WELWYN GARDEN CITY 0 HERTFORD TOWN 4
Molten Spartan South Midlands league - Premier Division Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 27th October 2009

For the second time in less than two months, Hertford Town defeated Welwyn Garden City 4-0 on their own patch. Indeed, Herns Lane must be the Blues' favourite ground at the moment, as in addition to these two victories, they also defeated Welwyn's tenants, Hatfield Town, by a goal to nil on the same pitch. The first half of this match was a pretty dour affair; the visitors took a deserved lead but allowed their hosts a lot of possession and territorial advantage, which they were unable to exploit. The second half was a little more lively, and the Blues began to dominate more as the game went on. Overall the 4-0 result was probably a fair one though the victory margin could have been greater, were it not for some heroics from home custodian Mark Jessop.

Teams - Welwyn Garden City: 1. Mark Jessop, 2. Chris Blackwood, 3. Luke Reid, 4. Richard Pearce, 5. Chris Sargent, 6. Josh Dance, 7. Martin Skip, 8. Shane Manogue (capt), 9. Bradley Wilkinson, 10. Micky Southam, 11. Luca Lusardi. Subs Used: Jason Williams (for Lusardi), Stewart King (for Wilkinson).

Hertford Town: 1. Louis O'Neill, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Alan Barker, 4. Ryan Gordon, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Harry Atkins, 7. Daryl Mitchell, 8. Matt McArdle, 9. Attila Korsoveczki, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Rob Luya. Subs Used: Joe Scales (for McArdle), Jason Coughlan (for Mitchell).

The first real threat of the game was a corner to the visitors. The ball was initially cleared but found its way back into the arms of home goalkeeper Mark Jessop. In the tenth minute the home side also won a corner but this was easily cleared. With the ball soon at the other end, Ryan Gordon shot wide for the visitors. An Attila Korsoveczki cross a few minutes later also found Gordon in an advanced position but he hit his powerful header straight at Jessop.

The first defining moment of the game came just before the midway point of the first half. Korsoveczki, again playing wide on the right, played in an excellent cross, which found MATT McARDLE, who had made a run from midfield. He made no mistake in slotting the ball past Jessop to open the scoring against his former club. As the half continued, neither side created any real chances and ten minutes before the break, Korsoveczki received the first booking of the evening for a foul. A few minutes later the home side won a corner, though this came to nothing. With three minutes of the half remaining, Korsoveczki tried a speculative shot from distance, but his effort was comfortably saved by Jessop. The referee played a few more minutes before blowing the half time whistle.

Half Time Score: Welwyn Garden City 0 Hertford Town 1

It was the visitors who again created the first chance of the second half. A Daryl Mitchell cross seven minutes after the break found Gordon, but he headed just wide. It was not long before the Blues doubled their lead, however. A good move saw Korsoveczki nod on to KEVIN COOPER, who controlled the ball well and calmly took it round Jessop to eventually slot it into the empty net for 2-0. The home side soon made the first substitution of the evening, sending on Jason Williams to replace Luca Lusardi.

As the game approached the hour mark, a collision between Jessop and Hertford's Harry Atkins, saw the former come off very much the worse. The home custodian had received a knock to the head and it was immediately clear that he was injured. Play was held up for almost ten minutes as the dazed 'keeper received treatment for the injury. The game eventually resumed with a Blues corner, though Mitchell's cross was easily cleared. Welwyn then made their second change as Stewart King came on for Bradley Wilkinson.

With seventy minutes gone, the visitors were again on the attack and a Michael Cooper cross from wide on the right found Kevin Cooper in a central position, though he shot just wide. Hertford then made their first substitution as Matt McArdle came off for Joe Scales, making his first team debut. A few minutes later, a second change for the Blues saw Jason Coughlan replace Daryl Mitchell. Another good Hertford move then saw Kevin Cooper pick up a cross inside the Welwyn six yard box. It seemed that Cooper couldn't miss as he unleashed a powerful goal-bound effort from so close to the target. However, his effort caught battle-weary home 'keeper Jessop full in the face. A lesser individual may have been completely floored by that but Jessop simply dusted himself down and prepared for the resulting corner, which ultimately came to nothing.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, the visitors won a free kick inside the Welwyn half, though this came to nothing. A Welwyn attack then saw them win a corner though the ball was headed clear. A good move by the two Hertford substitutes then nearly created a third goal. Coughlan passed to Scales, who hit a powerful shot on target, but his effort was superbly saved by the still surprisingly agile Jessop. The resulting corner came to nothing and then Scales found himself booked for what appeared quite an innocuous foul.

As the game went into stoppage time a good cross from Coughlan found Kevin Cooper, but he hit his shot high and wide. ROB LUYA then went on an impressive solo run for the visitors. Starting on the left, his pace and skill took him past a Welwyn defender and he cut inside. As he advanced towards the six yard box he calmly slotted the ball wide of Jessop and into the net to give his side a 3-0 lead. Shortly afterwards Harry Atkins was booked for a foul.

With the game deep into stoppage time because of the injury to Jessop, the home side mounted a rare attack and won a free kick, though the shot on the Hertford goal was easily cleared. The visitors then won a corner at the other end, but it was taken short and wasted. With almost ten minutes of stoppage time played and the game seeming certain to end 3-0, the visitors put another good move together. An impressive one-two between LUYA and Korsoveczki saw the former in front of goal with a good shooting chance. He finished with some aplomb to score his second goal in five minutes and give his side a 4-0 advantage. Shortly after the restart, the referee finally blew the full time whistle.

Final Score: Welwyn Garden City 0 Hertford Town 4