HERTFORD TOWN 3 OXHEY JETS 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 17th October 2009
This was the first time for more than a month that Hertford Town had scored a goal in the first half of a game. As on that occasion, the 4-0 defeat of Welwyn Garden City on the 12th of September, the Blues went on to dominate this match, though they were helped on their way by a couple of howlers from the Oxhey Jets custodian, and the visitors must surely have felt they should at least have registered some type of score after a dominant final twenty minutes. Nevertheless, for the second season running, this fixture resulted in a 3-0 victory for the home side. Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Ryan Gordon, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Joel Maybury, 7. Attila Korsoveczki, 8. Matt McArdle, 9. Dominic Musafiri, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Ryan Redford (for Musafiri), Rob Luya (for Korsoveczki), Harry Atkins (for Roberts).
Oxhey Jets: 1. Joe Marsh, 2. Dave Maynard, 3. Lee Grace, 4. Steve Brown, 5. Chris Harding, 6. Chris Ingham (capt), 7. Tom Inch, 8. Ben Chandler, 9. Wayne Gladdy, 10. Luke Beardsworth, 11. Andrew Lomas. Subs Used: Nathan Roberts (for Inch), Lee Inch (for Chandler), Chris Killer (for Beardsworth).
After a pretty sterile opening to the game, the home team were the first to show when a good move between Kevin Cooper and Pablo Ardiles saw the Hertford Town player-manager hit his shot just over the bar in the fourth minute. Six minutes later the Blues were awarded a corner and although Attila Korsoveczki's cross found the head of Glenn Draper, the Hertford skipper hit his effort just wide. The home side then won a free kick deep inside the Oxhey half. Lee Roberts' shot was initially fumbled by visiting custodian, Joe Marsh, but at the second attempt he managed to smother the ball and averted the danger. Just after the quarter of an hour mark, the visitors won a free kick deep inside the Hertford half, though Chris Ingham's shot was poorly hit and fell well wide of the target. Another free kick by the visitors minutes later was eventually cleared to safety.
Approaching the midway point of the half, Oxhey were awarded another free kick inside the Hertford half, and although the cross into the box looked dangerous, the ball was headed harmlessly over the bar. A good move by the home side then saw Kevin Cooper cross to Korsoveczki, but his shot was just high and wide of the target. As the game approached the half hour mark, a seemingly innocuous challenge by Oxhey's Tom Inch on Glenn Draper saw the home side awarded a free kick. However, the visiting player clearly came off worse and required some lengthy treatment on the pitch. He was eventually carried off and after a few minutes was replaced by Nathan Roberts.
Ten minutes before the break the home side made the all important breakthrough. They were awarded a free kick inside the visitors' half, which Korsoveczki passed to Kevin Cooper inside the box. The prolific striker made no mistake in rifling his shot past Marsh for his fourth goal in as many matches. A short while later the visitors won a corner but as the kick was taken there was adjudged to have been a foul on Hertford custodian, Lee Robinson, and the home side were awarded a free kick. A short while later an Ardiles cross found Korsoveczki, but he headed his effort wide. With the ball at the other end, the visitors won another corner, though the ball was eventually cleared. Deep into injury time at the end of the first half came an incident that Oxhey 'keeper, Joe Marsh, will want to forget: Kevin Cooper played the ball to Korsoveczki, who took it deep into the Oxhey box. He then shot on goal and although his effort was on target, it lacked power. However, when it seemed that Marsh had the situation covered, the ball bobbled through his legs and over the line to give the home side an unexpected 2-0 half time lead.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 2 Oxhey Jets 0
The first chance of the second half fell to the home side, five minutes after the break. A Glenn Draper free kick found Kevin Cooper, though he hit his shot straight at Marsh. The second chance of the half also fell to the home side five minutes later and summed up the Oxhey custodian's afternoon. Lee Roberts crossed to Dominic Musafiri, who at the second attempt hit a lofted shot on target. Again it seemed that Marsh had the situation covered but he tipped the ball into his own net to give Musafiri his second goal in successive games. It then looked as if the home side might run riot. Soon after the restart Hertford regained possession and Kevin Cooper passed to Lee Roberts, though he chipped the ball just over the bar, with Marsh well beaten.
The visitors soon regained their composure, however, and soon won a free kick inside the Hertford half. The ball deflected off the wall and was eventually smothered by Robinson. Oxhey then made their second change of the afternoon, replacing Ben Chandler with Lee Inch. A Hertford corner soon followed and Roberts' cross found Matt McArdle, though his shot was saved. The visitors then made their final substitution as they sent on Chris Killer and withdrew Luke Beardsworth. Another Hertford corner followed, though Korsoveczki's cross was cleared. There was then a good move by the home side as Ardiles played in Kevin Cooper. He passed to Roberts, who shot on goal, though his effort was cleared behind. Korsoveczki took the resulting corner and found Michael Cooper, though he hit his header just over the bar. The home side then made their first change of the afternoon as Dominic Musafiri made way for Ryan Redford.
With little more than quarter of an hour to go the visitors won a corner, though Nathan Roberts' cross was cleared by the home defence. Hertford then made their second change as Rob Luya came on for Korsoveczki. After a further five minutes, with the visitors clearly showing some dominance, the home side made a final substitution, strengthening the defence by sending on Harry Atkins at the expense of Lee Roberts. A good Hertford move then saw Ryan Redford shoot just wide of the target. After a couple more minutes when neither side created any more chances, the referee blew the final whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 3 Oxhey Jets 0