OXHEY JETS 4 HERTFORD TOWN 2
Herts Senior Cup - First Round
Tuesday 10th November 2009

For the third time in seven games, Hertford Town had no goalkeeper available, and for the second time it was Matt McArdle who had to take his place between the sticks. To be fair though, he didn't really put a foot wrong and wasn't at fault for any of the goals conceded. The game was played on a damp, misty evening, on a slick pitch that should have suited the visitor's passing game. However, it was the home team that were the better of two pretty mediocre sides, and deserved their win.

Teams - Oxhey Jets: 1. Steve Duce, 2. Ian Bywater, 3. Lee Grace, 4. Nathan Roberts, 5. Chris Ingham (capt), 6. Lee Inch, 7. Colin Jenkins, 8. Andrew Lomas, 9. Jamie Arthur, 10. Luke Beardsworth, 11. Tim O'Mara. Subs Used: Karl Bull (for Arthur), Ben Chandler (for Inch), Steve Brown (for Jenkins).

Hertford Town: 1. Matt McArdle, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 14. Ryan Gordon, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Joel Maybury, 7. Rob Luya, 8. Jason Coughlan, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Sub Used: Daryl Mitchell (for Coughlan).

It was the visitors who had the first effort on goal in the fourth minute, when an Attila Korsoveczki looping header from a Pablo Ardiles cross, was just wide of the target. Six minutes later, Hertford also won a corner, but Lee Roberts' cross was played straight into the arms of home custodian, Steve Duce. The home side's first effort on goal came on the quarter hour mark, when Jamie Arthur tried a shot from distance, though he hit the ball well wide of the mark. Two minutes later a good move by the Jets saw the ball again fall to ARTHUR on the left. This time his well-hit shot from the edge of the box was on-target and too powerful for McArdle and it gave the home side the lead.

A short while later Oxhey were again on the attack and were awarded a free kick inside the Hertford half, though Lee Grace's effort was high and wide. It was not long however, before they doubled their advantage. The Hertford defence gave the ball away just outside their own box, and not needing a second invitation, LUKE BEARDSWORTH lashed a shot in from the edge of the area, beyond McArdle and into the back of the net for 2-0.

The visitors won a free kick inside the Oxhey box a few minutes later. Jason Coughlan's cross found Glenn Draper, who headed wide, though he was flagged for offside anyway. On the half hour mark, Beardsworth again found himself in space and shot, but his effort was saved by McArdle. A Jets corner, moments later was cleared by the Hertford defence. Another corner for the home side was then wasted when the initial ball was played short, only for the following shot to be played hopelessly wide. On the stroke of half time, the visitors won a corner, which was played dangerously into the Oxhey box by Coughlan. The ball was eventually cleared by the home defence and the referee soon blew the half time whistle.

Half Time Score: Oxhey Jets 2 Hertford Town 0

The home side attacked from the off at the beginning of the second half and within seconds, Arthur shot across McArdle's goal. Six minutes after the break, an incident between Arthur and Hertford's Joel Maybury saw both players given a lengthy talking to by the referee, though no cards were shown. Three minutes later, after Hertford had been awarded a free kick for a foul by an Oxhey player, there was another clash, this time between Hertford's Kevin Cooper and Oxhey's Ian Bywater. What seemed little more than handbags resulted in Cooper being shown a straight red card and Bywater a yellow. The visitors' free kick was wasted when it was eventually taken.

It was not long before the first substitution was made as the home side sensibly took off the fiery Arthur, before he was sent off, and sent on Karl Bull. Arthur was booked as he left the field of play. The home side soon won a corner, which was taken by Andrew Lomas, who passed to Lee Grace. He tried a shot but his effort was blocked and the ball cleared. A little while later a rare Hertford attack saw Lee Roberts turn and shoot from outside the box, but his effort was wide. Mid way through the half the home side extended their lead as the Hertford defence was caught napping. Bywater crossed to Nathan Roberts, who knocked the ball on to the unmarked TIM O'MARA. A simple tap-in was all that was needed from the Oxhey number eleven to give his side a 3-0 lead.

The visitors immediately made a substitution, replacing Jason Coughlan with Daryl Mitchell. Skipper Glenn Draper also advanced to a more attacking position. This change around seemed to work as within minutes Hertford reduced the deficit. A Ryan Gordon effort was cleared off the line, with Duce well-beaten, but the ball fell to LEE ROBERTS, who made no mistake in blasting the ball into the back of the barely guarded net.

With quarter of an hour remaining, the home side won a free kick, though this came to nothing. They soon restored their three goal cushion however, as once again the Hertford defence went missing, allowing BEARDSWORTH to score his second goal of the game. The home side soon made their second change as Lee Inch made way for Ben Chandler. A solo effort by Karl Bull then saw the first Oxhey substitute shoot straight at McArdle. At the other end a speculative shot by Mitchell from distance only just cleared Duce's crossbar. Oxhey then made their third and final substitution as Steve Brown replaced Colin Jenkins. Glenn Draper was then booked for complaining about a poor refereeing decision.

With less than a minute of normal time remaining, Hertford were awarded a free kick just outside the Oxhey box. DARYL MITCHELL stepped up to take the kick but his effort seemed to lack power. However the ball was hit round Duce's poorly-positioned wall and bounced across the line for a second Hertford goal, as the home 'keeper stayed rooted to the spot. As the game restarted and went into stoppage time, Ben Chandler received the home side's third booking for a foul on Rob Luya. Barely had the resulting free kick been taken and the referee blew the full time whistle.

Final Score: Oxhey Jets 4 Hertford Town 2