HAREFIELD UNITED 2 HERTFORD TOWN 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 5th December 2009
Scott O'Donoghue's first game in charge since his appointment as manager on a permanent basis ended up with the same result as his first game when he took temporary charge. Again, the Blues were not massively outplayed and played some good passing football on the carpet-like Preston Park pitch. However, they were undone by two first half strikes from the impressive Craig Totton, and despite having a man advantage for much of the second half, could not make the necessary breakthrough. Teams - Harefield United: 1. Charlie Miller, 2. Luke Eldridge, 3. Tom Kirk, 4. Alex Brown (capt), 5. Murray Williamson, 6. Craig Totton, 7. Ray Curtis, 8. Jamie Houliston, 9. Paul Haynes, 10. Danny Buckle, 11. Adam Willis.
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Pablo Ardiles, 3. Tom Neil, 4. Matt McArdle, 5. Joel Maybury (capt), 6. Michael Cooper, 7. Attila Korsoveczki, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Dominic Musafiri, 10. Jason Coughlan, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Chris Spiteri (for Musafiri), Charlie Smith (for McArdle).
The visitors were immediately on the attack at the start of the game and won a free kick deep inside the Harefield half in the opening minute, though the ball was hit behind. An Owen Beale corner, two minutes later, was also cleared. A corner for the home side in the sixth minute was played short to Jamie Houliston but he shot wide. Two minutes later an impressive passing move by the visitors, involving Michael Cooper, Pablo Ardiles, Dominic Musafiri and Owen Beale, saw the ball eventually played to Attila Korsoveczki, but he shot over from the edge of the box. Harefield won another corner on ten minutes. Again the ball was played short and eventually found its way into the Hertford box, though the resulting shot was well-saved by Lee Robinson.
The home side were soon awarded a free kick. Houliston played the ball wide to Craig Totton, who crossed for Paul Haynes, but his headed effort was hit over the bar. A few minutes later, Houliston shot from the edge of the box but his effort was again over. The first yellow card of the game soon followed when Harefield's Tom Kirk was booked for a foul on Korsoveczki. Lee Roberts hit the resulting free kick at the Harefield wall. The breakthrough for the home side came in the 19th minute. A cross from wide on the right found Craig Totton at the back post and he made no mistake in rifling home and giving Harefield the lead. Tom Neil soon received Hertford's first yellow card for an untidy challenge.
Just three minutes after they took the lead, the home side extended their advantage. Ardiles was beaten by the impressive Totton advancing rapidly down the left. The Harefield player then checked and turned inside. He then beat the advancing Robinson with a sublime chip that dropped just inside the far post to put the score at 2-0. A few minutes later, Harefield won another corner, which was again taken short. It eventually fell to Robinson and was cleared upfield. Hertford then forced a corner, though the ball bounced to safety off the bar after Beale had put in a dangerous cross. A Hertford free kick minutes later saw Roberts play the ball straight at home custodian Charlie Miller. Another Beale corner shortly afterwards was headed clear.
Play then switched to the other end and Totton was brought down by Ardiles just outside the Hertford box. Houliston took the resulting free kick and the ball found one of his team-mates, but it was headed back across goal and to safety. Another Harefield corner was played short by Totton to Houliston. The ball was returned but the referee had spotted an infringement during the build-up and awarded the visitors a free kick. As the game approached half time, Hertford were awarded another corner, though Beale's cross was again headed clear, and it was not long before the referee's whistle signalled the break.
Half Time Score: Harefield United 2 Hertford Town 0
The start to the second half was a little more sedate than that to the first. Eight minutes after the break Lee Roberts chipped over from just outside the box. Pablo Ardiles then received the visitors' second yellow card. From the resulting free kick, Craig Totton played the ball to Jamie Houliston but his header cannoned off the bar. Harefield were soon reduced to ten men as Tom Kirk was shown a second yellow card for once again bringing down Attila Korsoveczki. A short while later Hertford won another corner but Beale's cross was again cleared.
Midway through the half, Korsoveczki became the latest player booked. He was soon followed by Jason Coughlan who was adjudged to have fouled Harefield's Ray Curtis. Alex Brown took the resulting free kick but it was easily cleared by the Hertford defence. Another Harefield corner was then again taken short but cleared.
With little more than quarter of an hour remaining the visitors made the first substitution of the afternoon as Chris Spiteri came on for Dominic Musafiri. Within a minute of coming on, Spiteri was in the book for an untidy challenge in the middle of the pitch. The Blues' second change soon followed as Charlie Smith replaced Matt McArdle. A Lee Roberts free kick then caused chaos in the Harefield defence, though the ball was eventually cleared to safety.
A Harefield free kick a couple of minutes later was punched clear by Robinson. However, during the course of the clearance, the Hertford 'keeper collided with team-mate Korsoveczki, and play was held up for a while as both players received treatment. Once play had restarted, Charlie Smith became the latest player booked, this time for throwing the ball away at a Harefield throw-in. A free kick by the home side moments later was taken short before the ball was crossed into the box. However, it was hit too hard and fell harmlessly behind.
A good Hertford move then saw Korsoveczki advance down the right before playing the ball in to Ardiles, though he hit his shot over the bar. As the game went into the final few minutes the home side began applying pressure but without really threatening the Hertford goal. A corner was played short to Ray Curtis but cleared by the Hertford defence. Paul Haynes then tried a shot from distance but this was easily saved by Robinson. There was still time for another booking, this time it was Harefield's Danny Buckle who saw yellow as he and his team-mates tried to keep the ball in the corner deep into stoppage time. The referee did however, eventually blow the final whistle.
Final Score: Harefield United 2 Hertford Town 0