HERTFORD TOWN 0 ROYSTON TOWN 2
South Midlands Floodlight Cup - Semi-Final
Tuesday 28th April 2009
Hertford Town went in to what would be their last game of the season without a recognised strike-force, putting themselves at a disadvantage before a ball was kicked. They matched their visitors during the first half but in the second period Royston took control. The Division One Champions ran out worthy winners and the Blues let themselves down at the end with poor discipline that saw two players dismissed in the closing minutes.
Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Ryan Gordon, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Matt McArdle, 7. Lee Garrity, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. Daryl Mitchell, 10. Scott O'Donoghue, 11. Jamie Abbott. Subs Used: Pablo Ardiles (for Gordon), Chris Spiteri (for Garrity), Andy Chapman (for O'Donoghue).
Royston Town: 1. Richard Barlow, 2. Lewis Endacott, 3. Danny Apostolos, 4. Jamie Babbage, 5. David Cain, 6. Conor De Lacy, 7. Carl Edwards, 8. Tom Malins, 9. Craig Hammond (capt), 10. Greg Jackson, 11. Luke Robins. Subs Used: Ricky Young (For Hammond), Josh Bronti (for Malins), Jamie Morriss (for Robins).
The visitors were the first to show and in the third minute Tom Malins put in a dangerous cross that beat the Hertford defence but also all of his team-mates. A minute later they won a free kick that was taken by Greg Jackson but he hit his effort wide. Scott O'Donoghue soon had a chance at the other end but he hit his shot high and wide. The home side were forced to make an early substitution after just fifteen minutes when Ryan Gordon felt a recurrence of an old injury and was replaced by Pablo Ardiles. The visitors then began to show their dominance. They soon won a free kick though this came to nothing. A few minutes later they were awarded another but Luke Robins' shot was hit straight at Lee Robinson.
Royston continued to dominate and in the 33rd minute a long cross found Tom Malins in space but he hit his shot over the bar. Five minutes later Greg Jackson had another chance but he hit his effort high and wide. A short while later Luke Robins went on a solo run but hit his shot wide. On the stroke of half time the visitors were awarded another free kick. Robins' kick was headed clear by Glenn Draper, but only as far as Jackson, though he hit his shot over the bar. It was not long before the referee blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 0 Royston Town 0
Having not seen their side have a single shot on target during the first half, the home supporters were hoping for an improved performance in the second period. They were to be disappointed. The first incident of note saw a tangle between Hertford's Joel Maybury and Royston's Greg Jackson, for which the latter was shown the first yellow card of the match. Ten minutes after the restart a moment of confusion in the Hertford box left Lee Robinson stranded and allowed Royston captain and top-scorer, Craig Hammond, to tap into an empty net and give the visitors the lead. Soon afterwards Hertford's Lee Garrity received the second caution of the night for a foul on the halfway line.
There then followed a short period of dominance by the home side after they had made their second substitution, Chris Spiteri coming on for Garrity. A Daryl Mitchell free kick on the edge of the Royston box was deflected off the wall for a corner. Mitchell also took the corner kick but the ball was easily cleared. Further Blues' pressure saw a cross come in, which Dave Hunt Headed wide. Another Mitchell corner soon afterwards was again easily cleared. Glenn Draper then became the second Hertford player booked for a foul, though the resulting free kick was hit harmlessly behind by the visitors. The home side then made their final change of the evening, Andy Chapman coming on for Scott O'Donoghue.
A Hertford free kick soon afterwards caused confusion in the Royston box, but the visitors were able to clear the ball and immediately mounted a counter-attack. Luke Robins took the ball from his own half and went on a rapid solo run. Having outpaced the Hertford defence he placed a ball past Lee Robinson from a wide position and doubled his side's lead with an excellent effort. Royston soon made a double substitution, Ricky Young and Josh Bronti coming on to replace Craig Hammond and Tom Malins, whilst David Cain took over the captain's armband from Hammond. Chris Spiteri then became the third Hertford player booked, for another foul, and the visitors hit the post following the resulting free kick. Royston then had another chance but Greg Jackson headed over with Lee Robinson beaten. Play soon switched to the other end but a Hertford corner was poorly taken and the threat petered out.
As the game went into the final five minutes the visitors won a corner, though Lee Robinson was able to punch clear. A Hertford attack soon after saw an incident where Andy Chapman appeared to strike a Royston player, and the big substitute was shown a straight red card. A melee followed and when all had died down, Daryl Mitchell became the second Blues' player inside two minutes to see red. With the game almost at an end the visitors threw on their final substitute, Jamie Morriss, in place of Luke Robins. Morriss had just enough time to get onto the pitch before the referee blew the full time whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 0 Royston Town 2