ST MARGARETSBURY 2 HERTFORD TOWN 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 21st November 2009
Hertford Town will consider themselves unlucky not to have got something out of this game. With better finishing and a little more fortune in the first half they could well have gone in at the break, two or three goals to the good. However, a missed penalty half way through the half and those other missed opportunities just about summed up their afternoon. They also had chances in the second half but these also went begging, and the thoroughly miserable afternoon weather-wise, was compounded by a 2-0 away defeat.Teams - St Margaretsbury: 1. James Sturgeon, 2. Dean Davis, 3. Ed Taylor (capt), 4. Carl Robinson, 5. Steve Barker, 6. Paul Taylor, 7. Sam Crichton, 8. Martin Stickland, 9. Mark Draper, 10. Ben Wiper, 11. Joe Rudkin. Subs Used: Ben Herod (for Davis), Tony Smith (for Rudkin), Omar Awadh (for Draper).
Hertford Town: 1. Louis O'Neill, 2. Chris Spiteri, 3. Daryl Mitchell, 4. Joe Scales, 5. Ryan Gordon, 6. Joel Maybury, 7. Attila Korsoveczki, 8. Matt McArdle, 9. Dominic Musafiri, 10. Kevin Cooper (capt), 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Joshua Paine (for Musafiri), Charlie Smith (for Scales), Andy Chapman (for Spiteri).
No fewer than four Hertford Town players were suspended for this one, so in his first match in charge since the sudden departure of Pablo Ardiles, Scott O'Donoghue was forced to make some changes to the line-up, though on paper this still looked like quite a strong selection. Indeed, the Blues dominated the opening minutes of the game with both Dominic Musafiri and Kevin Cooper going close, though neither could convert their chances. It was not until the thirteenth minute that the home side really applied any pressure when they forced a corner, though this was easily cleared. A minute later they were awarded a free kick inside the Hertford half but Ben Wiper's effort was hit high and wide. A short while later, St Margaretsbury thought they had scored when the ball was forced over the line following a trademark Joe Rudkin long throw, but the assistant on the far side had signalled for offside and Hertford were awarded a free kick instead.
The first telling incident of the game came in the eighteenth minute when Lee Roberts was clearly brought down inside the St Margaretsbury eighteen yard box by Dean Davis, indeed another referee may have cautioned the home side's right back for his untidy challenge. The normally reliable Daryl Mitchell stepped up to take the resulting penalty, but by his standards hit a poor effort that was saved and gathered by James Sturgeon, diving to his right.
Play was soon at the other end and the home side won a corner. Paul Taylor's cross was played dangerously into the visitors' box though the ball came straight back out to the former Hertford player. After a little more pressure it was eventually hit safely behind. Another St Margaretsbury corner soon afterwards was well-held by Louis O'Neill. The Blues had another chance in the 24th minute when a Mitchell free kick found Kevin Cooper, but his headed effort was over the bar. A minute later a Mitchell corner found Dominic Musafiri but the ball was hit safely behind.
On the half hour mark Musafiri fed the ball to Cooper who tried a shot, but his deflected effort was well-saved by Sturgeon. The visitors were again given a good chance as the half entered the final five minutes. A free kick was awarded a short distance outside the St Margaretsbury box, but Mitchell hit his effort over the bar. As half time approached Joe Rudkin hit a powerful shot that cannoned off O'Neill's crossbar, with the Hertford 'keeper beaten. The ball eventually fell safely behind and the referee soon blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: St Margaretsbury 0 Hertford Town 0
The visitors again applied the early pressure at the start of the second half and less than two minutes after the restart Kevin Cooper hit a powerful shot but it was straight at Sturgeon. Four minutes later and at the other end a Rudkin long throw found Draper but he shot over. The first booking of the game soon came when the home side's Paul Taylor was shown yellow for up-ending Matt McArdle. Cooper hit the resulting free kick into the St Margaretsbury wall. A few minutes later Cooper was booked for dissent and the home side won a corner. The cross was awful and easily dealt with by the Hertford defence. The visitors soon won a corner but Mitchell's cross cleared everyone and fell harmlessly behind. Another Hertford corner a minute later was wasted when Attila Korsoveczki played the ball short to Mitchell and the chance came to nothing. Mitchell then hit another free kick for his side over the bar.
The first substitution came on the hour mark when the home side sent on Ben Herod to replace the quite awful Dean Davis. They soon won two corners in succession though the second was well-cleared by the Hertford defence. An altercation between Mitchell and a home player then saw both players booked to put the card score at two apiece. The visitors then won two successive corners. The second came out to Musafiri but he hit his effort over the bar. Another corner to the home side was eventually hit safely behind.
With a little more than quarter of an hour of normal time remaining St Margaretsbury were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position. Taylor played the ball into the box and it found Steve Barker, who nodded in at the back post to break the deadlock. The home side then won another corner though this was cleared. This was immediately followed by a double substitution for the visitors as Joshua Paine and Charlie Smith came on to replace Musafiri and Joe Scales. St Margaretsbury's second change two minutes later brought some relief to the visitors as Tony Smith came on to replace the dangerous Joe Rudkin, whose impressive long throws had been proving something of a handful for the Hertford defence.
The game was effectively over in the 85th minute. St Margaretsbury substitute Ben Herod neatly passed the ball to Mark Draper and the former Hertford Reserves danger-man made no mistake in burying the ball in the back of the net to give his side a 2-0 lead. The visitors immediately made their third and final substitution as Chris Spiteri made way for Andy Chapman, who came on to some applause from the visiting support. As the game went into time added on, the beaten visitors began to apply some pressure. A corner was played short to Korsoveczki but his shot was saved. A short while later the same player shot over the bar. Lee Roberts then shot wide. The home side had time for their final substitution, Omar Awadh replacing Draper, before the referee blew the final whistle.
Final Score: St Margaretsbury 2 Hertford Town 0