March 19, 2022
Since these diaries reported on their 2-2 draw at Thame at the end of February, Hertford have played just one match, in which they secured a 2-1 home win over relegation rivals Wantage Town, to remain 4th from bottom. Whilst looking secure from automatic relegation, being 13 points clear of 19th placed Colney Heath, the complicated play-off structure at this level means 6 out of the 8 step 4 league third bottom sides enter promotion/play-offs based on a points per game ratio, and Hertford went into today’s encounter just one point clear of 3rd place bottom Kempston Rovers.
Today’s opponents, Aylesbury United, were also yet not clear of the threat of relegation, lying 6 points clear of Kempston Rovers, but have slipped into the danger zone after an appalling run of just one point from their last 12 matches.
I had previously attended Aylesbury United home matches at their former Buckingham Road stadium, which they lost due their failure to settle debts with HMRC in 2006, as well as ground share matches at Thame United. I also fondly remember watching Aylesbury in the mid 1970s when they came to Crawley Town, when Vince Melisi was their star forward.
However, this match represented my first ever attendance at Chesham United, which has been Aylesbury United’s home since 2017 as they continue to campaign for a new home.
Parking was easy enough in the car park, and entrance to the ground was £9. No printed programmes were available, these are only on-line, and no printed team sheets were visible.
The Meadow is an impressive stadium for this level, with terracing all around the pitch, with a small main stand and the clubhouse on one side. The bar is large but with only one person serving there were long queues for drinks. I could see Rebellion as the main ale on tap and Moretti and Estrella amongst the lagers. There is also an odd looked plastic structure, which I assume is a covered area for wheelchair supporters, although today it was occupied by 4 or 5 people standing and watching the match.
The opposite side of the ground has some cover over the terrace, and there was a block with toilets and a tea bar, who was not open for this match. The ends behind both goals also had roofs over part of the terracing. There were nice views of the Chilterns, although these were somewhat spoilt by a large mobile phone mast ! Unfortunately, it is not possible to walk all the way around the ground, as the pathway for the players to enter the pitch is fenced off, so you have to turn around and head all the way back !
The temperature at kick-off was 13 degrees and there was not a cloud in the sky. However, there was a gentle breeze which made it feel quite nippy. The tannoy announcer described the game as being a clash between the Ducks and the Blues, although it was really the Greens versus the Yellows.
The pitch looked in pretty good condition for this time of year, although there were some muddy patches in the penalty area and along parts of the touchline.
Hertford’s starting line-up showed two changes from the side that began the match at Thame with Boldon coming in at right back and Cathline at centre-forward. Aylesbury’s side included Harry Scott, recently signed from Thame United, Sonny French, who played a couple of games for Thame in the Hellenic League as a dual registered player, striker Ezra Forde had a spell at Oxford City in the National League, and centre-back Jack Wood seems to have been playing forever for the Ducks !
For some reason the game started 5 minutes late but it was a lively beginning. In the second minute Scott made a promising break down the left wing, and although it came to nothing it didn’t stop Hertford’s player-manager, Ben Herd, from screaming at the linesman “he was at least 5 yards offside”. He looked onside from where I was standing !
Aylesbury returned the compliment a minute later when Ogbonna showed some good skill only to be chopped down by Ollie Hogg, who was promptly shown the yellow card. “Nothing wrong with that” was the comment from the Aylesbury bench.
Another minute later Hertford enjoyed a big let-off. Forde charged down keeper Mewitt’s attempted clearance, but the ball fell kindly for the keeper to recover and gather before Forde could pounce.
Aylesbury started to take control of the game, and in the 10th minute, a through ball put two Aylesbury players clear. French took responsibility, but his shot from the edge of the area was well held by Mewitt. Three minutes later Hertford failed to clear a corner, and when the ball was played back into the penalty area, Forde was able to turn and acrobatically shoot from close to the penalty spot but Mewitt made a tremendous save to block for a corner.
It felt like a goal was coming, and it finally arrived in the 19th minute. There didn’t seem to be too much danger when the ball came to French just outside the area but his first-time effort whizzed into the bottom corner giving Mewitt no chance, much to the delight of the small, but vocal band of home supporters near the halfway line.
Aylesbury continued to press, and Mewitt was called into action again in the 23rd minute, making a fine diving save to keep out O’Connor’s header from a corner.
Against the run of play Hertford nearly grabbed an unexpected equaliser but after Cathline’s flicked header had put Ogbonna clear, the winger took time to control the ball and under pressure shot weakly at Aylesbury keeper Davis.
Aylesbury continued to keep Mewitt busy, and he made another good block with his legs to deny Rudd in a one-on-one after a flowing move, but he was powerless to prevent Aylesbury’s second goal in the 35th minute. A corner was allowed to reach Rudd at the back post, and although his effort was blocked on the line by Mewitt, centre-back O’Connor athletically fired the rebound into the roof of the net from close range.
Aylesbury continued to dominate, and when French dummied a through ball, Mewitt had to dive bravely at the feet of Ball to prevent another chance, then Bewley headed a corner straight to the Hertford shot-stopper.
Hertford’s best chance of the half came in added on time, but after full-back Bolden cut into the Aylesbury area, his curling left-footed effort drifted inches wide of the far post. Aylesbury could easily have scored more than two goals in the first half, and Hertford had their keeper to thanks for still being in the game.
Hertford make a tactical change at the interval, taking off midfielder Gyamfi and bringing on giant centre-back Brennan, moving Gosling to left-back and left-back Hudson to left-side midfield. This, and a presumably a half-time rocket, seemed to have had an impact as almost immediately a cross was dangerously delivered into the Aylesbury area but Cathline couldn’t get an outstretched foot to it, and two minutes later Payne sent a left footed effort narrowly wide.
The breeze started to get a little stronger and despite the bright sun it was starting to feel colder. However, the temperature remained hot on the pitch and after Herd and Forde collided, Forde went to the floor holding his head. Herd was shown a yellow card, although it looked harsh.
Hertford continued to play balls into the danger zone but without any end product, and they should have fallen further behind in the 60th minute but after French had delivered a perfect through ball to put Lewthwaite on goal, the substitute steered the ball over the bar as the keeper advanced.
The pattern of the match became Hertford having most of the possession, playing some attractive passing football but unable to create too many chances, whereas Aylesbury looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Bolden sent a cross to the far post, but Ogbonna, who had been so impressive against Thame, was only able to put it high over the bar. In response, Scott managed to get past Bolden and shoot left-footed across goal but Mewitt made a fine one-handed save. Unfortunately for Aylesbury, Lewthwaite had not continued his supporting run into the penalty area so was not on hand for an easy tap-in, much to the annoyance of the home faithful. “That’s your job !” shouted one in frustration.
In the 72nd minute, Cathline and Ogbonna combined nicely for Cathline to slip a short pass behind the Aylesbury centre-backs and release Weyman, who went down under a challenge. No penalty declared the referee.
Hertford huffed and puffed, and Payne continued to try his luck from distance, with the result always being a deflection and a corner-kick. Near the end, Lewthwaite earned some redemption in the eyes of the home fans after making a length of the field run to win a corner, and help with Aylesbury’s efforts to run down the clock.
Hertford’s day was probably summed up by their final effort in the 4th minute of added on time. Ogbonna played in Sighiartau, but from a promising position the shot sailed high over the bar.
Aylesbury ended their disastrous run in emphatic fashion with a fully deserved victory which moved them 9 points from third bottom. Despite a much better second half performance Hertford were well beaten on the day, but with Kempston losing 0-5 at home to league leaders Bedford, they remained one point away from the potential relegation play-off position.
Aylesbury United : Davis – Jones, Wood, O’Connor, Ball – Rudd ( Bewley ), Hogg ( Seaton ), Riddick, Scott – French, Forde ( Lewthwaite )
Hertford Town : Mewitt – Bolden ( Jagden ), Herd, Gosling, Hudson – Weyman, Hewitt, Payne, Gyamfi ( Brennan ), Ogbonna – Cathline ( Sighiartau )
Goal Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehwgXILJeHA
On-line programme : http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/programme/20220319HertfordTown.pdf
Bottom half of the table :
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