LEVERSTOCK GREEN 1 HERTFORD TOWN 3
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 20th December 2008
This was really a game of two halves, to use the old cliché. A pretty dour first half ended goalless, thanks in part to good work by both goalkeepers, including a couple of excellent saves by Hertford's Lee Robinson. The second half was a far livelier affair and had goals, a penalty, controversy, cards and a sending off, and saw the Blues run out eventual winners of a well fought contest.Teams - Leverstock Green: 1. Elliot Thomas, 2. Nathan Dawes, 3. Jon Davies, 4. Steve Boad, 5. David Parkinson, 6. Dan Griggs (capt), 7. Steve Hawes, 8. Mark Welling, 9. James Armstrong, 10. Matt Wardle, 11. Frank Jowle. Subs Used: Kenny Hull (for Boad), Adam Hallissey (for Jowle).
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Jamie Abbott, 3. Duncan Hamilton, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Pablo Ardiles, 7. Michael Cooper, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Matt McArdle, 11. Chris Spiteri. Subs Used: Andy Chapman (for Spiteri), Zavros (for Cooper).
The game started off slowly but the home team won a free kick in the second minute. The chance was wasted however, as one of their players strayed into an offside position. Two minutes later the visitors applied pressure for the first time and both Matt McArdle and Owen Beale had chances in the Leverstock box. Through a combination of skill and good fortune, 'keeper Thomas was able to gather the ball at the second attempt. A couple of minutes later the ball was down the other end and Green's Matt Wardle found himself one on one with Hertford 'keeper Lee Robinson, who pulled off a good save to deny the home striker.
In the 11th minute the visitors won a free kick. Duncan Hamilton tried a direct shot on goal but the ball was cleared by the home defence. It fell to Michael Cooper, but his effort was also cleared. On 18 minutes the Blues were awarded another free kick. This time Owen Beale tried his luck, but his shot was high and wide. Three minutes later it was the hosts who were again applying the pressure and they won a free kick on the edge of the Hertford box. Matt Wardle struck a good shot, which seemed to all and sundry to be heading into the top corner of the net. However, Robinson pulled off an excellent save, palming the ball to safety.
On 27 minutes Pablo Ardiles was brought down by Green's David Parkinson as the Blues advanced down the right. Jamie Abbott took the resulting free kick and played the ball into the Leverstock box, but it was cleared by the home defence. Four minutes later Chris Spiteri was fouled by Green's Steve Boad, who became the first player of the afternoon to be shown a yellow card. Jamie Abbott again took the free kick, which was struck superbly into the box. It found the head of Joel Maybury but his effort was inches wide. Hertford had another chance from a free kick on 35 minutes. This time Duncan Hamilton played the ball in to Attila Korsoveczki, but his headed effort was tipped over by home 'keeper Thomas. The resulting corner is one that Duncan Hamilton will probably want to forget. The big left back slipped as he took his kick and the ball fell harmlessly to the home defence. Green immediately went on the counter attack and won a free kick in the Hertford half. Mark Welling took the kick but it cleared everyone and went safely behind for a Hertford goal kick.
As the half entered the final five minutes the home team began to apply a little more pressure. They won a corner, but this was headed clear by Glenn Draper. They then won another corner but Chris Spiteri headed clear this time. The ball fell to David Parkinson but his effort was well wide. The ball soon found its way up the other end and the visitors won a free kick. Duncan Hamilton played the ball in to Glenn Draper who shot on goal, but his effort was blocked. The ball came out to Matt McArdle, but his shot sailed over the bar. The hosts again countered and as they advanced the ball was crossed in to their skipper Dan Griggs. He headed a good effort goalwards but it again brought a magnificent save from Lee Robinson. Glenn Draper cleared the resulting corner and the referee soon blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Leverstock Green 0 Hertford Town 0
The first chance of the second half fell to the visitors within a minute of the restart. Attila Korsoveczki had a good chance from close in but his effort was well saved by Thomas. Five minutes later David Parkinson became the second player of the afternoon to be booked. Ten minutes into the half the home side won a free kick on the edge of the Hertford box. Jon Davies stepped up to take the kick but his effort was high and wide. Three minutes later Pablo Ardiles became the third player booked, this time for dissent. On the hour mark the home side made one of their best moves of the game. After some good interplay the ball found its way to Matt Wardle, but his effort was struck over the bar.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 67th minute. An excellent Hertford move was started by Michael Cooper and the ball came to Attila Korsoveczki. His great skill at controlling the ball completely bamboozled the Leverstock defenders who had tried to break down the move and he was able to play in a measured pass to OWEN BEALE. The Hertford midfielder calmly controlled the ball and placed it wide of Thomas to give the visitors a one nil lead. The home side soon made the first substitution of the game, bringing on Kenny Hull for the injured Steve Boad, who had already left the field for treatment before the goal was scored. The visitors soon made their first substitution too, bringing on Andy Chapman for Chris Spiteri. The Blues were soon on the attack and Hamilton crossed the ball in to Korsoveczki, but his header was just wide of the target. A moment of some controversy came in the 73rd minute. David Parkinson committed a foul, which did not appear to be that bad. However, after some discussion the referee showed the Leverstock number five his second yellow card and then red and dismissed him from the field of play. It appeared that the player must have talked himself into the sending off rather than his dismissal being for the foul. Three minutes later the visitors were awarded a free kick for a poor challenge by Mark Welling who became the latest Leverstock player to be shown yellow.
The situation went from bad to worse for the home side in the 77th minute. Hertford were awarded another free kick. Duncan Hamilton crossed the ball in to Korsoveczki, who played the ball across the box to ANDY CHAPMAN. The big striker made no mistake in directing his header wide of Thomas and into the corner of the net to double the visitors' lead. Leverstock soon made their second substitution, bringing on Adam Hallissey for Frank Jowle.
Hertford were not having everything their own way however. In the 83rd minute Leverstock Green won a corner. The ball was played into the Blues' box and after pinging about between a number of players it fell to James Armstrong. His effort finally beat Lee Robinson and gave the home side some hope.
It was the visitors who applied the pressure during the closing minutes of the game however. Soon after the Leverstock goal the Blues won a corner, which was taken by Owen Beale. The ball came back out to Beale, who put in another cross. This time the ball came to Korsoveczki but his header was saved. A few minutes later Korsoveczki was the provider. He played in Michael Cooper but his effort was well saved by Thomas. Duncan Hamilton took the resulting corner but the ball was safely gathered by the Leverstock custodian.
As the game approached ninety minutes Owen Beale went on a surging run towards the Leverstock box. He was tripped but managed to stay on his feet and took the ball into the box. He was tripped again and this time the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. Leverstock's Steve Hawes received his team's latest yellow card for the trip. The visiting supporters' initial joy at the penalty award soon turned to concern as it became apparent that Hertford skipper GLENN DRAPER was going to take the spot kick. There were some in the crowd that remembered Draper's last competitive spot kick against Concord Rangers two seasons ago, and memories of that fateful game came flooding back. However Draper showed that there was no reason for the concern as he placed the ball well wide of Thomas and comfortably into the back of the net to give the visitors a 3-1 lead. Hertford then made their second substitution, withdrawing Michael Cooper and bringing on Andros Zavros. The under 17's player gained a few minutes of valuable first team experience before the referee blew the final whistle.
Final Score: Leverstock Green 1 Hertford Town 3