HERTFORD TOWN 1 LEVERSTOCK GREEN 1
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 28th November 2009
For the second Saturday in a row, Leverstock Green salvaged a 1-1 draw with a goal in stoppage time at the end of the game. The makeshift Hertford Town defence, depleted by the departure of Glenn Draper to Barton Rovers, somehow managed to deal with everything thrown at them for ninety-two minutes. However, a fluke goal undid all of their hard work in trying to secure three points for their team. In truth, a draw was probably a fair result, but the timing and manner of the visitors' equaliser was still gutting for the home side. Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Louis O'Neill, 2. Ryan Gordon, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Matt McArdle, 5. Michael Cooper, 6. Joel Maybury, 7. Attila Korsoveczki, 8. Jason Coughlan, 9. Dominic Musafiri, 10. Kevin Cooper (capt), 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Joe Scales (for Roberts), Andy Chapman (for Musafiri).
Leverstock Green: 1. Carl Tasker, 2. Lee Bircham, 3. Bill Morgan, 4. Louis West, 5. Lee Johnson, 6. Simon Conway, 7. Dale Sears, 8. Richard Harvey, 9. Lewis Pritchard, 10. Daniel Griggs (capt), 11. Matt Wardle. Subs Used: Jack Johnson (for Pritchard), Gary Connolly (for West).
The game got off to a pretty slow start with neither side really threatening for the opening few minutes. The first chance came in the ninth minute when the visitors were awarded a corner, though the ball was hit over the bar following Lee Bircham's cross. Four minutes later the home side mounted an impressive attack involving Kevin Cooper, Pablo Ardiles and Dominic Musafiri, but the move broke down inside the Leverstock box. A short while later Attila Korsoveczki attempted a shot from distance but his effort was wide.
The first scare for Hertford Town came in the 20th minute when the visitors won another corner. Home custodian, Louis O'Neill, initially cleared the ball but it was hit back in and cannoned off a post. It fell to Simon Conway, who somehow shot wide when it looked easier to score. A few minutes later the home side mounted another attack, with the ball eventually being cleared behind by the visitors. However, the referee inexplicably awarded a goal kick to Leverstock Green.
On the half hour mark Korsoveczki embarked on a solo run and played himself into a good position but he tried to do just a little too much by himself and the ball was smothered by Green's 'keeper, Carl Tasker. The visitors soon mounted another attack but a goal-bound effort was superbly saved by O'Neill. The Blues immediately countered and Kevin Cooper passed to Musafiri. He embarked on a short solo run but his final effort hit the post. The home side soon won a free kick deep inside the Green half but Lee Roberts' cross in was cleared. A short while later a Korsoveczki corner was also eventually cleared.
As the half went into the final five minutes the ball went out of play opposite the clubhouse and the nearside assistant signalled a Hertford throw. However, after a chat with the official, the referee booked Green's Lewis Pritchard and awarded the throw to the visitors, much to the bemusement of many of those present. A short while before the half time whistle Leverstock were awarded a corner inside the Hertford half, though Bircham's effort was easily cleared and it was not long before the referee signalled the break.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 0 Leverstock Green 0
Unlike the first, the second half opened with a flourish as the home side immediately mounted an attack. Kevin Cooper played in Ardiles and he crossed to Korsoveczki in the box, though his header was wide of the target. A short while later the visitors forced a corner at the other end but the ball was taken behind by the strong wind.
The breakthrough came eight minutes after the break. Kevin Cooper played the ball to Roberts on the left, who crossed the ball into the Leverstock box. It found DOMINIC MUSAFIRI, whose deflected header wrong-footed Tasker and crossed the line to give the home side the lead. A few minutes later, Roberts tried a shot from distance but his effort was saved.
On the hour mark the visitors made their first substitution as Jack Johnson came on to replace Pritchard. They soon won a corner, though the ball was punched clear by O'Neill. They then made their second change, Louis West making way for Gary Connolly, the scorer of last week's Leverstock equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time!
Twenty minutes into the half, Joel Maybury became the first Hertford player booked, for a foul just outside his own box. He was soon followed into the book by Musafiri who was cautioned apparently for encroachment at the resulting free kick - the referee did not appear to notice that the kick had been tapped short before a shot on goal was attempted. When the kick was eventually retaken, Connolly blasted the ball at the Hertford wall and the chance was gone. Another chance for the visitors was wasted moments later after O'Neill was adjudged to have been impeded at a Leverstock corner.
As the game went into the final ten minutes of normal time the visitors won another corner, but the ball was cleared. Hertford then made their first change as Lee Roberts made way for Joe Scales. A Leverstock free kick minutes later was taken by Bill Morgan but well saved by O'Neill. The resulting corner was cleared as was a Bircham free kick moments later. The home side soon made their second substitution as Andy Chapman came on for Musafiri.
With the game two minutes into stoppage time the home side suffered a cruel blow. A back pass was played to O'Neill and he smashed the ball, trying to clear it as far upfield as possible. However, it caught Matt Wardle at almost point-blank range on the side of the head, knocking the Leverstock player to the ground. Unfortunately for the home side the ball deflected straight back past O'Neill and into the net to give the visitors an unlikely equaliser. The groggy goal scorer needed some treatment to bring him round before play could restart. Soon after play had eventually resumed Hertford won a free kick inside the Leverstock half. However, Kevin Cooper hit a powerful shot at the Green wall and almost immediately the referee blew the final whistle.
Final Score: Hertford town 1 Leverstock Green 1