HERTFORD TOWN 1 KINGSBURY LONDON TIGERS 1
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 18th April 2009

Hertford Town are rapidly becoming the league's draw specialists, as for the fourth Saturday in a row they shared the spoils with their opponents. Once again they were the better side in the first half and led at the interval, only for a poor imitation to take to the field for the second period. The visitors were by far the better side in the second half and scored a well-deserved equaliser, indeed the Blues were fortunate not to concede more. Anyway, this was the last league fixture at Hertingfordbury Park for the 2008/09 season. Just Hanwell left in the league and the small matter of a cup semi-final to come, so time now to look forward with optimism to 2009/10.

Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Ryan Gordon, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Jamie Abbott, 7. Dave Hunt, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Daryl Mitchell, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Alex Scriven (for Abbott), Pablo Ardiles (for Beale).

Kingsbury London Tigers: 1. Adam Atour, 2. Diamontino So Jalo, 3. Franklyn Morris, 4. Franclin Manuel, 5. Tarik Ellekhlifi (capt), 6. Adil Salih, 7. Isaac Mopi, 8. Edson Cata, 9. Marco Tagbajumi, 10. Hardy Pinto Moreira, 11. Henry Emenike. Subs Used: Wadah Ahmidi (Moreira), Yousef Elterefi (for Tagbajumi).

The home side made the early running and within two minutes of the start, Attila Korsoveczki had the first shot of the game, though his effort was wide. The next action of any consequence came in the tenth minute and led to the first goal. Hertford Town won a throw-in on the left and the ball was delivered to Korsoveczki. He then went on a solo run and slotted a well-placed shot past Adam Atour in the Tigers' goal and into the net. The Blues then defended their league well and it was not until the 18th minute that Kingsbury had a shot on goal, though Edson Cata's effort was wide. Two minutes later Hertford won a free kick, which was quickly taken by Daryl Mitchell, though fell straight into the arms of Atour. He immediately launched the ball upfield for a Tigers counter-attack. The ball fell to Marco Tagbajumi but he shot high and wide. The Blues soon responded and Lee Roberts was put through with a good chance, but his first touch was poor and he ultimately hit the ball harmlessly wide.
There then followed a short period of dominance by the visitors and they won a corner. The incoming ball was punched clear by Lee Robinson and cleared further upfield by Jamie Abbott. The Tigers then won a further two consecutive corners, though after the second of these the ball was hit harmlessly behind. A good Hertford chance soon followed, but Mitchell eventually shot wide.
The final few minutes were again dominated by the visitors. They won a free kick though this was wasted as the ball was hit straight at the Hertford wall. The ball soon fell to Henry Emenike but he dragged his shot wide. Kingsbury then won a free kick that was taken by Adil Salih. His effort was well-struck but punched clear by Robinson. After a few minutes of play when neither side threatened, the referee blew the half time whistle.

Half Time Score: Hertford town 1 Kingsbury London Tigers 0

The Tigers were out of their blocks much faster than their hosts at the beginning of the second half and within a minute of the restart Marco Tagbajumi had a shot, though his effort was wide. Seven minutes into the half, Daryl Mitchell hit a long ball for the home side. It caught out Atour in the Tigers' goal but cleared the bar. Hertford soon won a corner, which was taken by Mitchell. The ball came straight back out to him and when he played it in a second time it was cleared upfield and Kingsbury mounted a quick break. They forced a corner but this was easily cleared by the Blues' defence. Henry Emenike then had another shot but his effort was over. The Tigers soon won a free kick, which was taken by Adil Salih, but his effort was headed clear by Hertford skipper, Glenn Draper. Two consecutive corners for the visitors soon followed, though each one was punched clear by Lee Robinson. The home side soon made their first substitution, Jamie Abbott making way for Alex Scriven. Almost immediately another Kingsbury attack saw Hardy Pinto Moreira's shot sail over Robinson's bar. The visitors then made their first substitution, Wadah Ahmidi coming on for Moreira. The inevitable equaliser for the visitors came in the 74th minute. Edson Cata picked up the ball but the Hertford defence all seemed to back off, allowing the Tigers player a free run on goal. With not so much as a challenge he hit a well-placed shot beyond Robinson and into the back of the net. The home side mounted an immediate counter-attack straight from the restart. Michael Cooper played in Alex Scriven, but his shot was over the bar. The Blues then made a second change as player-manager Pablo Ardiles brought himself on in place of Owen Beale. Kingsbury then mounted another attack, though Lee Robinson pulled off a superb save to deny the visitors the lead. A few minutes later the Home side won a free kick at the other end. Daryl Mitchell's initial effort was hit straight at the Tigers' wall and when the ball rebounded back to him, he blasted over the bar.
With five minutes of the game remaining, the visitors made a second change, bringing on Yousef Elterefi for Marco Tagbajumi. They were then awarded a free kick on the edge of the Hertford box, though Adil Salih's effort was hit high and wide. On the stroke of time a surging Dave Hunt run saw him beat two Kingsbury defenders, but having done the hard part, he hit a tame shot straight at Atour. With the game now entering injury time, the referee soon blew the full time whistle.

Final Score: Hertford Town 1 Kingsbury London Tigers 1