HERTFORD TOWN 1 ST MARGARETSBURY 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Saturday 14th March 2009
The visitors, who included seven ex-Blues in their squad, went into this match on the back of five consecutive league victories, having conceded only a single goal in the process. Hertford Town on the other hand had put in two indifferent performances in the recent games against Cockfosters and Kentish Town. However, the first half of this game demonstrated the futility of relying on the form book to predict results, as the Blues dominated the match and scored what would prove to be the winner. The second half wasn't so pretty but they have at least shown how they can play as a unit.Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt) 6. Matt McArdle, 7. Alex Scriven, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Scott O'Donoghue, 10. Dave Hunt, 11. Rob Luya. Subs Used: Nick O'Donoghue (for Scott O'Donoghue), Chris Spiteri (for Scriven)
St Margaretsbury: 1. James Sturgeon, 2. Simon Hayward, 3. Ricky Light, 4. John Barker (capt), 5. Kaine Lovett, 6. Ben Wiper, 7. Kevin Ashwood, 8. Andy Birnie, 9. Mark Draper, 10. Scott McGuiness, 11. Ed Taylor. Subs Used: Martin Stickland (for Light), Brendan Brien (for McGuiness), Paul Taylor (for Birnie).
Before the match started there was a short presentation on the pitch. Hertford Town Chairman, Mick Clarke, presented Glenn Draper an engraved salver, in acknowledgement of the Blues' captain having notched up 250 appearances for the club.
It was the home team that had the first chance of the game when Rob Luya went on an impressive solo run, but his shot was disappointing and easily gathered by James Sturgeon in the St Margaretsbury goal. A few minutes later the Blues had another chance. Luya's corner was flicked on to Alex Scriven, but he headed wide. The Hertford pressure continued and Scott O'Donoghue played in Matt McArdle, though he shot wide.
On ten minutes the Blues appeared to get caught napping as the visitors' Ed Taylor was allowed a free run on goal. To the relief of the home players and supporters however, he shot over the bar. A minute later the ball was back at the other end and the Blues won a corner. Owen Beale's kick was well struck to McArdle but he headed just over. As play flowed from end to end it was St Margaretsbury's Andy Birnie who was presented with the next chance. He let loose a vicious shot on the Hertford goal but it was well saved by Lee Robinson.
Play continued to be played at an impressive pace with the home side nudging the contest though with no decisive moves. The breakthrough came, however, on the half hour mark. Dave Hunt, playing down the left played the ball in to Scott O'Donoghue, who found Luya. He flicked the ball on to OWEN BEALE who stabbed in at the far post to give the home side a deserved 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later the Blues were again on the attack. Hunt played in Beale, but his shot was wide. After another five minutes the home side won a corner. However, Luya's kick was cleared and in any case the visitors were awarded a free kick for an infringement in the area. St Margaretsbury's Andie Birnie then became the first player in the referee's book for a poorly-timed challenge at the other end. The Blues continued to dominate and won another free kick in the visitors' half. Luya played the ball in but the chance came to nothing. On the stroke of half time Owen Beale was booked for a foul.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 1 St Margaretsbury 0
The visitors kicked off the second half and immediately went on the attack. Ed Taylor was put in with a good chance but put his effort wide. St Margaretsbury captain John Barker soon became his team's second player to be booked for complaining just a little too much about a refereeing decision. The home side soon won a corner, though this came to nothing. Another corner soon followed and although this too came to nothing, they continued to put pressure on the St Margaretsbury goal. The next chance fell to Alex Scriven, but he blasted his effort over the bar. Matt McArdle soon became the second Hertford Town player booked. He received a yellow card for the third consecutive match, this time for dissent. The Blues continued to pressurise and won another corner. This was poorly executed however and the chance wasted. There was then a stoppage in play following a clash of heads between Hertford Town's Michael Cooper and St Margaretsbury's Ben Wiper. Following the resumption of play a good move saw Beale put in with a chance but his effort hit Sturgeon's bar.
After this the Blues appeared to take their foot off the gas and their dominance subsided. St Margaretsbury made an early substitution bringing on Martin Stickland for Ricky Light. They also won a free kick in the Hertford half, though Kevin Ashwood's shot was saved. The visitors then won a couple of corners but nothing came of either of these.
As the game approached the final quarter of an hour the home side won a corner. Beale played a dangerous cross into the box, which found the head of Scott O'Donoghue, but his effort hit the post. Glenn Draper soon became the third Hertford player booked, again for dissent.
The visitors soon made their second change of the afternoon, bringing on Brendan Brien for Scott McGuiness. They then won a corner, though this came to nothing. Shortly after this there was bit of handbags between Hertford's Joel Maybury and St Margaretsbury's Martin Stickland. The referee spoke to both players but took no further action.
As the game approached the last five minutes of normal time both sides made substitutions. The visitor's final change saw Paul Taylor come on for Andy Birnie, whilst the home side brought on Nick O'Donoghue for his Hertford Town debut, replacing his brother Scott. The Blues soon made a second change, bringing in on Chris Spiteri for Alex Scriven.
As the game went into injury time some comedy defending by the visitors following Hertford pressure, saw the ball fall to Spiteri, though his good effort was well saved by Sturgeon. The Blues won a corner that was played in by Luya though initially cleared. It fell to Michael Cooper, who tried an effort on goal, though this was again saved by Sturgeon. Shortly after the visiting custodian had cleared the ball upfield, the referee blew the full time whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 1 St Margaretsbury 0