For the third successive Saturday Old Herts conceded a goal from a dead ball situation (this time a free kick rather than a penalty) and then suffered the frustration of not making enough of their own chances that their superior possession demanded.
The game commenced with a Buntingford kick-off which produced early pressure from them, Brooks, Paget and Want all needing to defend against the attacking moves, before the initial passage of play ended with a Cougars shot going wide.
On 3 minutes however Chris Burman conceded a free kick about 25 yards out. The result was a superb strike by the Buntingford player that saw the ball fly passed a helpless Bolton in the Old Herts goal!
Old Herts Athletic 0 Buntingford Cougars 1
Rob Christian came into the game with a strong run down the right wing, crossing the ball for Smith to shoot, his shot being deflected wide.
Baker and Paget were soon fouled quickly in succession as Old Herts attempted to take a grip on the game and Burman was aggressively competing in midfield despite some deliberate studs up tacking from the opposition. Want was called upon for some useful defending as he then moved onto the attack, pushing the ball to Smith, receiving it back and playing Christian in, with his low shot being saved by the more than competent Buntingford keeper.
The first ten minutes of the game were proving frantic, as both sides strived for the advantage, but a good move developed when Christian passed to Want and his pass to Smith brought another save from the Buntingford keeper in response to the clean strike.
Rob Matthews, returning to the team at left back made a good run down the wing, combining well with a determined Want, but Old Herts were prevented from making more of it by a Buntingford foul. Burman’s shot from the free kick was blocked. After 20 minutes though the game was now going the way of the boys in Lincoln green.
After 25 minutes however veteran campaigner Simon Brooks had to limp off (replaced by Barnes) with a tight hamstring (RGB take note!), but the game swiftly moved on Paget feeding Chris Burman for a run down the wing, before the attack broke down. Bolton was forced to advance from his line to make a swift clearance, but still Buntingford forced a corner that was well defended by Old Herts.
Matthews again made a strong run down the wing and his cross caused an almighty scramble in the Buntingford box, finally only resolved by a fine save by the Buntingford keeper.
Jowitt, playing another stormer at centre back headed a long ball back into the Buntingford half the ball moving from Want onto Barnes then to Christian who shot wide. Although the Greens were competing for the ball in midfield some “tippy, tappy” at the back nearly cost them dear, as the ball was lost and Bolton was required to make a good save low to his left.
Buntingford used this to apply some pressure, but Jowitt was a calming influence at the back and Smith at centre forward for Old Herts had several long range efforts on goal before the first half came to a close.
Burman rang the tactical changes at half time, with the full backs swapping and Want going to right wing. Burman won the first encounter of the half but his attempted long range shot went high wide and handsome (eat your heart out Matthews!). Paget, Burman and Want were starting to combine well, but the Buntingford Cougars also responded making Jowitt win an important header at the back. Reeves now on for Christian played a net 1-2 with Smith and was clearly tripped in the box, but the unsighted referee waved play on.
Again Buntingford came back strongly and although Bolton was forced to make a save it proved unnecessary due to the Blues being penalised for pushing, indeed as the always physical Buntingford Cougars team seemed to make an art form out of pushing, culminating in Burman being flattened in the Buntingford penalty area, but again to no avail as the referee waved play on.
It was all Green pressure at this stage and desperate blues defending, typified by a fluent move involving Want, Christian, Smith and finally Burman laying the ball off to Want who saw his shot crash against the Cougars cross bar!
Jowitt was played in down the left wing, successfully turn his man and cross hard and low, but no-one was there to convert the opportunity.
The Blues number 10 committed yet another foul in midfield as usual with his studs up, as constant Greens pressure characterised the final stages of the match. Smith was fouled on the edge of the box but his free kicked curled over the Buntingford goal. The blues forced a corner, which was comfortably gathered by Bolton, who then kicked the ball into the Buntingford half. Smith fed the ball on to Want and his cross was cleared only to Christian who turned and shot in one movement only for the superb Buntingford keeper to tip the ball onto the bar and away for a corner. Old Herts now went for broke and a Burman shot from 20 yards was saved low down to the Buntingford keepers left.
At the end there was some more frantic defending by the Cougars, packing their penalty area with men and even their number 10 (known as “studs” to his friends, if he has any!) actually electing to strike the ball cleanly to clear it rather than go “over the top” as is his normal preference. Strange that!
The jubilation from the Cougars team showed how important win this was for them and also reflected their anxiety of the last 30 minutes.
The Fitness levels of the Old Herts squad remain a concern, but of equal importance to is to create and take scoring chances in the oppositions penalty area.
