|
KINGSBURY LONDON TIGERS 0 HERTFORD TOWN 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Tuesday 28th October 2008
Some of the travelling supporters were just happy to see this game go ahead, having endured some shocking weather conditions on the way to the game. Little did they know they would be even worse on the way back home. On the pitch, Chris Spiteri reverted to a defensive role to cover for the sick Ryan Gordon, and Attila Korsoveczki came back in up front. Otherwise the team was very similar to that which had impressed against Aylesbury Vale on Saturday.
Teams - Kingsbury London Tigers: 1. Siki Kambila, 2. Franklyn Morris, 3. Benjamin Kargbo, 4. Tarik Ellekhlifi (capt), 5. Joel Pardal, 6. Abdul Quiyum, 7. Edson Cata, 8. Farhad Anvari, 9. Henry Emenike, 10. Marco Tagbajumi, 11. Renars Zarchenko. Subs Used: Diamontino So Jalo (for Kargbo), Elton Almieda (for Anvari), Mario Douglas-Watson (for Zarchenko).
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Chris Spiteri, 3. Duncan Hamilton, 4. Joel Maybury (capt), 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Pablo Ardiles, 7. Jamie Abbott, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Dave Hunt, 11. Simon Eden. Sub Used: Andy Chapman (for Korsoveczki).
The home team showed that they meant business right from the start, launching an attack immediately from the kick off. This threat was dealt with by the Hertford defence but within a minute the ball was back in the Blues' box and the Tigers won a corner, though nothing came from the ensuing kick. In the seventh minute there was a controversial incident. Hertford won a corner, which Owen Beale played into the hosts' box. After a scramble the ball seemed to cross the line with 'keeper Kambila carrying it back into play. The referee appeared to have given a goal but his assistant signalled that the ball had not crossed the line, much to the consternation of the visiting supporters behind the goal. The Tigers immediately launched a counter-attack from the goal kick, and the ball was soon in the back of the net at the other end, but this time the other referee's assistant had signalled for an offside decision, so this goal was also ruled out.
There then followed quite a long period of very rapid play by both teams. The Tigers won a number of corners, but the Blues were able to deal with the threat on each occasion. The smooth, zippy surface was suiting both teams' desire to play a skilful passing game along the deck.
On 28 minutes Chris Spiteri fouled an advancing Kingsbury player and conceded a free kick. He was given a talking-to by the referee but no card was shown. The home team were not able to take advantage of the resulting kick. A minute later, however, the first yellow card of the match was brandished - Dave Hunt found his name in the book for disputing a somewhat controversial offside decision. Just after the half hour mark Pablo Ardiles was fouled just inside the Hertford half, in the first of what would be a number of poor challenges on the Blues' player-manager. Soon after, good work by the visiting team saw the ball threaded through to Attila Korsoveczki, but he put his shot wide. Then Ardiles was fouled again. He appeared to be elbowed in the eye by a Kingsbury player, but it was the Hertford boss who was booked for dissent, though he was awarded the free kick.
On 36 minutes a rather rash tackle by a Kingsbury player led to a melee involving most of the players on the pitch. After the referee had defused the situation he had words with Hertford's Owen Beale and Kingsbury's Abdul Quiyum, and booked both players. From the following free kick, the ball was floated into the Kingsbury box, where it found the head of Glenn Draper, but his effort was just wide. On 43 minutes the visitors won a corner, which was beautifully floated in by Owen Beale, but Dave Hunt's header was again wide of the mark. A minute later the dangerous Henry Emenike broke through at the other end. Fortunately for the visitors his powerful shot was well saved by Blues custodian Lee Robinson. On the stroke of half time good build-up work by Hertford's Simon Eden, Attila Korsoveczki and Dave Hunt eventually saw the ball fall to Korsoveczki, but his shot was wide. Soon after the referee blew the whistle for the break, much to the relief of the wet and shivering supporters.
Half Time Score: Kingsbury London Tigers 0 Hertford Town 0
The second half began at the same frantic pace that had been evident throughout much of the first. The visitors appeared to be the most threatening during this period and just four minutes after the break, Attila Korsoveczki tried a long-distance shot, but his effort curled just over the bar. Three minutes later Simon Eden had a half chance but was unable to convert his effort. Hertford then won a corner, which although coming to nothing was followed by good work, which soon led to another. Unfortunately for the visitors, this chance too was snuffed out. In the 56th minute the home team made the first substitution of the game, bringing on Diamontino So Jalo for Benjamin Kargbo, in a straight defensive swap. Soon after, Kingsbury's Marco Tagbajumi became the latest player to incur the wrath of the referee and found his name in the official's book.
Just before the hour mark a Tigers' break saw Henry Emenike advancing rapidly down the right, but he should have done better than harmlessly hook his shot across the face of Robinson's goal. Hertford were soon on the attack though, and good work by Simon Eden saw the diminutive striker's looping shot just clear the bar. The visitors continued to pressurise their hosts and soon won a free kick in a dangerous position. The ball was floated in but Joel Maybury's effort was just wide. Play then switched to the other end and Kingsbury won two corners in quick succession, though none of them came to anything.
On 66 minutes Simon Eden fouled Henry Emenike and the card-happy referee added the Hertford player's name to his list of cautions. The Tigers also made their second substitution, bringing on Elton Almieda for Farhad Anvari. The visitors were then awarded a free kick following a clumsy challenge by Franklyn Morris, which saw the Kingsbury number two also go into the book. Jamie Abbott's kick was on target but well saved by Kambila. Following a moment of panic in the Tigers' defence, the ball was eventually cleared to safety. Five minutes later, good work on the right by Korsoveczki saw him cross the ball to Owen Beale, but the midfielder's shot was hit over the bar. With a quarter of an hour to go the home team made their third and final substitution, bringing on Mario Douglas-Watson for the tiring Renars Zarchenko. Five minutes later, good work by Hertford down the centre saw the ball come to Simon Eden but his shot was just wide. The Tigers soon had a free kick in a threatening position. Abdul Quiyum's kick was well-taken, but none of his colleagues was able to convert.
With seven minutes to go, Hertford Town made their first and only substitution. In a straight swap up front, Andy Chapman came on for Attila Korsoveczki, who left the field to an ovation from the visiting supporters. Two minutes later, following a brief spell of Kingsbury pressure, Marco Tagbajumi made a very rash challenge on Pablo Ardiles, which resulted in the Hertford player-manager needing some attention on the pitch. For his aberration, the Kingsbury number ten was shown a second yellow card and skulked off the pitch. On the stroke of full time, Dave Hunt attempted one final long shot. His shot was well hit and initially spilled by Kambila, but the home 'keeper managed to smother the ball before any Blues players could follow up. Once the custodian had released the ball, the referee blew the full time whistle, and the visiting supporters began to make their way towards the icy wastes of the A1 and home.
Full Time Score: Kingsbury London Tigers 0 Hertford Town 0
|
