What a difference a week makes! Just seven days on from what was arguably their worst performance of the season Old Herts bounced back with perhaps their best game so far!
The omens at the beginning were not good as several changes had to be made to the starting line-up due to injuries and unavailability, but from the start it was apparent that the Lincoln Greens had learned their hard lessons and were using innovative tactics like passing the ball to each other and working hard off the ball! It made for a good all round performance from the twelve players involved and one that they can work on.
Rob Burman made an early clearance but intelligently sent the long ball to Tanner, who was leading the line up front. Tanner laid the ball off to Park, who certainly had his best performance of this campaign and his return pass to the big striker resulted in St Ippolyts conceding the first corner of the match.
Unfortunately soon after Burman was caught in possession allowing his winger to run and cross the ball, although it came to nothing. Burman quickly made amends though convincingly winning a 50/50 tackle and laying the ball off to Park who moved the ball onto Mark Smith. Mark passed the ball inside to his brother Konnor, whose shot went wide.
Matthews at left back made a smart tackle before a St Ippolyts breakaway attack needed a timely intervention from Djemal ( returning to the team due to dire straits, but captaining the team as if he’s never been away) who calmly played the ball back to Bolton in the Old Herts goal.
Tanner and Konnor Smith combined well up top to lay the ball back to Park whose crisply struck shot went over the bar.
Burman was crudely taken out from behind (and rolled around like a dying swan! Never let them know they’ve hurt you son!) and the resulting free kick from Djemal was good enough to force a corner. A long ball was played up to Mark Smith whose shot was well saved by the Saints keeper. Staines and Park were combining well in midfield, before Burman was again fouled, deciding to roll around and swear this time! Scott Staines’ free kicked was arrowed in to Park who set Tanner up to roll the ball sweetly home on 23 minutes from inside the six yard box (that’s where all the damage is done boys!)
Old Herts Athletic 1 St Ippolyts 0
St Ippolyts responded aggressively, a little too aggressively for the referee who had to speak to one of their players and told him to calm down (He was later booked) . Old Herts were for once this season controlling the vital midfield area and there was a good flowing, passing move involving Staines, Mark and Konnor Smith and Tanner allowing Mark Smith to shoot from the left. However the old fault of carelessly losing possession of the ball in midfield occurred allowing the Saints winger to run on goal and shoot, but his effort was well saved by Bolton.
Old Herts came strongly back forcing a free kick just outside of the Saints penalty area. Both Mark and Konnor Smith shaped up to take the kick (apparently skipper Djemal had a word in Konnor’s ear) anyway Konnor took it, relied on accuracy rather than power and craftily bent the ball low around the wall and placed it neatly in the left hand corner of the Saints net without the keeper moving! So on 34 minutes it was:
Old Herts Athletic 2 St Ippolyts 0
Again St Ippolyts didn’t take this lying down and it took some battling from Staines, a smart save from Bolton and a good header away from Park to keep them at bay before half time arrived and a chance to get in out of the rain and have a cup of tea.
Old Herts came out for the second half as if they’d forgotten their lines and the lessons that they’d previously learned, whilst the Saints started a determined assault on the Lincoln Green goal. Bolton restored some calm by gathering the ball safely on a wet and slippery day and after some cajoling from the more experienced players (Rob Burman taking over from his absent brother as moaner in chief!) the Greens managed to restore some control over the game. Matthews pushed the ball onto Staines who in turn passed the ball to Mark Smith who crossed the ball dangerously across the Saints goal (where was that back post man, Dylan?) and then Burman this time found Mark Smith who set up Tanner to make amends with a shot that went close.
And then against the run of play Old Herts fell asleep on 58 minutes when a simple ball was played into the Greens penalty area and was confidently drilled home.
Old Herts Athletic 2 St Ippolyts 1
To their credit the boys in Lincoln Green didn’t panic and kept playing football so on 67 minutes Konnor Smith played the ball back to Staines (I’m liking this!) who threaded the ball through to Tanner for him to smash the ball home! The Saints bitterly complained to the ref for some alleged infringement but the strike counted and it was:
Old Herts Athletic 3 St Ippolyts 1
Yet again the Saint’s refused to lie down and there were some handbags thrown before a Saints corner was badly defended and the away team were allowed to head the ball in from 6 yards (told you that was the danger area boys!) on 70 minutes.
Old Herts Athletic 3 St Ippolyts 2
Djemal was required to sweep up as the Saints now looked for the equaliser, but the best move of the match was about to happen on 78 minutes! Jowitt on for Park won the ball and swiftly moved the ball on to Tanner, he in turn found Mark Smith on the right wing (that’s where he was hiding then?) and his brilliant cross found Jowitt, who had continued running on the far edge of the six yard box to equally brilliantly head the ball home! Fantastic counter attacking football!
Old Herts Athletic 4 St Ippolyts 2
Finally man of the match Staines was required to compete fiercely in midfield as three forwards watched on (just need to come back 15 yards one of you, can’t be that hard), but that’s not to take anything away from a rousing performance. Next up is King William again and unless the Greens go religiously man to man on their two midfield players they’ll get picked off again. Watch this space!
