HERTFORD TOWN 2 LANGFORD 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 27th March 2010
For the fifth consecutive game, Hertford Town kept a first half clean sheet and hopefully laid to rest a problem that seemed to be the root cause of so many defeats mid-season. This was also the second home win and clean sheet in a row, which kept the Blues above the Premier Division relegation zone. After a couple of early scares, Scott O'Donoghue's team controlled the first half and effectively had the result sewn up by half time. The second half was rather different as the home side took their feet off the gas and spent much of the time defending deep inside their own half. It wasn't pretty but the defence held firm and a much-needed three points were gained by the end of the afternoon. Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Alan Barker, 4. Tom Bowgett, 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Joel Maybury (capt), 17. Lee Roberts, 8. Pablo Ardiles, 9. Dominic Musafiri, 18. Andy Chapman, 11. Rob Luya. Subs used: Scott O'Donoghue (for Chapman), Tom Neil (for Musafiri), Joshua Paine (for Luya).
Langford: 1. Scott Walters, 2. Scott Rennie, 3. Paul Donnelly 4. Dave Drury (capt), 5. Angus Stewart, 6. Luke Nicholl, 7. Ryan Nicholl, 8. Neil Smith, 9. Kane Dougherty, 10. Ross Scotney, 11. Lee Pateman. Sub Used: Ethan Draper (for Donnelly).
The visitors took the initiative from the off and forced a corner inside the first minute. Lee Pateman's kick was deflected behind for another Langford corner, this time taken by Paul Donnelly. His dangerous kick was played into the Hertford box but punched well clear by Lee Robinson. The Blues then began to settle but in the ninth minute conceded another corner. This was again taken by Donnelly but on this occasion the ball was held by Robinson. Following his kick out the Blues mounted a rapid counter-attack and Lee Roberts tried a speculative shot from distance. His effort was saved by visiting custodian Scott Walters at the expense of a Hertford corner. Alan Barker's cross was met by Michael Cooper but his powerful strike was well-saved by Walters.
Further Hertford pressure was rewarded by a free kick well inside the Langford half. A dangerous ball into the box found Glenn Draper but he headed against the post and the ball deflected behind. The home side soon won another corner and although Barker's cross caused a scramble in the Langford box the ball was eventually cleared. Hertford then had two further corners but each was dealt with by the visiting defence.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute after a raking forward pass by Hertford captain Joel Maybury found Andy Chapman in space on the right hand side, well inside the Langford half. Chapman crossed the ball to Rob Luya and the impressive winger placed a superb curving shot round Walters and into the back of the net, just inside the post.
The home side continued to dominate and either side of the half hour mark won two corners, both taken by Barker. The first found Draper but his headed effort was saved and the second was cleared upfield. The first booking of the game soon followed as Langford's Neil Smith was shown yellow for a poor challenge a short distance outside the visitors' box. Barker teed up a shot but hit a poor effort, by his standards, well over the bar and onto the training pitch. A few minutes later the visitors mounted a rare attack and won a free kick deep inside the Hertford half. A direct attempt on goal was made but Robinson punched clear. A Langford corner shortly afterwards came to nothing.
Shortly before half time the home side doubled their lead. A pass from Musafiri found Luya and as Walters came out to challenge the ball bounced strangely allowing Luya to poke the ball past the Langford stopper, who completely missed his target. The ball continued on its path towards the open goal but was stopped on the line by a desperate lunge from a Langford defender, who got back just in time. However, Luya had followed up and he blasted the ball into the back of the net for his and his team's second goal. There was time for the restart but not much further action as the referee soon blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 2 Langford 0
The home side were the first to show in the second half and forced a corner less than two minutes after the interval. However, Barker's cross was hit harmlessly behind by one of his team mates. As the game approached the hour mark the yellow card was out again, this time being shown to Barker for a foul. A few minutes later, the referee showed Glenn Draper another yellow for a late challenge. Donnelly took the resulting free kick for the visitors but hit his effort straight at Robinson. Two minutes later the home side's card count climbed to three as the increasingly card-happy referee booked Tom Bowgett. Bowgett had merely been in collision with Langford's Donnelly and the decision appeared a little harsh. The visitors' Luke Nicholl was then booked by the referee.
With less than twenty minutes remaining, the home side made their first substitution as player-manager Scott O'Donoghue brought himself on to replace Chapman. A Langford corner soon followed but Donnelly's cross was headed clear by Draper. Another Langford corner came shortly afterwards but this was also cleared. The visitors then made a change, surprisingly taking off Donnelly, who many thought had been their best player, and sending on Ethan Draper. The visitors continued to press deep into the Hertford half but without the necessary penetration and then, with less than five minutes of normal time Hertford made their second change, Tom Neil coming on to replace Musafiri.
Shortly afterwards Langford captain Dave Drury became the latest player to see yellow, though the reason for his booking remained a mystery to those watching the game. The visitors then won a free kick, though Ryan Nicholl hit his effort straight at Robinson.
With the game well into stoppage time Langford were again on the attack and it seemed a powerful header from Lee Pateman would bring them a consolation goal. However, Lee Robinson pulled off a magnificent flying save to deny the visitor. Even further into stoppage time the home side made a third substitution as Joshua Paine came on for Luya, allowing The Hertford supporters to give the winger his own personal ovation as he left the field. It was not long before the referee finally blew the full time whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 2 Langford 0