. Hertford were awarded a free kick, which they took quickly. The ball came to Korsoveczki, who played in OWEN BEALE. He calmly controlled the ball and placed it well to the right of Miller and into the back of the Harefield net. The visitors' lead lasted little more than a minute, however. From the restart the hosts went on the attack and won themselves a corner. The ball was played in and found Tom Kirk, who blasted a powerful header into the back of the Hertford net. Seven minutes later the visitors made their first substitution of the afternoon, bringing on Alex Scriven for Michael Cooper.
As the game entered the final twenty minutes, good interplay between Dave Hunt and Owen Beale saw the latter take a shot, but it was well saved by Miller. The hosts immediately mounted a counter-attack and the ball was soon down the other end. They had a shooting chance but the ball was hit wide.
The defining moment of the match came in the 72nd minute. Attila Korsoveczki controlled the ball well and after shrugging off the attentions of a couple of Harefield defenders, played in DAVE HUNT. He took a powerful shot that bounced off the underside of 'keeper Miller and into the back of the net. The hosts immediately upped their game in search of a second equaliser. Straight from the restart the ball was down the other end and a good Harefield effort was well saved by Lee Robinson. Harefield then made their second substitution of the game, bringing on Denver Morris for Jamie Houliston. They then won a corner but it came to nothing. Immediately their visitors went on the counter-attack. The ball was played wide to Alex Scriven on the right. He advanced quickly and turned inside well, but his shot was just wide of the mark. Korsoveczki then had a shot well saved by Miller.
With a few minutes left to play the visitors made their second substitution. Ryan Gordon, returning from injury, replaced player-manager Pablo Ardiles. Hertford then won a corner, which was taken by Owen Beale, but came to nothing. As the game approached full time the home side continued to threaten as they searched for that elusive equalising goal and then the referee seemed to play an inordinate amount of injury time. Well into that injury time the visitors made their third and final change, bringing on Andy Chapman for Korsoveczki, who had received one knock too many from the physical Harefield defence. Even further into injury time Hertford had the chance to increase their lead. Alex Scriven advanced rapidly down the right and brought the ball inside. He could probably have had an effort on goal himself but played the ball to Chapman. The big substitute seemingly only had to tap the ball into the empty net for Hertford's third, but scuffed his shot and the ball fell safely to the grateful Miller. The hosts had chance for one more attack before the referee blew the final whistle that signalled the end of Harefield's unbeaten league home run for the season.
Final Score: Harefield United 1 Hertford Town 2