Saturday 22 August 2009
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Hertford Town v Kentish Town
Hertford : 1 Lee Robinson (c),2 Michael Cooper,3 Harry Atkins, 4 Pablo Ardiles, 5 Lawrence Revell, 6 Matt McArdle, 7 Scott O'Donoghue, 8 Owen Beale, 9 Attila Korsoveczki, 10 Adam Furness, 11 Lee Roberts. Subs: 12 Dave Anyeti (for O'Donoghue,62), 14 Chris Spiteri, 15 Glen Maybury, 16 Andy Chapman (for Korsoveczki, 83), 17 Martin Paine.
Kentish Town: 1 Damien McCarty, 2 Jamie Prouten, 3 Ossie Barkat, 4 Aaron Clarke, 5 Charlie Kanaris (c), 6 Joe O'Conner, 7 Thomas Looney, 8 Fabian Simms, 9 James Lindsay, 10 Luke Kavanagh, 11 Jason Donlon. Subs: 12 Daniel Glaude, 14 Carl Gibbs (for Looney,40), 15 Richard Johnson (for Clarke, 45), 16 Daniel Marsh (for McCarty, 20), 17 Luke Morgan.
Hertford welcomed Kentish Town to Hertingfordbury Park on a blisteringly hot day, hoping to record a first league win after what has been a disappointing start for the Blues'. Kentish Town have had an inconsistent start to the campaign themselves and began their season by getting battered 8-0 by Tring Athletic. However, they have improved since and Hertford would have to be on their game to take the three points on a baking hot summer's day.
The game started with Hertford having the better of the play and the Blues were first to have a meaningful attack when O'Donoghue looped a ball over the defensive line for Roberts to run on to. The ball struck the keeper and bounced over him, unfortunately for the Blues support, Roberts subsequent shot cleared the crossbar.
Hertford again came close on the ten minute mark when a scramble in the Kentish Town box allowed Hungarian striker Attila Korsoveczki to fire in a shot which was charged down by two defenders and cleared. Moments later and Atti was again unlucky after some great football from the Blues' resulted in him receiving the ball on the edge of the box. With a drop of his shoulder he beat his man and shot low only to watch on as the keeper saved with his legs.
After 18 minutes, a big kick upfront saw Looney collect the ball for Kentish Town and play it through to JAMES LINDSAY who beat the onrushing Hertford keeper and put the ball in the net. It is a slap to Hertford faces as they had started so well and did not deserve to be behind. However, the Blue defence still looks shaky and desperately needs the return of Draper and Maybury which will shore up the back line and hopefully raise the confidence of the rest of the team.
Perhaps feeling a little frustrated, Korsoveczki was booked minutes later when he handled the ball, flicking it out of the keeper's hands as he reached to claim a cross. As the Kentish Town keeper, Damien McCarthy landed; he seemed to injure his knee and was in obvious pain as the physio 'treated' him by squirting a bottle of water on the affected area. Surprisingly, this seemed to have no effect and the injured keeper had to be carried from the pitch on a stretcher, to be replaced by Daniel Marsh.
Marsh was soon called into action as O'Donoghue and Korsoveczki linked up well, playing a one-two with Atti returning the ball with a back heel, allowing O'Donoghue to find Roberts with a pass. Roberts hit a good, low shot which was saved by the substitute keeper's legs. Kentish Town then gave Hertford a scare when Looney struck a fierce shot from outside the box that was unlucky to go just wide of the Blue goal. This was to be his last contribution for Kentish Town as injury forced him to leave the pitch and be replaced by Carl Gibbs.
Atkins was then booked for Hertford after a late challenge on the halfway line. Lindsay, who was having a great game for Kentish Town beat McArdle to leave himself with only the keeper to beat. His shot was well saved by Robinson and it ensured that when the halftime whistle sounded moments later, Hertford were still only one goal down.
Kentish Town made their final substitute at the break, bringing on Johnson to replace Clarke. Kentish Town started the half the better of the two sides and began to put the Blues' under pressure. Lindsay was again in the thick of it and after being played in by Gibbs, again saw his shot saved by the brilliant Robinson in Hertford's goal.
After 55 minutes, ADAM FURNESS almost had his shirt pulled of his back in the Kentish Town box, and Hertford were rewarded with a penalty. Furness took the kick and shot the ball powerfully into the right hand corner of the net to draw Hertford level. The Blues' were unlucky not to take the lead moments later when player-boss Ardiles played a great first-time ball into Furness, who hit a good shot which was matched by an equally good save to deny Hertford the lead.
On 62 minutes Hertford decided to change things with Anyeti replacing O'Donoghue. A minute later and Atkins played the ball into the Kentish Town box. Atti jumped and headed the ball to Owen Beale, who in turn fed the ball to ADAM FURNESS, who shot from outside the box into the bottom left hand corner of the goal to give Hertford the lead.
Kentish Town were next on the attack as Lindsay once again walked through the Blues defence as if it were not there. Luckily, once more Robinson was up to the task and saved Lindsay's shot before the onrushing defence scrambled it clear. On 73 minutes and JAMES LINDSAY's persistence was rewarded. He burst into the box from the left wing and hit a shot into the far side of the net. Hertford were unlucky not to immediately regain the lead when Roberts hit a great shot on the half volley which went just over the bar. After 78 minutes and Hertford came even closer; Roberts put the ball across the box for Korsoveczki who hit a great shot only to be foiled by a brilliant save.
Korsoveczki was replaced five minutes later by Andy Chapman who was soon in action, heading wide after a cross from Cooper. Although under pressure from the two Kentish Town centre backs, he would have been disappointed not to score. Moments later and Ardiles broke into the box on the by-line and played the ball back to Furness who was lurking on the penalty spot. He swung his boot at the ball but only kicked air as the ball ran past him. Roberts was on hand to collect the ball but miss-hit it and saw it wide. This was the last attack of the game and the final whistle brought the end of the match and Hertford's first point of the season.
