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MONDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2008 - SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE CHALLENGE TROPHY
SPORT LONDON e BENFICA 1 HERTFORD TOWN 3 (AET)
A rare Monday night game saw the Blues travel to West London for this league cup
tie, played on Hanwell Town's magnificent pitch. Hertford included new signing Owen Beale in midfield.
Teams: - Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Joel Maybury, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Sean Crossley, 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Kevin Kilroy (capt), 7. Tom Powell, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Reece Lyons, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. David Anyetei. Subs Used: 12. Chris Odell (for Kilroy, 79), 17. Adam Mayson (for Lyons, 69).
Sport London e Benfica: 1. Fernando Seidi, 2. Paulo Cabral, 3. Kevin Bruce, 4. Helder Da Silva, 5. Paulo Marques, 6. Alfonso Ferreira (capt), 7. Fabrilio Da Silva, 8. Chomalu Pereira, 9. Albert De Matos, 10. Ivo Barroso, 11. Dani Da Conceicao. Subs Used: 14. Rui Martins (for).
The match started at an electric pace, on arguably the best playing surface in the league. The home side looked very athletic in their replica Benfica kit, and soon put the visitors under pressure with their fast flowing football. Joel Maybury, playing at right back was forced to concede the first of many corners to Benfica, as early as the second minute. Another side of Benfica surfaced on 4 minutes though, when Kevin Kilroy required lengthy treatment to a calf injury caused by a nasty tackle from Fabrilio Da Silva - an injury that would see the influential Kilroy limp out of the game later on.
Kilroy was booked for a 12th minute foul as he struggled to play on with his injury. Benfica's Chomalu Pereira went close with a good header on 13 minutes, but in general the home side's shooting was from range and off target. Their general supremacy led to a series of corners, all well defended by Hertford. Da Silva was the main threat to Hertford at this stage and Lee Robinson made a couple of outstanding saves from his efforts. Then impressive left back Kevin Bruce, the only non Portuguese in the side, did well and set up Albert De Matos for a close range header which was not far off target. Hertford were offering no threat at the other end, with Kevin Cooper having to come too far back in search of the ball. Owen Beale was prominent in the Hertford midfield but Reece Lyons looked out of place out on the wide right. On 29 minutes however, Beale conceded a corner from all of 45 yards, a rare feat.
Hertford's first chance came on 32 minutes when Tom Powell, who had started the game at left back but was now playing wide left, found himself through on goal, but tapped the ball tamely at 'keeper Seidi. Hertford, having withstood the onslaught were now starting to mount serious attacks, and David Anyetei got round the back before crossing to the waiting Kevin Cooper, but the tall home 'keeper was able to pluck the ball out of the air. Lee Robinson was required to make another good save at the expense of another corner, on 42 minutes from Fabrilio Da Silva. As the game moved into time added, Benfica's Chomalu Pereira was booked for a foul, then Hertford took the lead when TOM POWELL made up for his earlier miss when he teed up the ball 12 yards out and fired smartly past Seiti. There was just time for another yellow card from the busy referee, when Benfica's De Matos joined the growing list.
Half time: Sport London e Benfica 0 Hertford Town 1
Home 'keeper Seiti made a good save from David Anyetei, when the striker was set up by Kevin Cooper, then Ivo Barroso was added to the referees paperwork. Beale joined him in the book on the hour as the game continued to be played at pace but tetchily. Benfica introduced substitute Saulo Masimento on 61 minutes, and they continued to test the resolve of the overworked Hertford defence. Joel Maybury pulled off a great saving header on 67 minutes as he helped out the extremely busy Lee Robinson. Benfica sent on Rui Martins on 69 minutes and Hertford brought on Adam Mayson for Reece Lyons. Within a minute, Martins had put his side back in it as he hit a stunning 30 yard drive which Lee Robinson appeared to have covered, but was beaten by late reverse swing and the ball went under his diving body to level the scores.
The home side's hard man Fabrilio Da Silva finally got the booking he had been working so hard for, and
Benfica won further corners and brought another fine save from Robinson, and a goal line clearance from Maybury, before Kevin Kilroy eventually had to call it a day and be replaced by Chris Odell. A smart move started by Joel Maybury and linked up by the tireless Kevin Cooper gave Owen Beale the chance to put his new side back in the lead, but his shot was well saved by Seiti for a rare Hertford corner. The booking count escalated rapidly as Helder Da Silva, Glenn Draper and Adam Mayson all joined the list. Mayson's booking came after a 20 man melee which occurred after Benfica's Fabrilio Da Silva shaped up to give the ball back to Lee Robinson after an injury break, and a dropped ball, but set off on a mazy run in the direction of the Hertford goal. Mayson ensured that he didn't complete the run and after all the outfield players had become involved in the dispute, Mayson was the only player to be cautioned.
Full time: Sport London e Benfica 1 Hertford Town 1
So to extra time to decide who would be going to The 61 FC in the next round. Smart money would have been on the home side, but it didn't turn out like that. Further work was required by Lee Robinson as Benfica threw everything at Hertford, Chris Odell became the fifth Blues player booked, then the life was knocked out of Benfica when Hertford regained the lead just before the end of the first period of extra time. A long free kick from the left landed in the goalmouth and although KEVIN COOPER'S first effort was blocked by Seiti, he gleefully poked home the rebound.
There was almost a repeat moments later when Owen Beale landed the ball on Cooper's head, but he couldn't directhis header on goal.
Although David Anyetei had only completed his first 90 minutes of the season in Saturday's game, he was finding extra time to his liking and was getting past the previously rapid right back Cabral with ease. He made one such run on 108 minutes and slipped the ball to the supporting Adam Mayson. Although Seiti blocked Mayson's shot, that man KEVIN COOPER was on hand to tap home for 3-1. Benfica had nothing left at this stage and Anyetei, Cooper and Mayson got chances to make the victory even more emphatic.
Final score after extra time: Sport London e Benfica 1 Hertford Town 3
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