HERTFORD TOWN 3 OXHEY JETS 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 13th November 2008
In what may have been a surprise to many, this was the only Spartan League Premier Division match to escape the weather, all other games having fallen victim to the inclement conditions. That is not to say that conditions at Hertingfordbury Park were perfect - they were far from that, but they were just sufficient to allow a game of football to be played. For the home supporters at least yet another postponement of the Christmas shopping was most welcome in light of the result, despite the atrocious weather.
Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Jamie Abbott, 3. Duncan Hamilton, 4. Joel Maybury (capt), 5. Dave Hunt 6. Pablo Ardiles, 7. Owen Beale, 8. Matt McArdle, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Michael Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Andy Chapman (for McArdle), Reece Lyons (for Cooper)
Oxhey Jets: 1. Steve Duce, 2. Steve Brown, 3. Lee Grace, 4. Chris Ingham (capt), 5. Chris Harding, 6. Ian Bywater, 7. Colin Jenkins, 8. Karl Bull, 9. Adam Lowton, 10. Tim O'Mara, 11. Jamie Arthur. Subs Used: Michael Wyatt (for Jenkins), Chris Killer (for Arthur), Carl Wigg (for Grace)
From the off, and to their credit, both teams tried to play proper football on the tricky playing surface. The first chance of the game came in the second minute; Jamie Abbott fed the ball through to Matt McArdle, who hit a shot goalwards, but it was comfortably smothered by visiting 'keeper Duce. A minute later the home side won a corner, which was well taken by Abbott but easily cleared by the Jets' defence. The Blues soon won another corner, this time taken by Duncan Hamilton, but this was also cleared. The Jets immediately mounted a counter attack. Jamie Arthur advanced rapidly down the right, controlling the ball well, despite the conditions. However, his cross was too strong for any of his team mates and the ball went harmlessly out of play. A few minutes later the same player again received the ball after his team mates had intercepted a Hertford pass. This time he shot at goal but his effort was wide.
The first goal came in the 13th minute. Lee Roberts working down the left did well to pass the ball to Duncan Hamilton. The big left back then put a superb cross into the Oxhey box, which found OWEN BEALE. He made no mistake in placing the ball past Duce and into the back of the net to put the home side one-nil up. A few minutes later Hertford won another corner but this came to nothing.
As the halfway point of the half approached, Oxhey's Lee Grace went on a surging run down the left, his impressive solo effort culminating in a vicious shot on the Hertford goal. Lee Robinson just managed to get a touch and diverted the ball out for a corner, which unfortunately for the visitors, came to nothing.
On 25 minutes Hertford were awarded a free kick in quite a dangerous position. Duncan Hamilton played the ball out to Owen Beale, who took a shot, but his effort was just wide. Two minutes later the home side won another free kick. Lee Roberts tried a shot direct on goal but the ball cleared the bar.
On 34 minutes the visitors were forced to make an early substitution, the injured Colin Jenkins being replaced by Michael Wyatt. Five minutes later a good move between Pablo Ardiles and Lee Roberts saw the latter take a speculative shot from distance, but his effort was just over. A moment of controversy came a few minutes later. The Jets' players and supporters clearly thought they deserved a penalty following an infringement in the Hertford box, but their appeals fell on deaf ears, much to the relief of the home contingent. On the stroke of half time the home side won another corner but this came to nothing and the referee soon blew his whistle to give all involved some respite from the awful weather.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 1 Oxhey Jets 0
Despite the pitch deteriorating, both teams were still attempting to play football at the start of the second half. Six minutes into the half Dave Hunt brought down an Oxhey player on the edge of the Hertford box and became the first player of the afternoon to go into the referee's book. The visitors however, wasted the ensuing free kick. The home team then began to apply more pressure. Twelve minutes into the half Owen Beale had a good chance but fired his shot straight into the arms of 'keeper Duce. A minute later the Blues won a corner but Lee Roberts' cross again found its way into Duce's arms.
On 66 minutes Oxhey made their second substitution of the day, surprisingly taking off Jamie Arthur, who had been quite impressive, particularly during the first half, and bringing on Chris Killer. Two minutes later there was a good Hertford move. Attila Korsoveczki played the ball to Lee Roberts who shot, but his effort was blocked. The Blues were soon on the attack again; this time Matt McArdle played in Michael Cooper down the left, but his shot from an angle was just over the bar. Four minutes later in a rare deviation from their normal passing game, the Blues had a chance from a long ball thumped up the field, but Lee Roberts shot wide.
Undoubtedly the best move of the game came in the 76th minute and involved four Hertford Town players. In a skilful move down the left, Duncan Hamilton played the ball in to Pablo Ardiles. The Blues' player-manager then passed the ball to Owen Beale. He put in an accurate cross for ATTILA KORSOVECZKI who calmly played the ball past Duce and into the goal to double the hosts' lead. Three minutes later there was a spate of substitutions. Hertford Town brought on Andy Chapman and Reece Lyons for Matt McArdle and Michael Cooper, whilst the visitors made their final change, bringing on Carl Wigg for Lee Grace.
In the 84th minute the Blues won a corner but this came to nothing. Two minutes later they won a free kick in a potentially dangerous position, but Jamie Abbott blasted his effort straight at 'keeper Duce. The ball was soon up the other end and Lee Robinson brought down an advancing Oxhey player just outside the Hertford box. For his misdemeanour the Blues' 'keeper was duly booked. Jets' skipper Chris Ingham stepped up to take the resulting free kick, which was well hit, but Robinson more than made up for his earlier error, pulling off a superb save, diving to his left. Unfortunately for the visitors they were unable to make anything from the resulting corner.
As the game went into injury time and with the visitors clearly tiring, Hertford won another corner. Lee Roberts' left foot cross was sweetly hit and found ATTILA KORSOVECZKI, who headed into the back of the net to make the score 3-0. There was just time for Oxhey's Tim O'Mara to be shown a yellow card before the referee blew the full time whistle, and all and sundry made their way to the relative comfort of the clubhouse and the changing rooms.
Final Score: Hertford Town 3 Oxhey Jets 0