KENTISH TOWN 0 HERTFORD TOWN 2
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Monday 9th March 2009
(Played at Hertingfordbury Park)
Due to uncertainties about Kentish Town's Copthall Stadium pitch, their 'home' fixture against Hertford Town was switched to Hertingfordbury Park, which had recovered remarkably well from the previous day's heavy rain. The Blues (playing in red!) having been gifted home advantage put in another mostly below par performance, though with a better result than Saturday's reverse at Cockfosters.
Teams - Kentish Town: 1. Lee White, 2. Jamie Prouten, 3. Ossie Barkat, 4. Charlie Kanaris (capt), 5. Rakatahr Hudson, 6. Paul Butler, 7. Luke Kavanagh, 8. Roy Byron, 9. Javier Rodriguez Hernandez, 10. Srdan Jovanovic, 11. Larry Miller. Subs Used : Richard Johnson (for Barkat), Carl Gibbs (for Rodriguez Hernandez).
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Ryan Gordon, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Matt McArdle, 7. Owen Beale, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. Daryl Mitchell, 10. Michael Cooper, 11. Rob Luya. Sub Used: Alex Scriven (for Gordon).
The first chance of the game fell to Kentish Town's Luke Kavanagh, who tried a speculative shot in the third minute, but his effort was wide. The ball was soon up the other end where Michael Cooper crossed to Daryl Mitchell but his header was also wide of the target. A positive move for Hertford Town then saw Pablo Ardiles play in Mitchell, who passed to Owen Beale, but his effort was over the bar. In the tenth minute Hertford won a free kick wide on the left, but Beale's cross was overhit and went harmlessly behind. Ten minutes later Hertford won a corner, which Rob Luya sent dangerously into the box. After a scramble the ball was cleared and Kentish Town immediately mounted a counter-attack, though this came to nothing. A few minutes later Kentish were again on the attack and won a corner. Larry Miller crossed the ball to Rak Hudson but his shot was wide.
As the game approached the half hour mark a through ball was well played to Rob Luya, who beat the Kentish Town offside trap and advanced rapidly using his impressive pace. However his final shot was hit disappointingly wide. A few minutes later Matt McArdle caught a Kentish Town player with a clumsy challenge and received the first yellow card of the evening. From the resulting free kick Paul Butler tried a speculative long-distance shot but his effort was wide. At the other end Daryl Mitchell also tried a long-distance effort but his shot was just wide of Lee White's left post. Hertford soon won a corner, which was taken short and then easily cleared.
As the half went into the final few minutes, Kentish Town were forced to make the first change of the evening: Ossie Barkat, who had already left the field of play injured was replaced by Richard Johnson. Kentish soon won a free kick well inside the Hertford half but Paul Butler's effort was hit straight at Lee Robinson. The play then switched to the other end and Hertford won a free kick. Mitchell's cross found Joel Maybury, but the Hertford defender's header was hit over the bar. After a couple of minutes of injury time the referee blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Kentish Town 0 Hertford Town 0
Ryan Gordon did not come out for the second half, having felt the recurrence of an earlier injury. Michael Cooper dropped to right back and Alex Scriven came on up front. The first chance of the half fell to Hertford Town when Rob Luya went on a good run and forced a corner, though this was wastefully hit behind. A second Hertford corner was soon awarded but Daryl Mitchell's cross was comfortably cleared. Hertford captain Glenn Draper soon became the second player to see yellow after complaining a little too much about a refereeing decision. Hertford then won a free kick, though Owen Beale's effort fell easily into the arms of Lee White. Kentish Town's captain, Charlie Kanaris soon became the third player booked, for a tackle from behind on Alex Scriven. A short while later a Michael Cooper throw in found Owen Beale, who flicked the ball on to Dave Hunt, though the midfielder's shot was wide. Six minutes later Hertford won a corner, which Owen Beale played short and the opportunity soon fizzled out.
The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute. Daryl Mitchell played in a raking through ball, which ALEX SCRIVEN , using his pace, was first to reach. He controlled the ball well, composed himself and then drilled an excellent shot past White and into the back of the net to give Hertford Town a 1-0 lead. Kentish Town soon made their second substitution of the evening, bringing on Carl Gibbs for Javier Rodriguez Hernandez.
As the game approached the final fifteen minutes of normal time Kentish Town won a corner but this came to nothing and Hertford were quickly on the break. Beale passed to Luya, who then forced a corner, though this came to nothing. Hertford's lead was soon doubled however. A good move saw Rob Luya take a shot that rebounded of Lee White. The ball fell to DAVE HUNT, who made no mistake in sending it back past the Kentish custodian and into the back of the net.
As the game approached the final few minutes the referee's attention was attracted by his assistant on the stand side of the pitch. After a brief chat, Luke Kavanagh became the latest player to see yellow, apparently for something he had said within earshot of the assistant. The referee then played a fair amount of injury time. In the 4th minute of extra time Kentish Town were awarded a corner. The cross found one of their players, but his effort was over. The final whistle was then soon blown.
Final Score: Kentish Town 0 Hertford Town 2