HERTFORD TOWN 2 ROYSTON TOWN 1
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Tuesday 13th April 2010

Once again a somewhat depleted Hertford Town team took the field, though unlike Saturday's game at Kingsbury, Scott O'Donoghue had a full set of substitutes to choose from. However, the omens were not good when the visitors took the lead inside four minutes and it seemed the quick passing Crows side would dominate the game. Although Royston did dominate for much of the early period the home side gradually came back into the game and equalised ten minutes before half time. Early in the second half The Blues went ahead and although the visitors laid siege to the Hertford goal for much of the period, they could not find a way through and the home side held on for a much-needed three points.

Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Tom Neill, 4. Scott O'Donoghue, 5. Joel Maybury (capt), 6. Masangu Mwetaminwa, 7. Lee Roberts, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. Dominic Musafiri, 10. Matt McArdle, 11. Alan Barker. Subs used: Stuart Bailey (for Cooper), James Halsey (for Neill), Ben Bouchnak (for O'Donoghue).

Royston Town: 1. Jorden Gibson, 2. Ashley Grinham, 3. Jim Hollingsworth 4. Nick Mulvaney, 5. Dean McElvoy, 6. Ross Collins (capt), 7. Carl Edwards, 8. Lewis Endacott, 9. Ricky Young, 10. Ryan Locket, 11. Tom Malins. Subs Used: Scott Crosk (for Grinham), Conor De Lacy (for Collins).

The visitors started off like a house on fire, leaving their hosts little time to settle. In the fourth minute a cross from the right found Tom Malins unmarked on the left side of the Hertford box. His well-directed header beat the unprotected Lee Robinson for an easy opener. The crows continued to dominate though the home side did have the odd chance. In the tenth minute a Dominic Musafiri looping effort from the edge of the box fell just wide of the Royston goal.

Midway through the half a good pass from Royston Captain and Ex-Hertford Town man, Ross Collins found Ricky Young, again in an unmarked position. He hit a good shot goalwards that brought out an excellent save from Robinson.

Slowly The Blues began to get back into the game and in the 34th minute they forced a corner. Player-manager Scott O'Donoghue took the kick and found his skipper, Joel Maybury. Although Maybury's header was saved by Royston custodian, Jorden Gibson, the ball bounced out into the path of DAVE HUNT and the experienced midfielder made no mistake in burying the ball in the back of the net for the equaliser.

As the half went into the final five minutes the referee showed the first yellow card of the evening to Royston's Ashley Grinham. Almost on the stroke of half time the home side were awarded a free kick on the edge of the visitors' box. O'Donoghue took the kick though his powerful effort fell straight into the arms of a grateful Gibson. It was not long before the referee blew the half time whistle.

Half time Score: Hertford Town 1 Royston Town 1

Michael Cooper did not re-emerge at the beginning of the second half for the home side, having picked up an injury in the first period. Instead he was replaced at right back by Stuart Bailey, who had played in the same position in the previous game at Kingsbury.

The half started a little more evenly than the first period but nine minutes after the interval came what would turn out to be the deciding move of the game. A promising Hertford attack saw Lee Roberts play a dangerous ball into the Royston box and DOMINIC MUSAFIRI battled his way onto it, eventually placing a superb effort past Gibson to give The Blues the lead.

Royston responded and began to apply more pressure. During one of their attacks, Hertford's Masangu Mwetaminwa became the first home player booked for a foul, though Ryan Lockett hit the resulting free kick straight at The Blues' wall. The home side soon made a second substitution. Tom Neill had also picked up a knock in the first half and had to leave the field, so Alan Barker moved back to cover in his more familiar left back position and James Halsey came on up front. A Hertford free kick moments later came to nothing and then the visitors sent on their only two substitutes, Scott Crosk and Conor De Lacy and withdrew Ashley Grinham and Ross Collins.

The visitors continued to bombard the Hertford goal but the home defence stood strong and managed to repel all attacks. This was clearly quite tiring work and O'Donoghue eventually brought on Ben Bouchnak in place of himself. Still the visitors pressed and Musafiri received the second Hertford yellow card for a foul during another Royston attack. On the stroke of ninety minutes, Royston's Nick Mulvaney's frustration got the better of him and he received his side's second yellow. Somehow the referee found quite a lot of stoppage time and four minutes into this Joel Maybury received Hertford's third booking for another foul. Still the referee played on but eventually blew the final whistle after more than six minutes of stoppage time, much to the relief of the jubilant home support.

Final Score: Hertford Town 2 Royston Town 1