HERTFORD TOWN 1 KINGSBURY LONDON TIGERS 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 26th September 2009
On a day that was probably far better suited to the more gentle sound of leather on willow, these two sides both put in battling performances in a hard-fought match that could have gone either way. The game had all the ingredients to keep the casual observer entertained; plenty of action, various shenanigans on the pitch, a penalty, a controversial sending off and an unusual half-time substitution. Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Louis O'Neill, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Alan Barker, 4. Daryl Mitchell, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Harry Atkins, 7. John Ward, 8. Danny Ward, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Dominic Musafiri, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Andy Chapman (for Musafiri), Matt McArdle (for John Ward), Ryan Gordon (for Roberts).
Kingsbury London Tigers: 1. Axinte Valentin, 2. Bortas Ionut, 3. Armand Kavaja, 4. Bleder Vata, 5. Franclin Manuel, 6. Christopher Diaz, 7. Abdullahi Hassan, 8. Wadah Ahmidi, 9. Rehia Osagie, 10. Edson Cata (capt), 11. Renars Zarchenko. Subs Used: Paulius Olisauskas (for Kavaja), Paulo Meron (for Valentin), Kye Hendrix (for Ahmidi).
The first meaningful action of the game resulted in a free kick to the home side in the second minute, though Daryl Mitchell's shot was cleared. A minute later another Mitchell free kick was knocked behind by visiting keeper Axinte Valentin for a Hertford corner. Mitchell took the corner kick but the ball was eventually cleared to safety by the Kingsbury defence. Lee Roberts soon had a shot for the home side but his effort was just over Valentin's bar and on ten minutes, a Danny Ward shot from the edge of the visitors' box was just wide. Two minutes later the visitors were awarded a free kick inside the Hertford half, though Bleder Vata's effort was well-cleared by John Ward. On the quarter hour mark Kingsbury's Abdullahi Hassan became the first player of the afternoon to go into the referee's book for a foul. Mitchell hit the resulting free kick just wide of the target.
Daryl Mitchell became the first Hertford Town player to be shown a card when he was booked for a collision with a visiting player; a decision that seemed a little harsh and one that would have implications for later in the game. A Hertford free kick a short while later came to nothing but on the half hour mark, an impressive Mitchell shot from distance was just wide. Two minutes later an Edson Cata shot for the visitors was also just wide. Kingsbury soon won a corner then immediately another. On the second occasion, Bortas Ionut's cross was easily cleared. A few minutes later they again won two successive corners. From the second of these, Vata shot over the bar. With five minutes of the half remaining a Dominic Musafiri shot from the edge of the Kingsbury box was just wide. On the stroke of half time the visitors won a corner though the ball was cleared by the Hertford defence and the referee soon blew the whistle to signal the break.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 0 Kingsbury London Tigers 0
There was a change of personnel at the beginning of the second half; the referee! During the first half the man in the middle, Mr Nemeth, had picked up a leg injury and was unable to continue after the break. As luck would have it, he had been given a lift to the game by his father, also a qualified referee, so one of the first half assistants took over refereeing duties whilst Mr Nemeth senior ran the line for the second half.
The first decent chance of the second half fell to the home side five minutes after the break. A Daryl Mitchell free kick found Dominic Musafiri but his powerful, well-directed header was superbly saved by the impressive Axinte Valentin. The resulting corner was easily cleared by the Kingsbury defence and another corner five minutes later was easily mopped up by Valentin. Just after the half hour mark the home side won two successive corners, the second eventually being cleared upfield. The visitors then made the first player substitution of the game, Paulius Olisauskas coming on for Armand Kavaja.
A Hertford free kick a short while later was hit behind. The resulting corner found Lee Roberts whose shot was tipped over by Valentin. The following corner was cleared by the visiting defence. The ball was soon back in the Kingsbury half and Ryan Redford played in Musafiri, though his shot was disappointingly hit at Valentin. A couple of minutes later, Valentin was hurt in an accidental collision. He couldn't continue and left the pitch to the polite applause of the home supporters. Fortunately for the visitors, they had brought a substitute 'keeper with them and Paulo Meron joined the fray.
It was not long before Kingsbury won a free kick in a dangerous position, though this was easily cleared. Hertford then made a double substitution, Andy Chapman and Matt McArdle coming on for Musafiri and John Ward. A good move by the visitors soon afterwards saw Renars Zarchenko play in Edson Cata, but his shot was just wide. The turning point of the match came a few minutes later when substitute goalkeeper, Meron, failed to control what appeared not to be a particularly dangerous ball into the box. In his panic to try and regain the ball he brought down Ryan Redford for a clear penalty. Meron was booked for the offence, though a stricter referee may have shown a straight red. DARYL MITCHELL stepped up to take the spot kick and rifled the ball past the hapless Meron and into the back of the net to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.
The visitors immediately made their third and final change, Kye Hendrix coming on for Wadah Ahmidi, and Redford soon became the second Hertford player booked. A short while later, the home side too made their third and final substitution; Lee Roberts made way for Ryan Gordon, who returned for his first appearance since being sidelined for a few weeks through injury. With five minutes of normal time remaining the home side were reduced to ten men as Mitchell received his second yellow card and was dismissed. Kingsbury soon won a corner though the threat was easily cleared.
Although at a numerical disadvantage, it was the home side that dominated for the final few minutes of the game. A Ryan Redford effort from distance was wide of the target and on the stroke of ninety minutes a good solo effort by the same player saw him hit his final shot somewhat disappointingly straight at stand-in 'keeper, Meron. Well into stoppage time, Matt McArdle had a shot but his effort was just wide. Finally, after about five minutes of injury time had been played, the referee blew the full time whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 1 Kingsbury London Tigers 0