HERTFORD TOWN 2 WELWYN GARDEN CITY 1
Molten Spartan South Midlands League - Premier Division
Tuesday 24th March 2009
Prior to this game these two teams were only separated by goal difference, in terms of league position, though the visitors had played one more game. Both sides went into the game on the backs of good winning runs so surely something had to give. Eventually it did and the home side ran out eventual winners of a hard-fought contest that for much of the game, seemed like it could go either way.
Teams- Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Michael Cooper, 3. Rob Luya, 4. Joel Maybury (capt), 5. Jamie Nicholson, 6. Matt McArdle, 7. Dave Hunt, 8. Owen Beale, 9. Troy Alexander-Jarrett, 10. Scott O'Donoghue, 11. Daryl Mitchell. Subs Used: Alex Scriven (for O'Donoghue), Jamie Abbott (for Mitchell), Chris Spiteri (for Alexander-Jarrett).
Welwyn Garden City: 1. Rob Blackburne, 2. Mark Blackburne, 3. Tom Lewis (capt), 4. Andreas Pilides, 5. Richard Texeira, 6. Vince Rispoli, 7. Adam Wallace, 8. Richard Morton, 9. Stuart Blackburne, 10. Dave Taylor, 11. Fabio Valenti. Subs Used: Daniel Texeira (for Pilides), Craig Tompkins (for Stuart Blackburne), Matt Thompson (for Richard Texeira).
The Blues made a few changes to the previous line-up that had won at Cockfosters. Recent re-signing Jamie Nicholson came in to replace club captain Glenn Draper, who was otherwise engaged at Disneyland Paris, and player-manager Pablo Ardiles unusually dropped himself to the bench. The visitors included a number of the former Edgware Town side that won the Premier Division title two seasons ago.
It was the home side that were first to show and Scott O'Donoghue played in Matt McArdle, but he shot wide. The next Hertford attack led to the first goal of the game after only five minutes, albeit following a mistake at the back for the Citizens. Rob Luya passed to Owen Beale, who played in Scott O'Donoghue. He controlled the ball and made no effort in putting it beyond visiting custodian, Rob Blackburne, to record his third goal in as many games, and give the home side an early lead.
The visitors responded by attacking straight from the restart. They soon won a free kick, though this was played harmlessly behind. They then won a corner, though when the ball was played in it was hit wide of the mark. The scores were soon level however, as some sloppy defending by the home side allowed Stuart Blackburne far too much space, and he made no mistake in rifling his shot past Lee Robinson and into the back of the Hertford net.
It was then the home side's turn to show some dominance and they won two corners in quick succession. The first was played in by Beale but hit behind to force the second. This was taken by Daryl Mitchell, whose cross found the head of Jamie Nicholson, but his effort was too close to 'keeper Blackburne, and he easily gathered. A short while after, Mitchell tried a speculative effort from distance, but this too was saved. The visitors then won two consecutive corners, though both chances were wasted.
Scott O'Donoghue soon shot over, which was shortly followed by another good Hertford chance. Daryl Mitchell played the ball to Troy Alexander-Jarrett, who tried an effort on goal, but it was well saved by Blackburne. Five minutes later the home side won a corner, which was taken by Owen Beale. His cross was flicked on but the ball was eventually cleared. After a further five minutes Alexander-Jarrett teed up another shot for himself, but this time hit the post, even though his shot was weakly shot and it appeared that Blackburne would easily gather.
As the half approached the final five minutes Hertford won a corner, though Mitchell's cross was poorly hit and the ball went behind. There was then a clash of heads and the referee was forced to stop the game for a short while whilst a player from either side needed treatment. During this time there appeared to be friction between the two sides and following some verbal exchanges, Scott O'Donoghue received the first yellow card of the evening. A short while after play was restarted following the injuries, the half time whistle was blown.
Half Time Score: Hertford Town 1 Welwyn Garden City 1
The Citizens' Andreas Pilides did not come out for the second half, but was instead replaced by Daniel Texeira. Five minutes into the half the visitors were forced to make a second change and Craig Tompkins replaced injured goal scorer Stuart Blackburne.
Twelve minutes after the restart, one of the best moves of the game saw the home side once again take the lead. Good work by Troy Alexander-Jarrett saw him play the ball in to Scott O'Donoghue, whose sublime pass found Owen Beale. He controlled well and calmly passed the ball beyond Rob Blackburne and into the Citizens' net.
Six minutes later Hertford made their first substitution of the evening, bringing on Alex Scriven for the hard-working but tiring O'Donoghue. They soon also won a free kick, which was cleared behind for a corner but Daryl Mitchell's cross was cleared. Scriven soon tried a speculative effort on the turn and it was only just wide. He then appeared to get fouled but the referee waved play on and eventually gave a free kick the other way. Somewhat incensed by this apparent miscarriage of justice, the Hertford substitute's complaining saw him become the second home player of the evening to be booked. The home side then made their second substitution, bringing on Jamie Abbott for Daryl Mitchell.
With fifteen minutes of normal time remaining, Hertford won a corner, though the cross was poor and the chance wasted. Troy Alexander-Jarrett soon tried an impressive bending effort, which although on target, was well saved by Blackburne. The visitors soon had one of their best chances of the game, when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Hertford box. However the shot was hit low and wide of the Blues' wall and also wide of the goal. The Citizens then made their third and final substitution as Richard Texeira left the field to be replaced by Matt Thompson.
The home side soon mounted a quick break with the ball finding Alex Scriven. He tried a shot but his effort was just wide. As the game went into the last few minutes Hertford made their final change as Chris Spiteri came on for Troy Alexander-Jarrett, who left the field to an ovation from the home supporters. With the game going into injury time another Hertford attack saw the ball fall to Spiteri, who tried a shot. The ball hit the bar and then the post but somehow cannoned back into play, when it appeared it would cross the goal line. Having played about four minutes of injury time the referee then soon blew the full time whistle.
Final Score: Hertford Town 2 Welwyn Garden City 1