SAT 25 AUGUST 2007 - SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS PREMIER DIVISION
HERTFORD TOWN 1 BEACONSFIELD SYCOB 2

Hertford brought back Phil Goss after illness, at the expense of Nicky Burt, and Louis Lancaster was again preferred at left back, with Pablo Ardiles on the bench.
Team: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Louis Lancaster, 4. Kevin Kilroy (capt), 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Ryan Wade, 7. Panayiotis Panayiotou, 8. Phil Goss, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 12. Pablo Ardiles (for Lancaster, 65), 14. Nicky Burt (for Goss, 69), 15. Ross Collins (for Panayiotou, 80)

On a very warm day, in unbroken sunshine, Hertford ground out an apparent three points with a late goal just like the previous Saturday, only to be hit by a double whammy from the visitors, who equalised with a gift penalty on 88 minutes, then, with their bench screaming at them not to give the point away, they got the winner in the fifth minute of time added, with a quite magnificent strike.

Early exchanges did not amount to much at all, although SYCOB won a 4th minute corner from which central defender Dan West fired over the bar. On 6 minutes, Louis Lancaster's long throw from the left was knocked on to Phil Goss on the right of the 18 yard area, but the midfielder's shot went just wide. Hertford won a corner on 10 minutes after Ryan Redford had popped up inside the six yard box, only for 'keeper Nick Hart to deflect his shot around the post. Although Lee Roberts' long corner kick was headed back into the box by Phil Goss, the ball was cleared by a defender.
After 17 minutes, Hertford were awarded a free kick in a dangerous central position 22 yards out when Redford was fouled by Paul Kelly. Although Kevin Kilroy shaped up to take the kick, it was Ryan Wade who curled an effort just over the bar. When Phil Goss found Ryan Redford right in front of goal a minute later, the leading scorer was unable to convert under pressure from a defender.
On 24 minutes, a misplaced pass from Ryan Wade let in SYCOB's Ben Swift, but fortunately he shot just wide of the upright. Following the award of a corner to the visitors on 26 minutes, Ryan Wade was booked, then, on 29 minutes Mark Virgo had to tip a high cross over the bar for a corner. Pany was booked for a foul on 31 minutes, having been lectured earlier on in the game for previous offences. Louis Lancaster became the third Hertford player to be booked, on 39 minutes, and SYCOB's Stuart Swift placed the resultant free kick just wide. In the final minutes of the half, Hertford mounted sevral attacks on the visotors' goal, with Lee Roberts, Panayiotis Panayiotou and Ryan Wade all going close.

Half Time: Hertford Town 0 Beaconsfield SYCOB 0

Ryan Wade was sent tumbling in the box in the 47th minute but the Blues' half hearted appeals probably got what they deserved. After a period of Hertford pressure, SYCOB broke away, and only a timely intervention by Nicky Marsh saved the day. The visitors won a free kick on 56 minutes just outside the penalty area but Stuart Swift's kick was blocked by Louis Lancaster. At the other end Kevin Cooper cleverly found Lee Roberts but the winger's fine centre was headed behind for a corner by Paul Brett. As the game flowed from end to end, it was Glenn Draper's turn provide a saving header to thwart SYCOB. As the heat took it's toll, the substitutions began. Hertford withdrew Louis Lancaster and sent on Pablo Ardiles. SYCOB replaced Ben Swift with Adamson Ajayi. Ryan Redford was starting to create more openings for himself, and on 67 minutes he cut in from the right and saw his shot deflected. Phil Goss came off to be replaced by Nicky Burt and again, SYCOB made a substitution at the same time, with Michael Currie replaced by Lee Smith. As the game moved into the final quarter Hertford looked more and more like they would break the deadlock, while the visitors looked content to protect a point. Redford retrieved a long cross and passed to Lee Roberts, who picked out Kevin Cooper. The strikers close range strike was smothered by 'keeper Hart though and the game remained goal-less. On 80 minutes, Cooper presented Ryan Redford with another opportunity, but his delicate lob drifted just wide. Hertford made a third and final substitution when teenager Ross Collins came on in place of Pany. Almost immediately, The Blues were in the lead, when RYAN REDFORD seized on a mistake by Matt Clarke, took the ball on and slotted home past Nick Hart, much to the relief of the home faithful. Another slick move moments later saw Lee Roberts drive on down the wing before presenting Cooper with a gilt edged chance to put the game beyond SYCOB's reach, but somehow Cooper missed the target.
On 88 minutes disaster struck for the home side when Nicky Marsh rashly challenged a SYCOB forward to concede a penalty. Although Mark Virgo read Stuart Swift's spot kick correctly, the ball squeezed under his body and just crossed the line.
SYCOB were clearly hugely relieved to get back on terms, and their bench were urging them not to take undue risks. Unfortunately for Hertford, SYCOB's Oliver Godwin had other ideas and made just about his only visit to Hertford's last third when he latched on to a square pass from Lee Smith to blast an unstoppable 25 yarder past Mark Virgo to put the visitors 1-2 up in the 94th minute. There was just time to restart the game before the final whistle and the game ended with supporters and players of both sides stunned by the events of the last 10 minutes.

Final Score: Hertofrd Town 1 Beaconsfield SYCOB 2

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