Hoddesdon (Away)

Date: Saturday 10th November '07         
Time: 10:30                                             
Competition: League
Location: Away


Hoddesdon                                5 (0)


St Albans Romans                    2 (1)
  Gunning    
  McBrearty

Match Report

This is one of those games that had everything – except good football.  Neither team can claim to playing well, but Hoddesdon deserved the victory and 3 points.

Hoddesdon must have thought Christmas had come early, every goal was down to a Romans mistake. The first could be a toss up between Lawrences goal kick or the way Poncey was so easily dispossessed. Goal two was down to a quality miss kick by Potter, straight to a hoddesdon player, (it would not have been so bad but it was from a free kick in the hoddesdon half) which resulted in Romans being short at the back.

Goal 3, Harris decided he could beat his man 2 yards outside his own area, when an easy clearance was on. Unfortunately he was wrong and the hoddesdon player smashed the ball into the top corner.

Goal 4, came from a corner (the writing was on the wall as the previous corner Lawrence had flapped and missed) Lawrence called, missed and the ball rebounded of Tommy into his own net.

Half time and Romans had not managed to create a single chance in the first half.

And so on to the second half, surely things could not get worse, but 10 mins in and another missed catch by Lawrence and Romans were now 5-0 down.

This brought forward a tactical change by the Romans manager to push a defender into Midfield.

68 minutes played and Lawrence went some way to redeeming himself, pulling of a spectacular save diving to his left.

For the first time in the game Romans were able to pin Hoddesdon back in their own half. It wasn’t till 15 minutes from time they were able to make the pressure pay, a corner from Matt was headed home by Tommy.

Fully deserved as he was the only Romans player who had worked tirelessly for the previous 75 minutes.

2 minutes later and Romans were awarded a penalty for handball,  Potter asked the manager if he could take it, and famous last words from the Romans manager, no let Terry take it I’ve never seen him miss in 10 years. Up steps Terry who manages to place it 2 yards wide. (seen him miss one now).

 
5 Mins later and the 2 strike partners Terry and Kenny managed to combine well for the first time in the game, Terry’s pin point cross finding the head of Kenny from 2 yards out who was clinical with his finish.

 
Last 2 minutes of the game and Tommy who till now, was having an almost flawless game, was tackled in the opposition half near the corner flag, What followed next can only be described as stupidity and a familiar site from Tommy, leaving the ref no choice but to send him of. (hopefully this will not involve to long a ban as to not let his team mates down).