HERTFORD TOWN 2 ROYSTON TOWN 0
South Midlands Floodlight Cup - Second Round
Tuesday 15th December 2009
Hertford Town finally achieved a result that their efforts deserved. After some unlucky results in recent games they got a victory that was a pretty fair reflection of the game as a whole. On a cold night with the frosty grass glistening in the beam of the floodlights, the Blues were the better side overall, and won with first half strikes from Lee Roberts and Rob Luya. This was a good overall team effort that also included some impressive individual performances. It also means that for the second season in a row, Hertford Town are into the semi-final of the Floodlight Cup, again at home, though against an as yet, unknown opposition.Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Matt McArdle, 3. Tom Neill, 4. Ryan Gordon, 5. Michael Cooper, 6. Joel Maybury (capt), 7. Rob Luya, 8. Joe Scales, 9. Dominic Musafiri, 10. Owen Beale, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Pablo Ardiles (for Luya), Tom Oram (for Beale).
Royston Town: 1. Damion Williamson, 2. Danny Apostolos, 3. Matt Cook, 4. Luke Jones, 5. David Cain, 6. Danny Dolan, 7. Carl Edwards, 8. Josh Bronti, 9. Ricky Young, 10. Ryan Lockett, 11. Luke Robins (capt). Subs Used: Lewis Endacott (for Jones), Brad Wilkinson (for Cain), Dan Banks-Smith (for Dolan).
Although the home side were the first to show, it was the visitors who created the first dangerous chance with a corner in the fourth minute, though this was eventually cleared. A second Royston corner almost immediately, fell into the grateful arms of Hertford custodian, Lee Robinson. The visitors should have taken the lead a few minutes later when they were gifted a chance by a mistake in the Hertford defence but missed when it looked easier to score. In the tenth minute a Royston free kick found Ricky Young but he headed over. Two minutes later Dominic Musafiri was brought down in the Royston box during a Hertford attack and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. LEE ROBERTS stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake in burying the ball in the back of the net for his fourth cup goal of the season.
Buoyed by their lead the home side continued to dominate. Joe Scales hit a shot just over the bar then Roberts chipped advancing Royston 'keeper, Damion Williamson, only to see his effort cannon off the crossbar. Midway through the half the visitors won a corner but this came to nothing and for the next ten minutes play was pretty even. Hertford then forced a corner, but Owen Beale's cross somehow found its way through the crowd of players in the six yard box. Royston immediately mounted a counter-attack, but the resulting shot on target was well-saved by Robinson. The home 'keeper also punched the ball clear from the resulting corner.
The ball was soon back at the other end and the home side forced a corner. Roberts played the ball short to Beale and found space to get in a shooting opportunity, though his shot was deflected for another corner. Beale took this corner himself and his cross found ROB LUYA unmarked in front of goal. He rose and calmly headed the ball into the corner of the net to give the home side a 2-0 cushion. As the half went into the final few minutes the home side remained dominant. However, the closest they came to scoring was following a good effort by Musafiri, but he shot at the 'keeper. It was not long before the referee blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 2 Royston Town 0
Royston Manager Paul Attfield made wholesale changes to his side at half time. Luke Jones, David Cain and Danny Dolan did not re-appear for the second period but were instead replaced by Lewis Endacott, Brad Wilkinson and Dan Banks-Smith. The home side were the first to show in the second half and four minutes after the break Roberts attempted a chip from distance, though his effort was just over the bar. After a while the visitors began to come back into the match and forced a corner, though this came to nothing. They then won a free kick deep inside the Hertford half but this was headed clear.
On the hour mark, the home side were forced to make their first substitution; Rob Luya had been unable to shake off an injury he picked up in the first half and he was replaced by Pablo Ardiles.
Midway through the half Royston were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Hertford box, though Ryan Lockett's shot hit the wall and deflected behind for a corner. When the corner kick was taken the referee adjudged there to have been a foul in the box and the home side were awarded a free kick. A good move by the Blues then saw play rapidly advance to the other end, though Ardiles' final shot was over the bar. A short while later Scales shot wide during another Hertford attack. With quarter of an hour to go, Ryan Gordon also tried to get in on the act but shot over from distance.
A rare attack by the visitors then saw them force a corner, though this was easily cleared by the Hertford defence and the home side mounted a counter-attack. There were awarded a free kick, which was well-struck by Beale, though Williamson got his fingertips to the ball, and just managed to knock it over the bar. The resulting corner was headed clear by the Royston defence. Five minutes later Hertford forced another corner, which was taken short but cleared upfield by Royston, allowing them to counter. They forced a corner but the cross was too close to Robinson and the ball was easily held by the Hertford stopper. With four minutes to go and the game all but won, the home side made a second substitution. Owen Beale was withdrawn and new signing Tom Oram was given his first taste of first team football. Play continued for a few more minutes without either goal being threatened before the referee blew the final whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 2 Royston Town 0