WELWYN GARDEN CITY 0 HERTFORD TOWN 4
Molten Spartan South Midlands league - Premier Division
Saturday 12th September 2009
Just over a year ago Hertford Town travelled to Herns Lane in the corresponding league fixture and came away with a 5-0 win. This year with both teams having different management and different teams in place, lightning couldn't possibly strike twice could it? With arguably the strongest Blues side of the season so far taking the pitch some thought it could. If it were not for a missed chance at the death - it would have! With seven goals for and only one against in the last two games, Pablo's team is beginning to look like a force to be reckoned with.
Teams - Welwyn Garden Garden City: 1. Mark Jessop, 2. Deji Ojurove (capt), 3. Darren Till, 4. Tyrone Petrie, 5. Kevin Dee, 6. Dwaine Bryan, 7. Jude Eboji, 8. Piero Bagarone, 9. Richard Pearce, 10. Daniel Dorans, 11. Stewart King. Subs Used: Abieriba Kannan (for Bryan), Laurence Rispoli (for King).
Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Harry Atkins, 4. Daryl Mitchell, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Kevin Kilroy, 7. Scott O'Donoghue, 8. Pablo Ardiles, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Adam Furness, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: Attila Korsoveczki (for Furness), Danny Ward (for Roberts), Andy Chapman (for Mitchell).
The visitors were out of the blocks like they had something to prove and immediately won a corner. Whilst the travelling support were still making their way to the far end of the ground behind home custodian, Mark Jessop's goal, Daryl Mitchell put in a fine cross. Kevin Kilroy, who had recently re-signed for the Blues on a dual registration met the ball and thumped it into the back of the net to give Hertford the lead with less than a minute on the clock. The Blues continued to dominate but had few chances until the seventh minute when an Adam Furness effort hit the side netting. In the tenth minute the Blues were two goals to the good. They were awarded a free kick well inside the Welwyn half and Mitchell's superbly placed effort somehow managed to evade everyone in the box, including Jessop, and the ball was again in the back of the net.
The visitors domination continued for a while but then the home side won two consecutive corners, the second being safely cleared by the Hertford defence. Midway through the half, Hertford's Scott O'Donoghue became the first player to receive a yellow card from the lenient referee, having disputed one of the official's decisions rather too much. The Blues were soon back in the driving seat and won another corner. Mitchell's cross was initially cleared but the ball fell to Lee Roberts, who took a shot but it was saved and the ball cleared. Just after the half hour mark the visitors were awarded another free kick inside the Welwyn half, but the chance was wasted when O'Donoghue hit his effort straight at Jessop. Two further Hertford corners followed but they were unable to capitalise on each occasion.
In the 35th minute the visitors were awarded another corner kick. Mitchell's superbly flighted cross found the head of O'Donoghue, but his effort was just over the bar. With five minutes of the first half remaining, Hertford were forced to make their first substitution. Adam Furness, who had picked up an earlier injury, limped off to be replaced by Attila Korsoveczki. Well into injury time the visitors had another good chance. Good interplay between Korsoveczki and Ryan Redford saw the ball finally played to Lee Roberts, but his effort was just wide and the referee soon blew the half time whistle.
Half Time Score: Welwyn Garden City 0 Hertford Town 2
The Blues started the second half with the same domination they had shown in the first and less than two minutes after the restart, good work by Korsoveczki saw his effort go just wide. Two minutes later a rare Welwyn chance came to nothing. It was not long before the visitors increased their lead. Korsoveczki took advantage of confusion in the Welwyn box and a clash between their players, to calmly stroke the ball into the net and give his side a 3-0 advantage. Jessop had been hurt in the clash with one of his defenders and play was suspended for a short while as he received attention.
Soon after play had restarted the home side's Stewart King was booked for a clumsy challenge. Hertford soon won another corner though this came to nothing and then a skilful solo effort from Korsoveczki saw him hit his shot just over the bar. Having seen his side being totally outplayed, the Welwyn manager then made a double substitution, bringing on Abieriba Kannan and Laurence Rispoli for Dwaine Bryan and Stewart King. The home side then won a free kick though the impressive Richard Pearce hit his effort wide. A good passing move by the visitors then saw Korsoveczki, Redford and Pablo Ardiles involved, though the player-manager's shot was eventually hit at Jessop. The hosts then won a corner, though Pearce's well hit cross was headed clear by Hertford skipper, Glenn Draper.
With quarter of an hour remaining, the visitors made their second substitution, bringing on Danny Ward for Lee Roberts. A Hertford corner immediately followed though Draper's header from Mitchell's cross was wide. Pearce soon had a shot from distance for the home side but his effort was wide of the target. As the game went into the final five minutes Welwyn were awarded a free kick inside the Hertford half. Pearce again took a shot but again his effort was wide.
Immediately afterwards a long ball forward from the Hertford box caused confusion at the other end, and some comedy defending as Jessop and one of his defenders collided. As they lay in a heap on the deck, Ryan Redford latched onto the loose ball and with no home players to be seen, rifled the ball into the back of the net from all of two yards. At 4-0 the game was done and dusted, though the visitors still had time to make a third and final substitution; Andy Chapman came on for Daryl Mitchell. As the game went into injury time the home side had a couple of chances. Firstly they won a free kick, though Pearce's effort came to nothing and then the same player shot across goal. At the death Danny Ward had a chance to further increase the lead but was let down by poor finishing before the referee blew the full time whistle.
Final Score: Welwyn Garden City 0 Hertford Town 4