Thursday 8 November 2012

COULD THIS BE CHESHUNT'S SEASON FOR GLORY IN HERTFORDSHIRE?

A poor attendance of just sixty-five people turned out for the big local derby at Hertfingfordbury Park on Tuesday evening. Spartan South Midlands Premier Division side Hertford Town entertained their Ryman Division One (North) near neighbours Cheshunt in the Hertfordshire Senior Cup Round One.

THE AMBER'S TRAVELLING ARMY OF FANS GATHERED AT THE 2010 FINAL.
HOW MANY WERE AT HERTFORD ON TUESDAY NIGHT?
The crowd was well down on Hertford's three previous home games against London Colney (108), St Maragaretsbury (103) and Holmer Green (97) with only a handful of Cheshunt fans at the game from what TheColdEnd could see.

Hertford managed by Marvin Samuel are really struggling towards the foot of their league table at present with only two wins (against Hatfield Town and Hillingdon Borough) in seventeen games. There have been some good results in the FA Vase against Crawley Green (W 2-3 in a replay) and away at Hoddesdon Town (W 3-5) and on this performance, especially in the first half, the ex Harlow Town boss has something to build on for the rest of the season.

Cheshunt played a strong side including ex Towner's Michael Deane and Max Mitchell (who started on the bench). The Ambers had made a good start to their league campaign but have recently dropped down the placings following four defeats in a row against Waltham Abbey, Heybridge Swifts, Redbridge and Harlow Town. The 0-4 victory recorded in this game will be a good morale boost for Tony Faulkner's squad who I beleive are capable of making a challenge for the play-offs. 

As stated Hertford Town played very well in the first half and despite the away side edging the possession they probably had the best chances to score in the opening 40 minutes. Pacey winger Larry Asare-Bediko and forward Sean Stock stood out for me. It was Cheshunt who scored right on half time when Deane smashed home a shot from outside of the box.

Cheshunt built on their lead in the second half with the third resulting from a rather harshly awarded free kick by the left hand corner flag. As the game drifted towards 90 minutes Max Mitchell (on as a second half sub) scored a great goal from outside of the box which stuck the crossbar and went downwards into the net.

So for Hertford Town fans it's another year's wait for another crack at the Hertfordshire Senior Cup which they last won in 1989 (2-0 v St Albans City). This was also the last final they reached. They seemed to be lacking a cutting edge up front - this could of been another ex Enfield Town player in Billy Healy. He scored eight times earlier in the season but has since left the club. He scored a hat-trick for his new club Hanwell Town at Chesham United Reserves on Wednesday evening.

The question for Cheshunt fans is could this be their season for glory in the HSC? It'll be hard as in the next round they face Blue Square North side Bishops Stortford.

The modern day club were formed in 1946 and have since been to nine Hertfordshire Senior Cup Finals and lost them all!

CHESHUNT'S RECORD IN THE HERTFORDSHIRE SENIOR CUP 

1948-1949 - LOST 3-1 TO BARNET 
1949-1950 - LOST 3-1 TO BARNET A.E.T 
1968-1969 - LOST 3-2 TO ST ALBANS CITY 
1969-1970 - LOST 1-0 TO HITCHIN TOWN A.E.T 
1971-1972 - LOST 2-0 TO BOREHAM WOOD 
1973-1974 - LOST 2-1 TO BISHOPS STORTFORD 
2002-2003 - LOST 2-0 TO BERKHAMSTED TOWN 
2008-2009 - LOST 2-1 TO STEVENAGE BOROUGH 
2009-2010 - LOST 4-0 TO BISHOPS STORTFORD - see The Cold End's report here

The original Cheshunt FC did win the competition in 1923 against but since then the famous old trophy, first won by Hoddesdon against Watford Rovers (now Watford FC) in 1887, has eluded football in Cheshunt.

One good thing for Hertford Town is the pitch at Hertingfordbury Park which is in tip-top condition at present. Usually when it's rained at this time of year it's under-water.

Loyal Cheshunt fan and blogger TheLocalBusDriver was at this game and his report can be found here.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW
including all four goals scored




HERTFORDSHIRE SENIOR CUP 2012/13

ROUND ONE

Monday 5th November 
Hitchin Town 3 Boreham Wood 0 
Tuesday 6th November 
Colney Heath 3 Hadley 1 
Oxhey Jets 8 Hatfield Town 1 
Hertford Town 0 Cheshunt 4 
Berkhamsted 1 Bishops Stortford 4 
Wednesday 7th November 
Tring Athletic 1 Barnet 6 
Stevenage 5 Sawbridgeworth Town 0 

ROUND TWO 
to be played in December 
London Colney     v Colney Heath 
St Margaretsbury  v Leverstock Green 
St Albans City    v Watford 
Ware              v Barnet 
Oxhey Jets        v Hemel Hempstead Town 
Royston Town      v Stevenage 
Bishops Stortford v Cheshunt 
Hitchin Town      v Potters Bar Town 

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