Old Herts felt slightly cheated out of point after this hard fought match resulted in a further loss and a renewed flirtation with the wrong end of the table! Buntingford Wanderers Reserves were strengthened by the inclusion of several first teamers and Old Herts suffered from two decisions that first cost them a goal and then denied them one.
For the final match before the Christmas break Old Herts needed to grab the three points if they were to set themselves up for their post Christmas target of a top half league finish and a good cup run.
The Wanderers started the livelier and forced two quick corners. Paul Jowitt, who was impressive on the right wing all game made a run though and a passing movement involving him, Chris Burman, Smith, Reeves and Tanner required the intervention of the Buntingford keeper to avoid conceding a goal. The first strike of the game however came soon enough. A long Buntingford free lick was just helped on and the Wanderers right winger found himself on the end of it to slam the ball passed Bolton on just 7 minutes.
Old Herts Athletic 0 Buntingford Wanderers Reserves 1
Buntingford used this advantage to continue to exert pressure, but Old Herts were fighting back, Smith set Tanner up for a shot, then Reeves and Smith combined in midfield and the Burman brothers played a one-two to set an attack going. Barnes was called upon to clear up at the back, nodding the ball back to Bolton, whose long kick found Jowitt. Jowitt cut in and shot but his effort was saved low down.
The boys in Lincoln Green were now calling the shots, but neither Tanner nor Ramthor (cutting in from the left) could hit the target and Smith hit a free kick over the bar. This has been a frustrating aspect of our game this season, along with not getting enough bodies into the six yard box for a chance of a knock in. Old Herts were now forcing corners on a regular basis and this led to Brooks making a late run but his header went down but wide of the Buntingford post.
Chris Burman headed the ball forward to Smith, who played the ball back to Reeves. He played the ball out to Jowitt whose cross found Chris Burman for a chance to shoot on goal.
On 28 minutes this pressure paid off for Old Herts. The ball was being moved around well by Smith, Tanner and Jowitt, Tanner had a shot that was scrambled away, but the ball came to Ramthor on the left wing, despite having his shirt pulled he cut in and his low shot found the net. If he hadn’t had scored if would have been a clear penalty.
Old Herts Athletic 1 Buntingford Wanderers Reserves 1
Brooks needed to sweep at the back, but Konnor Smith made a strong tackle to provide the ball to Tanner. Tanner laid the ball back to the advancing Chris Burman and his long range shot went only narrowly over. From yet another Old Herts corner Rob Burman appeared to be bundled over at the far post and then Tanner had a fierce shot well saved by the Buntingford keeper.
Then on 43 minutes and against the run of play Buntingford gained the advantage again. A speculative cross was not dealt with effectively and it was headed home.
Old Herts Athletic 1 Buntingford Wanderers Reserves 2
The second half commenced with Moss moving the ball forward for Jowitt and Chris Burman to combine and set Smith up. His curling shot was pushed against the Buntingford post and away for a corner. Buntingford then had their own attack that caused problems with Bolton forced to tip their shot over the bar.
On 55 minutes one of the turning points of the game came when a corner was wrongly awarded to Buntingford after the ball had come of one their players and the kick was headed firmly into the back of the Old Herts goal.
Old Herts Athletic 1 Buntingford Wanderers Reserves 3
Brooks headed a further corner kick over the Buntingford bar, but they then had another effort that took a good Bolton save to keep the deficit from increasing. Buntingford then took full advantage of their renewed possession when a header was not won in midfield and the loose ball was chipped in on 65 minutes.
Old Herts Athletic 1 Buntingford Wanderers Reserves 4
Tanner and Smith were still trying to create something up front as the game entered its’ last 20 minutes and a Smith shot was struck wide.
Barnes and Brooks were required to clear up at the back and Chris Burman earned himself a talking to from the referee for tripping his opposite number on the edge of the penalty area. Tanner was sent away and he cleverly chipped the out-rushing Buntingford keeper, but somehow the shot was cleared off the line for a corner. The corner was only cleared as far as Smith and this time he was back on the scoresheet again as on 77 minutes his curling shot found the inside of the far post low down. With just 13 minutes remaining Old Herts were back in the game!
Old Herts Athletic 2 Buntingford Wanderers Reserves 4
Now on 85 minutes came the second controversial decision of the game, Moss hit a long ball forward, Tanner ran onto the ball, running passed his marking defender and smashing the ball into the back of the Buntingford goal, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside!
Christian played the ball up for Ramthor to run at the Buntingford defence, but he was fouled as the away team sought to break-up play and run the clock down, which they successfully did. A sharing of the points would have been a fairer outcome.
