TRING ATHLETIC 0 HERTFORD TOWN 2
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Tuesday 14th April 2009
This was the fourth meeting between the two teams this season, honours having been shared across two cup games and the earlier league fixture at Hertingfordbury Park ending in a 1-1 draw. At half time, and following some desperate last ditch defending by the visiting side in this game, the score remained 0-0 and it seemed another draw may have been on the cards. However, Hertford scored two goals in a closely-fought second half to take the points, though on any other day it could easily have been the hosts who claimed the spoils.
Teams - Tring Athletic: 1. Dave Clark, 2. Dave Salmon, 3. Kerry Gordon, 4. Graham Hall, 5. Steve Smith, 6. Henry Thomas, 7. Tony Fields, 8. Trevor Gibbs (capt), 9. Ryan Blake, 10. Andy Mullins, 11. Rob Duncan. Subs Used: Ty North (for Thomas), Dave Whicker (for Gordon), Ashley Addison (for Duncan).
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Ryan Gordon, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Matt McArdle, 7. Jamie Abbott, 8. Dave Hunt, 9. Troy Alexander-Jarrett, 10. Daryl Mitchell, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Chris Spiteri (for Abbott), Pablo Ardiles (for Roberts), Andros Zavros (for Alexander-Jarrett).
The home side mounted the first attack and won a corner in the second minute, though this was cleared. The visitors were soon on the attack, but this was thwarted when a Troy Alexander-Jarrett cross was cut out by Tring 'keeper Dave Clark. Alexander-Jarrett also had the next shot on goal, but this was saved at Clark's near post. On the quarter of an hour mark Daryl Mitchell had a shot from distance but it was hit straight at Clark. Tring immediately mounted a counter-attack, but Andy Mullins fired across Lee Robinson's goal when he should perhaps have done better. The ball was soon back up the other end and Hertford won a corner, though Mitchell's effort was headed clear. Dave Hunt then had a shot but his effort was weakly hit and easily gathered by Clark. The Hertford pressure continued and Lee Roberts played the ball to Hunt, who crossed the ball into the box, where it was hit behind for a corner. This was again taken by Mitchell and deftly flicked on in the box by Alexander-Jarrett, though ultimately the ball was cleared to safety. The visitors soon won a free kick, though Mitchell's effort was over-hit, clearing everyone and the bar.
Half way through the first period a good passing move by the home side saw them shoot just wide, much to the relief of the Hertford players and supporters. Another good Tring effort moments later brought out a fine save from Lee Robinson. A corner soon after for the home side was cleared off the line by Joel Maybury. Hertford immediately went on the break and the ball fell to Alexander-Jarrett, but he shot wide. A corner for the visitors a short while later was taken by Jamie Abbott but his cross was headed clear. Another Abbott corner on the half hour mark was also headed clear. Mitchell then tried an effort from distance, but this was hit wide.
With less than ten minutes of the half remaining Tring's captain Trevor Gibbs shot across the face of goal, when a more accurate effort may have caused problems for the Hertford defence. Another effort for the home side was soon cleared off the line with Glenn Draper blocking the follow-up attempt. As the game went into first half injury time the visitors won a corner, which was again taken by Jamie Abbott. His cross found Dave Hunt but his header was wide. Well into injury time a Hunt cross found Matt McArdle who hit a powerful shot from the edge of the box. His effort beat Clark but cannoned off the post to safety. This was effectively the last action of the half and the genial referee soon blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Tring Athletic 0 Hertford Town 0
The home side made two changes at the start of the second half; Ty North and Dave Whicker coming on for Henry Thomas and Kerry Gordon. The first shot of the half came from Hertford's captain Glenn Draper, but he hit a centre half's effort very, very wide of the target. Nine minutes after the break a Hertford corner was taken by Daryl Mitchell. His excellent cross found Draper at the far post. The big skipper then sent a looping header back across the face of goal, which found Jamie Abbott amongst a crowd of Tring players. Despite being outnumbered, Abbott managed to force the ball across the line to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The home side had a good chance on the hour mark, which was cleared behind for a corner. This was taken short and as so often happens at this level came to nothing. The visitors then mounted a counter-attack through Lee Roberts, whose solo run took the ball half the length of the pitch. With no immediate support, Roberts took a shot himself, but was just wide of the mark. The visitors soon won a free kick, which was taken short by Mitchell to Abbott, though the move broke down before any penetration could be made into the Tring box. Another Mitchell free kick was then hit straight at Dave Clark in the Tring goal.
A short while later Tring's Graham Hall received the first booking of the night after he brought down Matt McArdle. The resulting free kick was well-hit by Jamie Abbott, but equally well-saved by Clark. Both sides then made substitutions; the home side made their final change of the evening, bringing on Ashley Addison for Rob Duncan, whilst the visitors sent on Chris Spiteri for goal scorer Abbott, who left the field to an ovation from the visiting supporters. A Hertford attack soon saw Dave Hunt play in Alexander-Jarrett, but his shot lacked power and was easily saved.
As the game went into the final quarter of an hour of normal time the home side began to dominate in their quest for an equaliser. They won three corners in quick succession; the first was punched clear by Lee Robinson, the second was flicked on but cleared off the line and the third was hit too long. Danger man Trevor Gibbs then had an effort well-saved by Robinson. An immediate Hertford counter attack then saw Dave Hunt's long-distance effort fall just wide of the post. It was not long however, before the visitors doubled their lead. A long clearance down the right eventually saw the ball well-played in to Troy Alexander-Jarrett, who had made himself some space. He controlled the ball well, composed himself and placed an excellent shot past Clark and into the back of the net to make the score 2-0. Hertford immediately made their second substitution, player-manager Pablo Ardiles coming on for Lee Roberts.
As the game went into the final few minutes the home side won a corner but it was over-hit, clearing everyone and going harmlessly wide. Following a short period of Tring pressure, Hertford's Matt McArdle then received his side's first yellow card for a foul committed at the beginning of the Tring move. A Hertford corner on the stroke of normal time saw Mitchell's cross find Dave Hunt, but he headed wide. The visitors then made their final change, Alexander-Jarrett coming off to an ovation from the travelling support and Andros Zavros coming on for a rare appearance. It appeared that Zavros' appearance may have been very short lived when the referee soon blew the whistle, but it was for an infringement, and indeed a further five minutes of injury time were played, with the youngster being involved in a couple of promising Hertford moves. The home side also had chances in time added on though the referee eventually blew the final whistle with no addition to the score.
Final Score: Tring Athletic 0 Hertford Town 2