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HARINGEY BOROUGH 3 HERTFORD TOWN 2
Molten Spartan South Midlands league - Premier Division -
27th September 2008
The two teams went into this match on the backs of very different recent results. The previous Saturday the Blues had recorded an impressive victory at home to Berkhamsted Town, which was followed up on Tuesday by a battling 1-1 draw with Tring Athletic. Borough on the other hand were playing their first match since an 8-1 mauling at the hands of Harefield United on Tuesday night, and went into the match without a league win all season. The sensible money would probably have been on an away victory. The game that followed, however, was very different to that suggested by the form book.
Teams - Haringey Borough: 1. Dan White, 2. Sam McCarthy, 3. Lloyd Mitchell (capt), 4. Aaron Cox, 5. Kris Kifleyesus, 6. Bosun Adebaki, 7. Karl Lewis, 8. Melvin Thompson, 9. Fabian Brown, 10. Baron Charlery, 11. Murat Karagul. Subs Used: Julian Ramirez-Martinez, Ian Maitland, Lasalle Simon.
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Adam Mayson, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Tom Powell, 6. Kevin Kilroy (capt), 7. Ben L'Honore, 8. Jamie Abbott, 9. David Anyetei, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Jack Bruno (for Mayson), Chris Spiteri (for Anyetei), Andros Zavros (for Abbott).
The Hertford Town line-up was similar to that which started the Tuesday game except that Tom Powell replaced the suspended Glenn Draper in the centre of defence and Jamie Abbott came in for the unavailable Reece Lyons.
From the off it was clear that the home team were a much stronger outfit than the Tuesday result suggested, though an early Hertford attack resulted in the award of a free kick, which found its way to Lee Roberts. However, the tricky winger was unable to make inroads against the Borough defence.
Disaster struck for the Blues as early as the second minute. Good work by Haringey down their right finally saw the ball come to FABIAN BROWN, who made no mistake in firing an angled shot in off the post and into the back of the net. A minute later Hertford were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position. Kevin Kilroy's direct attempt at goal was deflected however, and this took the sting off the shot meaning an easy catch for the home keeper, White.
The following minutes of the match were dominated by Haringey Borough and in the eleventh minute they should have doubled their lead. Good work down the left by the impressive Murat Karagul saw his cross finding Baron Charlery unmarked in the centre of the park, but the striker blasted his shot well over the bar. A rare Hertford attack on thirteen minutes saw Adam Mayson clear down the left wing, but his cross did not match the quality of the build-up and the home custodian comfortably held onto the ball. Another Hertford attack three minutes later saw Kevin Cooper clear but Dan White was equal to the prolific striker's shot and he pushed the ball out for a corner. Unfortunately for the Blues, nothing came of the following set piece.
A second disaster befell Hertford Town a short while later. Joel Maybury was adjudged to have fouled a Haringey player on the edge of the Blues box, and indeed was cautioned for the offence. MURAT KARAGUL placed the ball at the edge of the box and lashed in a curling shot over the Hertford wall into the top right corner of the goal, beyond the diving Lee Robinson. With the score now 2-0 the home side were clearly in the driving seat, with another 25 minutes of the first half still to go. Indeed they continued to dominate the game, making full use of the width of the pitch, and if it had not been for some poor finishing and some desperate Hertford defending, they would surely have extended their lead.
However, somewhat against the run of play, it was the visitors who were next to score. Shortly before half time KEVIN KILROY was fouled on the edge of the Haringey box. The Hertford skipper picked himself and tried to quickly take the free kick himself. The kick (which was comfortably held by the home 'keeper) was too quick for the referee, who asked for it to be re-taken. This time 'Killer' made no mistake and curled the ball over the home wall, into the top right corner of the net, beyond the reach of White. This was effectively the last action of the half, and the Blues could count themselves lucky to be only trailing by one goal at the interval.
Half Time Score: Haringey Borough 2 Hertford Town 1
It was a seemingly different Hertford Town team that took the field at the beginning of the second half, and within a minute they had forced a corner, though Lee Roberts' cross came to nothing. The following minutes saw some scrappy play by both teams in the middle of the park, with the Hertford players being caught out on more than one occasion by the Borough offside trap. On 51 minutes however, Jamie Abbott found himself in a good position on the edge of the Haringey box, but his powerful shot was hit straight into the arms of the grateful home custodian. This was followed by chances for both sides but both defences were able to mop up what was thrown at them.
On 57 minutes Kevin Kilroy appeared to be pushed over in the Haringey box, but despite protestations from the away players and supporters alike, nothing was given and the game continued. Five minutes later, Hertford brought on the diminutive Jack Bruno for defender Adam Mayson, in what appeared to be a tactical ploy to push for the equaliser. It was not long before the push for the equaliser reaped its reward. In the 67th minute Lee Roberts curled in an excellent corner kick that found JOEL MAYBURY, who calmly turned his shot into the far corner of the net, giving Dan White no chance.
With the scores now level it was the visiting side who appeared to be in the ascendency and on 74 minutes Jack Bruno floated in a superb long-distance free kick, which found Lee Roberts, but the hard working winger shot wide. A minute later the tiring David Anyetei made way for the fresh legs of Chris Spiteri in the Hertford attack. Shortly afterwards Kevin Kilroy was again fouled on the edge of the Haringey area, with the culprit, Kris Kifleyesus, this time being cautioned for the offence. Lee Roberts took the resulting free kick, which found Chris Spiteri, but he mis-hit his shot and the opportunity was wasted.
Although Hertford had taken the upper hand early on in the second half, they allowed their hosts to come more and more into the game as the half progressed. Ultimately they were to pay the price for this Haringey renaissance. Ten minutes from time, Borough substitute Lasalle Simon raced into the Hertford box with only visiting 'keeper Lee Robinson to beat. Although Robinson forced the attacking player wide, he just clipped his heels, for which the referee awarded a penalty to the home team. FABIAN BROWN stepped up and took an unconvincing spot kick at the centre of the goal. However it hit the diving goalkeeper and deflected into the roof of the net to give Borough a 3-2 lead.
Hertford again threw players forward in search of an equaliser but in so doing, were leaving themselves vulnerable at the back. With a few minutes to go the hosts should have extended their lead as a rapid counter attack left Lasalle Simon one-on-one with Blues' 'keeper Robinson, but the striker dragged his shot wide. Immediately after this 'let-off' Hertford made their final substitution, bringing on young Andros Zavros for the tiring Jamie Abbott.
In the final few minutes the Blues continued to push for the elusive equaliser, but all attempts were in vain. Effectively the last action of the game was a Kevin Kilroy free kick in a central position but some distance from the Haringey goal. He blasted his shot high and wide and shortly afterwards the referee blew the final whistle. Haringey Borough had achieved their first league win of the season and Hertford Town were left to reflect on what could have been.
Final Score: Haringey Borough 3 Hertford Town 2
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