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SAT 7 OCTOBER 2006 - SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
HERTFORD TOWN 7 ROYSTON TOWN 1
Hertford made it 16 goals in two games as they comprehensively demolished Royston Town to move into second spot in the league table. Panayiotis Panayiotou replaced the suspended Kevin Cooper as the only change from the eleven who ran up 9 goals at Haringey last Saturday.
Tem: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. John Barker (capt), 5. Matt Watts, 6. Paul Taylor, 7. Scott Neilson, 8. Leo Turner, 9. Ryan Redford. 10. Panayiotis Panayiotou, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 14. Kevin Ashwood (for Neilson, 73,) 15. Ashley McAloon (for Marsh, 83), 16. Tom Neill (for Ardiles, 82).
From the off, there was no doubt who was going to boss this game, and the Blues picked up where they left off at Haringey last Saturday, playing in the confident knowledge that they had the firepower up front to win easily against a Royston side reduced to playing the offside game in order to try and stem the home side's attacks. On 8 minutes a flowing move by Hertford, with Leo Turner and Lee Roberts prominent saw the ball fall to Scott Neilson. The teenager's shot was deflected for a corner, from which Lee Roberts fired just over. Hertford eased into a lead on 11 minutes, when Lee Roberts took a free kick out on the left, and SCOTT NEILSON scored with a scorching drive across the goal from the edge of the box. A minute later it was nearly two, as Lee Roberts ended a fine run with a shot which 'keeper Christopher Chambers gratefully smothered on the ground. It was 2-0 on 16 minutes as RYAN REDFORD showed great individual skill by beating 'keeper Chambers to the ball on the edge of the box, taking the ball on and stroking it home from an acute angle.
A minute later it was three, as RYAN REDFORD doubled his own tally when he stole in at the near post to head home a Lee Roberts cross. Redford twice nearly completed a hat-trick in the next three minutes, but for the moment seemed to have lost his aim. Royston's top scorer David McMurrough shot well wide on 21 minutes, with a rare chance for the visitors, then Peter Chappell lofted the ball onto the top of the crossbar from long range.
A superb ball through midfield from the impressive Paul Taylor saw Ryan Redford miss another great chance on 28 minutes, when he skied the ball well over the bar. A minute later, though, it was 4-0 when LEE ROBERTS let fly with a classic cross-cum-shot which fairly flew into the far corner from over 30 yards. On 30 minutes Ryan Redford got past the last defender and squared the ball to Lee Roberts, who got the ball tangled in his feet and lost the opportunity to dispatch it first time. When he did get the chance to shoot, he put the ball wide of the gaping net. Another Lee Roberts shot a few minutes later was also off target, as was a Leo Turner header. RYAN REDFORD completed his hat-trick on 40 minutes, finishing off another Lee Roberts assist. Pani Panayioto was playing an excellant supporting role, with lots of flicks and lay-offs to Redford and the supporting midfielders and he continued to set up opportunities for his prolific strike partner.
It was left winger Lee Roberts who came nearest to scoring the next goal, but again his shot was wide.
Half Time: Hertford Town 5 Royston Town 0
With not a lot to lose, Royston made all three permitted substitutions at half time - a most unusual occurance. It seemed to make no difference, as on 50 minutes, RYAN REDFORD scored a quite superb individual goal, when he beat a defender several times before calmly slotting home past a helpless Chambers in the Royston goal. Scott Neilson tried to get another goal on 53 minutes but 'keeper Chambers somehow managed to hang on to the ball. There appeared to be a serious liklihood of at least equalling last week's score, but to their credit, Royston didn't completely capitulate. On 54 minutes, Royston's most prominent palyer, Kojo Ofori, struck a 30 yard free kick which Mark Virgo parried for his first real save of the afternoon. David McMurrough tested Virgo with a powerful 25 yard strike, but the underemployed home 'keeper was alert to the danger, and saved well. With the game well won, Hertford made all three permitted substitutions, with first Kevin Ashwood replacing Scott Neilson, then full back Pablo Ardiles and Nicky Marsh giving way to Tom Neil and Ashley McAloon. In between the first and second substitutions, RYAN REDFORD got number seven and his own 5th (and twentieth of the season), when he ran on to a long through ball, outpaced the struggling Royston defenders and coolly loobed the 'keeper. It was important to the home side to continue their good defensive work with a third consecutive clean sheet, but this aim was thwarted when substitute Jeremy McMurrough scored afine individual goal when he lobbed Mark Virgo in the fourth minute of added time.
Final Score: Hertford Town 7 Royston Town 1
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