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FA Vase - First Round Proper
Saturday 4th October 2008
TIPTREE UNITED 8 HERTFORD TOWN 0
Following an approach for striker Kevin Cooper from a rival Spartan League club and the late withdrawal of other senior players, caretaker boss Dave Steedman was forced into putting out a makeshift team, with only injured goalkeeper, Grant Hamilton on the bench. The inexperienced team held their own for much of the first half but were hit by two killer blows, one each side of half time, which effectively ended the contest. Despite a battling performance by the unfamiliar team, they could not match their experienced hosts from the Ridgeons League, and finally succumbed to a heavy defeat, though were unlucky not to get at least one goal back during a late revival.
Teams - Tiptree United: 1. Arron Benstead, 2. Seb Murfet, 3. John Watson, 4. Bradley Stopher, 5. Liam White, 6. Gary Wraite (capt), 7. Richard Manning, 8. Liam Coleman, 9. Jamie Arlick, 10. Tommy English, 11. George Lay. Subs Used: Liam Aves (for Watson), Tommy Noble (for English), Lewin Ward (for Wraite).
Hertford Town: 1. Louis O'Neill, 2. Adam Mayson, 3. Pablo Ardiles (capt), 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Tom Powell, 6. Jamie Abbott, 7. Andros Zavros, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. David Anyetei, 10. Chris Spiteri, 11. Jack Bruno.
Both teams began the match quite cautiously, the two line-ups not having met before. The opening minutes were thus spent with each trying to gauge the other's strengths and weaknesses. However, as early as the second minute the Tiptree defence conceded a corner, though the following Hertford set piece came to nothing. Two minutes later Tiptree skipper Gary Wraite produced the home team's first shot of the match, but his speculative effort was hit well over the bar. The home team won a few corners during the next few minutes but none of these troubled the visiting defence.
On eight minutes Tommy English led what would be one of a number of penetrating attacks by the home side. The attack only led to a corner however and that chance was wasted. Shortly afterwards Hertford were awarded a couple of free kicks with Tiptree midfielder Liam Coleman being cautioned for kicking the ball away following one of these decisions. On eleven minutes Tiptree's Richard Manning tried a long-distance shot from wide on the left and his effort only just cleared the bar. Two minutes later the home side finally breached their opponents' defence. TOMMY ENGLISH playing down the right took the ball around a number of defenders and struck the ball into the back of the net to put Tiptree ahead.
The following few minutes saw a period of Tiptree pressure with both John Watson and Liam Coleman taking shots at the Hertford goal. A moment of controversy came on 23 minutes. Home custodian Arron Benstead picked up what the referee interpreted as a backpass, and Hertford Town were awarded an indirect free kick just inside the Tiptree 18 yard box. Pablo Ardiles tapped the ball to Dave Hunt who blasted a shot straight at the Tiptree wall. The ball rebounded to Jack Bruno who also took a shot but his effort was wide.
Just before the half hour mark Pablo Ardiles had a shot on target but it was well saved by 'keeper Benstead. A little later Liam Coleman had a shot at the other end but that too was well saved by visiting custodian Louis O'Neill. There then followed another period of Tiptree pressure, with the home side winning a succession of corners, though the visiting defence was able to avert the danger each time.
On 42 minutes during a rare Hertford attack, a good move by the visiting team saw Pablo Ardiles in possession and advancing towards the home goal. He put in a through ball that evaded the Tiptree defence but none of his team mates had read his intentions and the chance was wasted. There were then further chances for both teams but none of them came to anything.
Approaching the end of the half it appeared as if the visitors would go into the break with a deficit of just one goal, but they were struck a cruel blow on 45 minutes. TOMMY ENGLISH was the first to a Tiptree cross put in from the left. His deft header evaded the visiting 'keeper and defence, squeezing in at the far post for his and Tiptree's second goal. This was effectively the final action of the first half.
Half Time Score: Tiptree United 2 Hertford Town 0
Hertford Town were dealt another blow less than a minute after the restart. Having kicked off the half they soon conceded possession and gave away a free kick. The ball was floated in and found TOMMY ENGLISH who made no mistake at the near post, completing his hat trick. Seven minutes later it was 4-0. Tiptree captain GARY WRAITE found himself in space on the edge of the Hertford box, from where he coolly lobbed the ball over the advancing 'keeper and into the back of the net. A minute later the home team won a corner but could not further extend their lead.
A short while later, good work by Tiptree defender John Watson led to a chance for Tommy English to add to his tally, but he snatched his shot wide of the right post. Almost immediately Hertford went on the attack and a good cross from Dave Hunt found Pablo Ardiles, but the Blues' skipper also pulled his shot wide to the right.
On 61 minutes Tiptree won a corner and JAMIE ARLICK found himself unmarked at the near post. He scored an easy goal to make the score 5-0. Four minutes later the home team won another corner and again a player found himself unmarked. This time it was defender JOHN WATSON at the back post, who made no mistake with a simple header. Soon after having put his side 6-0 up, Watson was replaced on the field by Liam Aves.
Two minutes later Hertford were awarded a free kick some distance out from the Tiptree goal. A well-taken kick by the hard-working Jack Bruno floated just over the home 'keeper, but unfortunately also just over the bar, landing on the roof of the net. On 70 minutes Jamie Abbott had a shot on target for the visitors, but despite taking a deflection, was well saved by 'keeper Benstead. Three minutes later Hertford were dealt another blow when striker David Anyetei received a knee injury which necessitated treatment off the pitch and reduced the away side to ten men for a few minutes. Whilst Anyetei was receiving treatment, Tiptree made their second substitution bringing on Tommy Noble for Tommy English, who left the field to an ovation from the home bench and supporters.
Shortly afterwards good work down the Hertford left by Chris Spiteri led to the Blues' player putting in a cross, which found Dave Hunt, but his header was wide. Almost immediately the home team went on the attack. Liam Coleman drew out visiting 'keeper O'Neill and calmly slotted a low shot into the back of the net to make the score 7-0. Tiptree immediately made their third and final substitution, bringing on Lewin Ward for inspirational skipper Gary Wraite.
Meanwhile, David Anyetei had re-entered the field of play following treatment to his injured knee, though was clearly very uncomfortable. On 85 minutes he could continue no further and was forced to retire from the game. With no fit replacements on the bench, Hertford had to play the remainder of the game with only ten players.
Tiptree had the opportunity to further extend their lead when Jamie Abbott fouled substitute Lewin Ward on the edge of the Hertford box, but the resulting free kick came to nothing. With the away supporters calling for the referee to end their misery, Hertford Town began a short period of dominance. The visitors were awarded a corner, which was taken short. Joel Maybury put in a cross to Tom Powell but his powerful header was well saved by Benstead. A second corner was well taken by Jack Bruno. The ball appeared to be curling straight into the goal, but eventually fell just wide of the far post. Tiptree immediately mounted a counter-attack and with a number of Hertford players committed upfield, it was substitute Tommy Noble who put the final nail in the Hertford coffin. He struck his shot past the helpless O'Neill to make the score 8-0.
There was time for one more Tiptree attack, which was halted by a somewhat reckless tackle by Chris Spiteri on a Tiptree player wide on their right. Spiteri received only the second caution of the game and the home side were awarded a free kick. The resultant set piece came to nothing and the referee blew the final whistle.
Final Score: Tiptree United 8 Hertford Town 0
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