A great roar went up in the away team dressing room followed by chants of “Campeoni! Campeoni!” as it was learnt that Old Herts nearest rivals Buntingford Wanderers had gone down to a shock 6-0 defeat to Cottered and unless they can overcome a 25 goal difference deficit on the final day of the season the title was now Old Herts!
The penultimate game of the season started slowly for Old Herts, they were missing the injured Lee Stebbings (Chris Burman taking the coveted Captain’s armband for the Azzurri) but had Scott Brinkley and Konnor Smith playing up front together forming a formidable physical presence in attack. Manager Jim Reeves making no chances with his team selection!
Bolton in goal for the Blues unusually had an early first touch of the ball and his kick to Smith allowed the big centre forward to shield the ball and set up Brinkley for the first shot of the match that was easily saved by the Elisabeth Allen keeper (or was he?).
The match was briefly held up on 5 minutes when a streaker decided to run across the pitch, but play was quickly resumed as Brinkley forced a corner. Christian’s dangerous kick was met by a Djemal header that unfortunately didn’t find the target.
Old Herts were now starting to move up the gears and were passing the ball around well, Green in defence to Chris Burman in midfield onto Want and then Christian on the wing. Rob Matthews from left back made a determined run stopped only by being illegally pushed to the ground in the penalty area, but no foul was given!
Chris Burman and Cutbush both won important headers in midfield which allowed Smith to run down the wing and cross the ball. The keeper fumbled the cross, but no Old Herts player was on hand to punish the error.
Gentle at right back pushed the ball forward to Brinkley who ran at the Elisabeth Allen Old Boy’s defence and crossed accurately for Cutbush to strike a half volley just wide.
The Old Herts pressure was bound to count sooner or later and when a Gentle free kick was laid off to Cutbush on 18 minutes he calmly rounded the keeper to calmly side foot the ball home.
Elisabeth Allen OB 0 Old Herts Athletic 1
Want was making his presence felt in midfield with some strong tackling to set up Christian for a shot that was blocked conceding a corner. A short corner (when did we last do that although I’ve been telling them!) allowed Gentle to knock the ball to the back stick, where Christian on 20 minutes headed the ball back to Want who side footed home from six yards.
Elisabeth Allen OB 0 Old Herts Athletic 2
If the Azzurri now thought they were going to have it all their own way they were mistaken as a breakaway attack by the Old Boy’s caught the whole of the Blues defence napping with Green coming to a last ditch tackle and a long ball clearance to calm matters down.
Gentle now had to come off as he had twisted his ankle which introduced Rob Burman to the game (and it wouldn’t be a game of football if he and his brother didn’t spend the whole game arguing, wouldn’t it?) and he made an immediate impact with a good defensive header that sent Want away on a run, he turned in from the wing and crossed for Smith, who couldn’t quite reach the pass.
The blues were really turning the screw now and Cutbush and Want combined to gain yet another corner although this time on the left! As the ball was cleared from the Old Boys defence Rob Burman neatly controlled the ball and passed it onto his brother who on 38 minutes struck the ball home from his trademark 25 yards! (they stopped arguing briefly then!)
Elisabeth Allen OB 0 Old Herts Athletic 3
Christian with a great header sent Luke “Matthew” Morris (who had replaced Smith up front) away he delivered the ball to Brinkley whose shot could only be parried and Cutbush again like all good strikers was on hand on 42 minutes to side foot the rebound home.
Elisabeth Allen OB 0 Old Herts Athletic 4
The pretty much one sided half came to a close with Bolton having to punch a rare Old Boys corner kick away.
Jim Reeves rang the changes at half time bringing himself and Wayne Scott on for Christian and Matthews and immediately this brought results as a fierce Reeves shot required a smart save. Elisabeth Allen had a reply though when their attack down the left resulted in a dangerous cross going straight across the Old Herts penalty area!
Rob Burman then fed the speedy Jim Reeves down the right wing before Cutbush performed the worse foul of the match, scything down his opponent with a tackle that was so late it nearly qualified for next week!
Old Herts redeemed themselves with some good passing involving Chris Burman, Scott and Cutbush which saw the ball moved on to Reeves. Elisabeth Allen were not “done and dusted” yet though and Bolton was
forced to make a save low to his left by the far post.
All the football was coming from the Azzurris and Want had a curling shot that rattled the cross bar with the keeper nowhere. Morris had a header go just wide before he flicked a Bolton kick on to Cutbush who drove the ball hard and low to complete his hat trick on 75 minutes
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Djemal and Green combined well to play the ball out of defence giving Want the chance to cross to Christian, but he miscued his shot. Chris Burman was now substituted for Smith, thus concluding his appearances this season for Old Herts (some excuse about a wedding) before Morris took the ball on the half way line, strode majestically across the pitch and delivered a pinpoint cross for Christian to head powerfully home on 85 minutes before he wheeled triumphantly away in celebration!
Elisabeth Allen OB 0 Old Herts Athletic 6
The Old Boys gained some sort of consolation when a speculative shot bent around an unsighted Bolton to hit the back of the Old Herts net.
Elisabeth Allen OB 1 Old Herts Athletic 6
Jowitt made a good run and crossed but the ball went wide before at the end of the match the Old Boys keeper managed to drop the ball after a challenge from Want, who duly knocked the ball into the net, but his effort was disallowed by the referee. Good job goal difference is not an issue!
And whilst the talk in the bar afterwards as obviously up-beat (and arrangements are being made for the open top bus parade!) pride in performance means that the last game against Cottered (and they are obviously no mugs!) means that the last game in must be won and won in style!
