HERTFORD TOWN 4 HAREFIELD UNITED 2
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Tuesday 9th February 2010
Hertford Town put their previous two disappointing away performances well and truly behind them to record a second successive home victory against higher-placed league opposition. Having gone 2-0 up inside ten minutes the Blues were pegged back to 2-2 shortly after half time and the signs were ominous. However, renewed pressure and belief and a long overdue Kevin Cooper brace ensured an impressive victory on a cold February night. Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Matt McArdle, 3. Rob Luya, 4. Pablo Ardiles, 5. Michael Cooper, 6. James Nicholson, 7. Attila Korsoveczki, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Jason Coughlan, 10. Kevin Cooper (capt), 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Charlie Smith (for Coughlan), Dominic Musafiri (for Korsoveszki).
Harefield United: 1. Charlie Miller, 2. Luke Eldridge, 3. Tom Kirk (capt), 4. Jamie Lindsay, 5. Joe Cowan, 6. Murray Williamson, 7. Adam Willis, 8. Craig Totton, 9. Paul Haynes, 10. Kemo Maphela, 11. Jamie Houliston.
Hertford Town manager, Scott O'Donoghue, made a few changes to the team that had disappointed at Leverstock Green at the weekend: James Nicholson made a rare start at centre half whilst Rob Luya dropped to left back because of injuries to Tom Neill and Alan Barker. Lee Roberts reverted to his more familiar left wing role and Jason Coughlan started in an attacking midfield position. The changes seemed to reap an immediate reward as the first significant move of the game saw the Blues take the lead within two minutes. Rob Luya played the ball to Kevin Cooper, who returned it to Luya. He then passed to Lee Roberts, who put in a fine cross that found PABLO ARDILES and he made no mistake in burying the ball at the far post.
The next significant action saw the home side extend their lead in the tenth minute. Attila Korsoveczki crossed the ball to Kevin Cooper, who passed to JASON COUGHLAN and he sent an impressive volley flying into the back of the net. Two minutes later the Blues' continued dominance was rewarded with a free kick, though Owen Beale's cross was hit too deep and went harmlessly out of play. On the quarter hour mark the visitors were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position well inside the Hertford half. CRAIG TOTTON stepped up to take the kick and sent a superb effort over the wall and into the back of the net to record his third goal against Hertford Town this season.
Four minutes later a corner for the home side found the head of Michael Cooper but he hit his effort too close to visiting custodian, Charlie Miller. The visitors were soon on the attack and won themselves a corner, though the ball was headed wide. With the ball at the other end, Kevin Cooper threaded it through to Korsoveczki. His cross was cleared for a corner but nothing came of that. It was not long before Harefield's Paul Haynes received the first booking of the night for a foul on Ardiles.
There was a slightly controversial moment just before the half hour mark when Matt McArdle brought down a Harefield player just outside the Hertford box. The visiting contingent argued that their player had been clear on goal and that McArdle deserved a red card. The referee however, saw things a little differently and just produced a yellow. Haynes took the resulting free kick but hit his effort straight at the Hertford wall.
Play was soon back at the other end and the home side won a corner. The ball found James Nicholson unmarked at the far post but he hit his chance well over the bar. Play was then held up for a short while following an injury to Coughlan.
As the game went into the final minute of normal time at the end of the half, Korsoveczki had a shot well-saved by Miller. Two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the half, the visitors were awarded a free kick, though Haynes hit his effort straight into the arms of Hertford stopper, Lee Robinson and the referee soon blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 2 Harefield United 1
It was the visitors who showed first at the beginning of the second half and they were awarded a free kick less than two minutes after the break. Totton took the kick but the ball eventually found its way into the arms of Robinson. Four minutes later a good move by the home side saw the ball fall to Kevin Cooper, though his effort was well-saved. Disaster then struck for the Blues as a communication breakdown in their defence saw the ball fall to KEMO MELPHELA following a rapid Harefield break. He made no mistake in slotting the ball past Robinson to level the scores. It was not long before Michael Cooper received the Blues' second booking of the evening.
The home side still believed they could retake the lead and continued to push. They soon forced a free kick, though Roberts' cross was eventually cleared. On the hour mark they forced a corner but Beale's cross came to nothing. Five minutes later the visitors won a free kick but this came to nothing. Then a good move by the home side saw Korsoveczki head just over the bar.
With less than quarter of an hour remaining, Harefield won a corner but the ball was hit far too long. An immediate Hertford counter-attack saw Miller save from the head of KEVIN COOPER. The resulting corner also found Cooper and this time his header beat Miller and he restored the home side's lead.
Harefield skipper, Tom Kirk, then received his side's second booking of the game for an untidy challenge on Owen Beale. The resulting free kick, taken by Lee Roberts, was eventually cleared. A Beale effort from wide on the right was then hit just over the bar.
With two minutes of normal time remaining the Blues were again on the attack and a Roberts cross found KEVIN COOPER. He again made no mistake and buried the ball past Miller to extend the home side's lead back to two goals. Soon after, Kirk was guilty of another poor challenge, shown a second yellow card, and for the second time this season sent off against Hertford Town.
With the game now into stoppage time the home side decided to use up some more vital seconds with a couple of substitutions. Firstly Charlie Smith came on for Jason Coughlan, which was soon followed by Dominic Musafiri replacing Korsoveczki. There was still time for a Harefield corner but the ball was cleared and the referee soon blew the final whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 4 Harefield United 2