HERTFORD TOWN 2 HARINGEY BOROUGH 0 (AET)
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Challenge Trophy First Round
Tuesday 13th October 2009
For the first time since September 12th, Hertford Town scored more than one goal in a match, though it took the addition of extra time in order to do so. Both sides were pretty evenly matched during the first half with neither goal being particularly under threat. As the second half went on the visitors visibly began to tire, and the hosts won the match with a dominant performance in extra time. Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Ryan Gordon, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Joel Maybury, 7. Ryan Redford, 8. Matt McArdle, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Daryl Mitchell (for McArdle), Dominic Musafiri (for Redford), Alan Barker (for Roberts).
Haringey Borough: 1. Yannick Nlate, 2. Andrew Julius, 3. Billy Haspineall, 4. Ioan Vranceanu, 5. Bosun Adebaki (capt), 6. Gabriel Nana-Owusu, 7. Andreas Loizou, 8. David Boal, 9. Tolu Popoola, 10. Lloyd Opara, 11. Tansel Tezel. Subs Used: Edward Owusu-Ansah (for Loizou), Albert Adudonyinah (for Popoola), Solomon Ofori (for Nana-Owusu).
The game got off to a pretty slow start, with neither side creating any chances, then in the eighth minute the first threat came from the visitors when good work from Tolu Popoola and David Boal saw them advance into the Hertford box, though Lee Robinson easily held the final shot. The home side immediately launched a counter-attack but Robinson's opposite number, Yannick Nlate had the threat covered and the chance was gone. Three minutes later the ball was back at the other end and Haringey were awarded a corner, though Billy Haspineall's cross was hit behind by one of his own players.
Midway through the half Lloyd Opara had a shot from distance for the visitors but he hit his effort over the bar. Haringey soon won another corner but Haspineall's cross was easily gathered by Robinson. The home side then had a chance when Kevin Cooper played a well-weighted diagonal ball to Ryan Redford, though his shot was saved. On the half hour mark Hertford won a corner; a deep cross found the head of Redford but he struck straight at Nlate. With the ball at the other end Haringey were awarded a free kick. Haspineall's cross was poorly struck but Robinson was wrong-footed and tipped the ball behind for a corner to the visitors, though this came to nothing. The Blues soon won a corner of their own, though Lee Roberts' cross was hit harmlessly behind for a goal kick to the visitors. A minute later the Blues were again on the attack and Kevin Cooper played an excellent through ball to Redford, however, with only Nlate to beat he somehow hit his shot wide. As the game approached half time, Haringey won a corner, though Haspineall's cross was eventually cleared. A few minutes of uneventful play followed until the referee blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 0 Haringey Borough 0
The visitors made a change during the interval and Edward Owusu-Ansah came on for the second half in place of Andreas Loizou. Three minutes after the break Hertford won a corner. Roberts' cross found the head of Attila Korsoveczki, but he directed his effort just wide. A few minutes later the visitors mounted a dangerous attack. They initially won a free kick, though this was easily cleared but a follow-up shot from distance was tipped over by Lee Robinson. The Hertford custodian was able to easily gather the ball from the ensuing corner.
On the hour mark Korsoveczki embarked on a solo run and managed to get in a shot but his effort was just high and wide. The visitors then won a corner, though this was cleared. The Blues then had a chance when Kevin Cooper played in Korsoveczki, but he hit his effort over the bar. A Hertford corner soon followed but Redford hit his cross too close to Nlate, who easily gathered. With fifteen minutes of normal time remaining Pablo Ardiles played in Korsoveczki, but he again hit his effort too high. Another good move by the home side then saw Michael Cooper cross to Kevin Cooper. He spun and shot, but his effort was just wide. Redford then played in Matt McArdle but he also shot just wide.
With full time and the possibility of extra time approaching, both sides then made changes. Hertford sent on Daryl Mitchell for McArdle, whilst the visitors replaced Tolu Popoola with Albert Adudonyinah. A few minutes later, Haringey's Gabriel Nana-Owusu became the first player of the evening to be booked for a foul on Korsoveczki. On the stroke of ninety minutes, good interplay between Kevin and Michael Cooper saw the ball eventually find its way to Lee Roberts, who took a shot from a narrow angle, but was only able to find the side netting. With the whistle imminent, the visitors made their final change, bringing on Solomon Ofori for Nana-Owusu. The whistle then went, sending the game into thirty minutes of extra time.
Score at Ninety Minutes: Hertford Town 0 Haringey Borough 0
Ryan Redford had picked up a knock during the latter stages of the second half and did not re-appear for extra time. Instead he was replaced by DOMINIC MUSAFIRI, who immediately threw himself into the thick of the action. Minutes after coming on, Musafiri found himself with a scoring chance in the Haringey box. His initial shot was superbly saved by Nlate but the rebound came back to the Blues' substitute. He made no mistake with his second effort, scoring his first senior goal for the club and giving Hertford a 1-0 lead. The Blues' dominance continued and they soon won a corner, though the ball was eventually cleared. A Lee Roberts effort was then just wide and Ardiles soon put a shot across goal. Korsoveczki then had a shot well saved, though the following corner was struck straight into the grateful arms of Nlate. The second booking of the game then came as Glenn Draper brought down Albert Adudonyinah just outside the Hertford box. The resulting free kick was poorly taken and the ball fell into the arms of Robinson. Two minutes later the referee blew for the end of the first period of extra time.
Score at Half Time in Extra Time: Hertford Town 1 Haringey Borough 0
The Blues continued their dominance into the final quarter of an hour, though made a tactical substitution three minutes after the break, replacing Lee Roberts with an extra defender; Alan Barker. Two minutes later an excellent Hertford move saw Daryl Mitchell pass to Ardiles, who crossed to KEVIN COOPER inside the Haringey box. He made no mistake in front of goal and fired past Nlate to give the Blues a two goal cushion. It was also his third goal in as many games since returning to the club. Hertford continued to rule the roost and Korsoveczki was unlucky to see his shot cannon off the post following a good pass from Ardiles. Musafiri then shot over the bar. A rare attack from the visitors then saw them win a corner but the cross was headed clear by Draper. Another Haringey corner came in the final minute, but the ball fell harmlessly behind and the referee soon blew the final whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 2 Haringey Borough 0 (aet)