February 25, 2023
Hertford Town last visited the ASM Stadium almost exactly a year ago to the day, when they played out a 2-2 draw on February 26, 2022 in a match covered by these diaries.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/02/thame-united-2-2-hertford-town-att-112.html
They were featured again in March, falling to a 0-2 defeat to Aylesbury United in Chesham. Hertford struggled to avoid relegation last season, and things haven’t really improved much this season, as they started today in 15th position having won just 5 league matches out of 26, and were on a run of 10 matches without a win. However, they were 6 points clear of a relegation play-off position and have had a brief moment in the spotlight, being featured in this month’s issue of When Saturday Comes.
Two of Hertford’s wins have come against Walthamstow FC, both by the margin of 4-1, whilst the other victories were over Kidlington ( H 2-1 ), FC Romania ( H 5-0 ) and Highworth ( A 3-2 ). They don’t win very often but when they do they usual score a lot of goals !
Such has been the turnover of Hertford squad that of the 18 players who wore Hertford’s colours in the two games seen last season, only three were in today’s starting XI, namely lively winger David Ogbonna, scorer of the late equaliser against Thame, midfielder Charlie Payne, and player-manager Ben Herd. Defender Bobby Bolden was amongst the substitutes. Ogbonna was their top scorer with 15 goals this season, followed by ex-Hashtag United’s Jesse Waller-Lasson on 9
When these two sides met last year Thame were on the fringes of a play-off place, but today were only one place and two points ahead of Hertford, so a win for either side would give them some much needed breathing space at the bottom.
Since these diaries reported on Thame’s impressive 3-1 home win over high-flying Didcot Town, they had recorded two disappointing results, going down 0-2 at home to Kidlington and only drawing 0-0 at second bottom FC Romania, a side that had put 7 goals past only a month earlier. They would no doubt be looking to improve on those performances.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was cloudy with a few spots of rain and a chilly 6 degrees. Hertford were in their usual change kit of yellow shirts with blue sleeves, and blue shorts.
Hertford won the first corner of the match in the third minute when a poor touch from Thame full-back Thorne, under pressure from Ogbonna, forced the ball out of play, but keeper Hill confidently caught the set-piece. Thame responded with a corner of their own a minute later, but Hertford centre-back Gilzean cleared with a good header and won a free-kick in the process.
The visitors took the lead with 9 minutes on the clock. There didn’t appear to be any danger when Pedro shot from long-range, but Hill made a hash of dealing with it and Waller-Lasson reacted the quickest to slam the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
Thame won a free-kick in a dangerous position when Dan West went to ground after a slight touch, but the kick from Pearce was straight into the defensive wall. Goal scorer Waller-Lasson looked lively for Hertford, first making a run towards the Thame area before shooting wildly, and then a good turn led to a threatening low cross to Ogunnowo but Ngathe was alert to make the block. In-between, a Pearce free-kick for Thame was headed weakly wide by Carnell.
Hertford continued to have the edge, and Hill made up for his earlier error by making a good diving save at the base of the post to push away a header from Ogunnowo. Against the run of play, Thame’s West sent a curling 25 yard shot crashing against the bar but Gardner was flagged offside when playing the rebound.
The first indication of what was to come arose in the 27 minute when Pedro was tripped by West just inside the Thame half, resulting in the Hertford captain screaming for sometime whilst on the floor. Some angry language was also exchanged, and although there didn’t appear to be much in the incident, Pedro eventually gingerly hobbled off, clearly not happy. The referee didn’t seem to think there was much wrong as no card was shown to West, and Pedro was soon back on the pitch as good as new.
Play for the next 10 minutes was very scrappy as neither side seemed to be able to string three passes together but at least the sun came out under blue skies. It remained bitterly cold though. Thame finally put together a half decent move as Gardner found space down the right, and his pull-back was dummied by Pearce, but a Hertford defender cleared before the ball could reach Louis.
From the subsequent corner, Thame centre-back Carnell went to ground and the Thame players appealed loudly for a penalty but the referee ignored the claims. From my vantage point it looked as if Carnell had fallen over a Hertford player who had already fallen over. As some of the Thame players protested, Ogbonna sped away into the Thame area but Mepham snuffed out the danger with a fine tackle at the expense of a corner. When Thame half-cleared the corner, Ogbonna sent the loose ball onto the ring-road.
After 40 minutes West ran towards the Hertford area and hit the deck just outside the 18 yard line, but failed to impress the referee. Thame’s sense of humour was further tested when a similar challenge on Ogunnowo sent the Hertford man rolling around on the floor and the free-kick was awarded. It felt as if the referee was losing control.
Thame’s struggles continued as West made a good run from half-way but over-hit his attempted pass to Ngathe and keeper Krasniqi gratefully gathered. Waller-Lasson’s exaggerated fall then produced another free-kick for the visitors and Payne then indulged in some time wasting, taking an age to return the ball to Krasniqi for a Hertford goal-kick.
In the third minute of first half added on time, a Thame counter-attack saw Gardner release Louis, and although the veteran striker was able to get a shot on goal, Krasniqi saved with an outstretched foot. It was the home side’s best chance of the half. The last piece of action in the first period resulted in West sending a free-kick into the wall, and the referee then ended the half to put everyone out of their misery.
Quite frankly, it had been a poor half and Thame had been dismal, clearly missing the absent Greg Hackett. Hertford had been much the better side, but were being increasingly cynical as the half wore on. At times it had been like watching a Premier League side, and that isn’t a compliment !
Thame created the first chance of the second half, as Louis and Pearce combined to give Ngathe some space, but his left-footed effort was strangely saved by Krasniqi with his foot at his near post. Waller-Lasson then committed a foul but it was he who lay on the floor with an injury, whilst another Hertford player kicked the ball away to prevent any chance of a quick free-kick.
Justice of a sorts was delivered when Thame were eventually able to take the free-kick, Mepham’s delivery found Carnell, who out-jumped everyone else to power a header into the corner of the goal from 10 yards. 1-1 after 51 minutes.
Hertford responded quickly to win a corner, but Pedro’s dive to win a penalty was shocking as were his appeals to the referee. Even his team-mates didn’t join in.
Thame now had the upper hand, and West’s 20 yard shot was deflected narrowly wide, and Carnell’s header from the in-swinging corner went inches wide of the other post.
Ogbonna took play to the other end of the pitch with a mazy run, and unsurprising there were loud appeals for a penalty when he hit the deck. He lay on the floor injured, but as he was off the pitch, the referee insisted Hertford resumed play by taking their throw-in, and Ogbonna was soon up and jogging down the touch-line looking for permission to return to the pitch.
By now the wind was getting up, and in the favour of the home side. The habit of screaming when fouled seemed to be catching, as Thame’s Peake-Pijnen followed suit when challenged by Ogunnowo.
The quality of play was further underlined when a hopeful chip into the Thame area was met with a weak defensive header, but was matched by Ogunnowo’s attempt on goal, which trickled to Hill for an easy safe. Louis then sent a cross out of the ground when the unmarked Carnell was calling for the ball in the penalty area.
Ogunnowo’s attempted rugby tackle on Mepham resulted in a free-kick to Thame and the Hertford player lay on the floor apparently injured. More justice was delivered when West’s wind assisted 40 yard screamer flew into the corner for a stunning goal, although perhaps questions could be asked of the keeper being beaten from such a distance. Thame were now 2-1 ahead after 69 minutes.
The home side nearly added a third as Hertford’s aerial defensive weaknesses were again exposed, but Louis headed Pearce’s corner just over.
With Thame now leading, it was their turn to be the cynical side, and Ngathe prevented Herd from taking a quick free-kick. Mardell-Smith made a super run to the Thame goal-line but his ball into the middle was put out for a corner. Thame’s defending from the corner was unconvincing but they were able to clear. Ogbonna then displayed great skill to chest-control Herd’s ball forward and turn but was crowded out by the Thame defenders.
With the clock ticking down, Mardell-Smith produced another loud scream when slightly touched, and Pedro twice sprayed attempted long balls behind his team-mate and off for throw-ins. Thame meanwhile seem content to simply send long balls deep into Hertford territory rather than try and retain possession, although given their regular inability to string three passes together this may have been the sensible tactic.
With the ball continually being returned to them, Hertford were able to get into some promising positions. After Ogbonna’s direct run was halted illegally, Waller-Lasson lined up the free-kick, but unlike the earlier effort from West from a greater range, his attempt was punched away one-handed by the diving Hill, and when the ball was reworked, Payne sent the ball 30 yards over and onto the training pitches. Then in the first minute of added time, Herd’s chip from the right wing was met by the advancing Ogbonna, but his header was directed a foot over the bar.
After 4 minutes of added time, the referee brought an end to this low quality encounter. Thame had been poor but would happily take the three points which kept them 8 points away from the relegation play-offs although they remained in 14th place.
Hertford remained in 15th place but are now just three points from danger and their winless run stretched to 11 games. They possess some talented players so should be good enough to stay well away from the relegation zone but may need to focus on playing football rather than the amateur dramatics.
Overall, the game was not a great advertisement for the Southern League !
Online Programme : https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.pitchero.com/clubs/13461/D7TrldzTvaUk0qxi1KoS_Hertford%20Town%2025%2002%2023.pdf
Thame United : Hill – Thorne, Mepham, Carnell, Peake-Pijnen– Gardner ( Alexander ), Tutton, West, Ngathe – Pearce, Louis
Hertford Town : Krasniqi – Herd, Gilzean, Payne, Bryant – Pedro, Mardell-Smith, Waller-Lasson – Ogunnowo ( Sendege ), Toiny-Pendred, Ogbonna
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