HERTFORD TOWN 4 WELWYN GARDEN CITY 0
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Tuesday 16th March 2010
This was the third time that these two teams had met this season and it was the third time that Hertford town had run out 4-0 winners in those games. The one negative side of this game was what looked like a bad injury to Jason Coughlan early in the second half, but apart from that, this was all about the positives for The Blues. After a slow start they began to find the form they had shown in the previous game at Aylesbury, two goals just before half time calming the nerves of the anxious support. The second half was mostly Hertford and although they only added two further goals to their tally, it could have been a lot more. The injury to Coughlan also allowed Tom Bowgett to make his debut appearance for the club early in the second half, and his performance showed what an asset his signing could be, going into the final few hectic weeks of the season. Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Alan Barker, 4. Dave Hunt, 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Joel Maybury (capt), 7. Jason Coughlan, 8. Matt McArdle, 9. Dominic Musafiri, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Rob Luya. Subs used: Tom Bowgett (for Coughlan), Pablo Ardiles (for Musafiri), Andy Chapman (for K Cooper).
Welwyn Garden City: 1. Mark Jessop, 2. Luke Reid, 3. Richard Teixeira 4. Darren Wells, 5. Tyrone Petrie, 6. Jason Williams, 7. Josh Dance, 8. Shane Manogue (capt), 9. Dominic Hinds, 10. James Thompson, 11. Stewart King. Sub Used: Piero Bagarone (for Reid).
It was the visitors who showed first when, following a lapse in the Hertford defence, Stewart King was allowed a free run on goal, but he hit his effort wide, with the game less than two minutes old. A short while later the game was held up for a few minutes after an injury to an assistant referee, who appeared to have got something in his eye. Play resumed with a corner for the visitors but the ball was safely cleared. Another Welwyn corner soon followed though this too was eventually cleared. With play at the other end, the home side then had a succession of corners taken variably by Alan Barker and Jason Coughlan, but on each occasion the visiting defence was able to clear the ball to safety.
On the quarter hour mark the visitors were awarded a free kick a little way outside the Hertford 18 yard box. Josh Dance tried to place his shot but it lacked any power and was easily gathered by home 'keeper Lee Robinson. Two further Hertford corners followed, both taken by Coughlan. After the first, the ball eventually found its way into the arms of visiting stopper, Mark Jessop, and after the second the ball was cleared upfield.
As the game approached the half hour mark, Dominic Musafiri had a shot saved at the expense of a corner for the home side, though Barker's cross was eventually cleared upfield. The home side then created a good move after a long punt upfield by Robinson. The ball found Musafiri, who passed to Kevin Cooper. He played it in to Rob Luya, but the nippy winger shot wide.
The breakthrough for the home side came in the 38th minute when Coughlan played a dangerous ball into the Welwyn box from a Hertford free kick. There was a scramble involving a number of players from both sides but DOMINIC MUSAFIRI eventually poked the ball across the line to give his side the lead. Five minutes later the lead was doubled. A poor clearance by Jessop found Musafiri, who played in KEVIN COOPER. With the Welwyn 'keeper at the edge of his box, the prolific Hertford striker sublimely lobbed the ball over him and his well-weighted effort crossed the line into the unguarded goal.
Despite the earlier delay because of the injury to the official, the referee decided to play no added time at the end of the half and he promptly blew the half time whistle on 45 minutes.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 2 Welwyn Garden City 0
Shortly after the interval, the game was held up for some time because of an injury to Coughlan. It looked bad and the Blues' player had to be carried from the pitch. He was replaced by Tom Bowgett, who came on for his first game in Hertford Town colours. A few minutes later he was involved in a tussle with Welwyn's Luke Reid and both players were booked. Bowgett was then on the receiving end of a bad tackle by Josh Dance, who received the third booking of the evening.
The home side were soon back in their stride and a pass from Barker found Musafiri, though he shot wide. A Hertford corner was then taken by Barker and he found Kevin Cooper, though his headed effort was hit over the bar.
On the hour mark the visitors made their first substitution of the night, Luke Reid being replaced by Piero Bagarone, and it was not long before they received their third booking, this time Richard Teixeira seeing yellow for a foul. Barker tried a shot direct from the resulting free kick but his effort was just over the bar. Another Hertford corner a few minutes later again saw Barker find Cooper, who again headed over. Cooper was then allowed space to go on a solo run but with no close support he shot across goal.
Another good Hertford move then saw Bowgett controlling the ball well inside the Welwyn box, but he was clumsily brought down by visiting skipper, Shane Manogue. He received his side's latest booking and the home side were awarded a penalty. COOPER stepped up to take the spot kick and blasted the ball to Jessop's left and into the back of the net for 3-0.
The home side continued to apply the pressure and soon forced another corner. Barker's cross found Dave Hunt and he was unlucky to see his header cannon off the bar. The ball rebounded back into play and found home captain Joel Maybury who shot, but his effort was cleared.
With less than ten minutes of normal time remaining Hertford Town made a double substitution, Pablo Ardiles and Andy Chapman coming on to replace both goal scorers, Musafiri and Cooper. Another Hertford corner then saw Barker's cross find Matt McArdle, though he mis-hit his shot and the ball sailed out of the ground. Another Barker corner a short while later came to nothing.
A good move by the home side in the 90th minute saw the ball played around the visitors' half before coming to Bowgett. He passed to Ardiles, who in turn laid the ball off to Chapman. The big substitute controlled the ball well and placed a shot round Jessop that crept just inside the post to give the home side a 4-0 lead. The referee played a few minutes stoppage time because of the earlier injury to Coughlan but there was no further scoring, so at the final whistle Hertford Town had recorded a hat-trick of 4-0 wins over Welwyn Garden City for the season. It was also their second league 'double' of the season.
Final Score: Hertford Town 4 Welwyn Garden City 0