Hertford v Concord match report

[onebreast]

HERTFORD TOWN 1 - 1 CONCORD RANGERS (AET - CONCORD WON 5-4 ON PENS)

 

 

Concord travelled to Hertford for a semi final of the East Anglian Cup on Thursday night and returned victorious from a very hard fought encounter.

The warm up was brightened up when Gary Ewers sent a ball wayward which unfortunately struck a home supporter right on his arm which sent his plate of chips flying into the air and left him with a just a handful of Burger sauce !

 

The early signs were good for Rangers and after 4 minutes they were unfortunate not to have taken the lead. Jack O'Connor , fresh from a Wednesday night drinking session at Talk , crossed from deep on the right and Hart flicked on to Lang who volleyed onto the crossbar . Hertford , who boast two strikers with 100 goals between them this season ( although I think on this evidence they probably included the goals they scored in training) , were not much force as an attacking threat and Budd was not tested in the opening period by anything more than tame long range shots.

 

Rangers were in the ascendancy and were playing some decent passing football on a car park style pitch , and on 11 minutes were testing out the home rearguard when Martin's delightful volleyed through Ball found Hart but found the keeper equal to the task and he gathered comfortably.

 

Hertford had their first clear cut chance half way through the half when a cross from the left wasn't shut down quickly enough and the unmarked Redford headed wide . They then forced a corner but the header was easily saved by Budd.

 

Concord again had a glorious chance after 24 minutes as once more Ryan Martin played a great through ball to Hart and he blasted wide when it looked easier to score.

Hertford tried knocking it about but were giving away the ball far too cheaply when passing out from the back and Rangers were taking full advantage of this .

Just after the half hour mark , Sam Lake played a nice ball out wide to Greek International Lang , and he in turn found Hart with a clipped ball . Hart did well to turn his marker before sending his chipped shot on to the crossbar. Minutes later it was Hertfords turn to attack and Budd had to be equal to a superb low shot from 20 yards .

Gaps were starting to open and Rangers again missed a great chance to take the lead before the break . Turnbull played in Hart down the right and his superb centre found top scorer Heale , but his nose got in the way of the ball and he smashed his left foot shot just wide of the upright.

 

Crace got his players in for a chat at half time and the message was clear , more of the same was needed. Sam Lake was busy having a heart attack aged 20. "ive got shooting pains in my heart" he complained . But two rennies from Zoe's bag seemed to do the trick !!

 

The first ten minutes of the second half was a complete mystery to me , as I was at the Burger bar ordering in hot dogs and cups of tea for the staff . I did buy 2 hot dogs but Gary Ewers managed to eat one before id even paid for it !!

 

Back to the action and again it was Rangers making the running in the second period . 55 minutes in and Martin , again, found Heale but he shot wide of the mark . Just two minutes later and a great one two between Lang and Heale ended in the Kebab shop worker shooting way over the bar , although the ball did sit up just before he struck it (you owe me for that Taz !) . The game lulled for a while and the bench were more interested in Ginge , who , after denying outright that he had gone into Scopesy's bag and used all of his black & white hair gel without asking, finally succumbed to the pressure and admitted it ! Luckily he left the dugout before the scopes left hander connected with his chin !!

 

Jon Turnbull who had been carrying an ankle injury was taken off on the hour and replaced by Ash Hawkins, making his Concord comeback.

 

Hertford were looking for a penalty in the 61st minute but a rather comical dive by the number 9 didn’t fool the referee . Concord swept up the other end and Hart did superbly in winning 3 tackles before laying off to Lang who managed to win a corner. However Heale's corner was easily claimed by the keeper.

Hertford had the ball in the net on 63 minutes , but the goal was rightly chalked off for offside .

 

Ash Hawkins was making his impact felt and on 66 minutes he delivered a delicious cross which missed Heales outstreched leg by inches although I think he'd have been better off going with his nose.

 

Concord legs were tiring and Hertford were starting to threaten. Budd was in good form and parried a low shot out and from the rebound Gareth Thomas put in a superb tackle to toe the ball away from the forward who seemed certain to score.

With ten minutes remaining it was Hawkins at the centre of the action again as he beat two players before finding Lloyd Wilson (who had come on for Hart) , who shot over when well placed.

 

The Hertford number 6 , who for some reason hadnt turned up to the game on time , finally signalled his arrival on to the pitch on 81 minutes with a crude challenge on O'Connor which was rightly rewarded with a yellow card.

Concord were now hanging on for the final whistle and in injury time Hertford came forward on the left but the final shot flew over the bar and into a nearby farm.

 

As Dr Evil pulled the Concord boys in for a pep talk the Hertford players were arguing amongst themselves and things were clearly not right in the home camp.

The first half of extra time was a lame affair with not much goal action to speak of . The only worthwhile chance came to Rangers on 104 minutes when Hawkins cut in from the flank and forced a fantastic save from the goalkeeper.

Concord turned round for the second period and went at their hosts from the off. Heale received the ball in the centre circle and his delightful cruyff turn took him away from the defender and He delieved a stinging left foot drive from the edge of the box which the keeper parried away to safety .

 

On 116 minutes Concord hearts were broken when after a knockdown just inside the box, Redford squeezed his shot under Budd and sent Hertford through to the final , or had he ???!! Because with just a minute to go in Extra time Crace sent on Ewers , whose well flighted free kick was punched out by the keeper only to Ash Hawkins , who drove his shot past the forest of legs and into the corner to give Rangers just a little of what they had deserved all night .

 

So to the lottery of penalties .

Hertford had the honour and Wade put his shot to the bottom right hand corner sending Budd the wrong way . 1-0

 

Gary Ewers strode forward and put in an identical shot to Wade with the same result . 1-1

 

Redford then struck his effort to the bottom left with Budd not having moved . 2-1 Hertford

 

Thomas stepped up for Concord and he copied Redford and sent the keeper the wrong way for 2-2 .

 

Cooper for Hertford and he planted his penalty to the bottom right giving Budd no chance . 3-2

 

It was Ryan Martins turn and he smashed his spot kick down the middle for 3-3.

 

Draper , who during the 120 minutes looked like he had two toblerones strapped to his feet , lived up to his billing by sending the ball high and wide and on to the A10.

 

Heale confidently despatched his penalty to the keepers left with a trademark finish for 3-4 .

 

Hertford managed to score their final penalty with Budd being sent the wrong way 4-4.

 

So it was up to heart attack victim Sam Lake to finish the job and he comprehensively sent the keeper the wrong way and the celebrations began .

The Hertford fans were not best pleased with one bloke throwing windmills at Danny Scopes but the club captains street fighting skills meant he easily ducked the intended punches .

Even mild mannered Dean Wells gave in to his inner demons and taunted the home fans as they made for the exits and life back on the dales !

 

 

Team : 1) Budd 2) Ing 3) Lake 4) Martin 5) Thomas 6) O'Connor 7) Turnbull 8) Lang 9) Hart 10) Heale 11) Baker

 

Subs : 12) Ewers on for O'Connor 118 mins , 14) Wilson on for Hart 73 mins, 15) Hawkins on for Turnbull 59 mins , 16) Scopes , 17)Trenkel

 

Shots On Target : Hertford 6 - 7 Concord

Shots Off Target : Hertford 7 - 12 Concord

Corners: Hertford 4 - 8 Concord

Yellow Cards: Hertford 2 - 1 Concord

 

[Beachboys]

Legendary reporting son !

[coupwotcoup]

Who you got in the final, and are you at Romford on Saturday Ant?

[Beachboys]

Sorry mate was away the weekend, And as you now know we have Pitsea market or something in the final.