HILLINGDON BOROUGH 1 CHESHUNT 2
Ryman League Division 1 North
Tuesday 27th January 2009
Harry England reports.....
Bottom side Hillingdon had taken just seven points from twenty-six games this season, so didn't go into the game with too much confidence against a Cheshunt side on impressive recent form. The Ambers needed to put in a good performance to win, and propel themselves up the table by winning the games in hand. Jerome Boyce made his first start for the Ambers, as Gavin Taylor returned to the squad up front with Dan O'Connor.
Early chances failed to be converted by Lee Roberts as Cheshunt looked the brighter side. After quarter of an hour, Cheshunt's Dan O'Connor had a goal controversially disallowed for offside, as Gavin Taylor did the work and squared for O'Connor who happily tapped it in, only to be disappointed by the flag.
Gavin Taylor had to make a goal-line clearance from a feeble shot by Jason Marney after he was sent away down the left with a beautiful ball. Two minutes later, Marney’s shot from long-range hit the side-netting, another scare for the visiting Ambers.
On thirty-four minutes, it looked as if Cheshunt's pressure was going to pay off, as a long-ball up field somehow squeezed past Boro keeper Ben Harris and his defender through a lack of communication. O'Connor picked it up, only to be dragged down by Ashley Fongho for a penalty. Up stepped big Gavin Taylor confidently, but he must have slipped as he hit it, as he pulled his effort weakly to the right of the goal and wide. It looked as if it wasn't to be Cheshunt's night, and just before half-time, Marney pulled back to James Froud from the by-line, but the linesman judged the ball to have gone over the touch line, more proof that Cheshunt needed to up their game.
After a poor standard of football in the first-half, the few spectators who came were hoping for something slightly more exciting in the second. Ola Akkinawo was brought down on the hour mark by Fongho, who was lucky to escape with just a booking for the tackle which left his victim crumpled on the floor and in need of lengthy treatment.
Taylor then failed to take another chance, as, with the goalkeeper way off his line, he could have taken a touch and rolled in from twenty yards. However, he opted to hit it first tme, and saw his effort blaze way, way over the crossbar.
Jerome Boyce had a decent chance five minutes later, as he curled a low shot just wide of the near post, before Hillingdon's Zak Gill got into a good position, received a good pass, turned, and rolled a shot into the bottom corner- sending Hillingdon's management team into raptures: it was their first goal in three games.
Dan O'Connor had the ball in the back of the net again for Cheshunt on eighty minutes, but the goal was again taken away from him, as Taylor was judged to have pushed a defender in the back during the build up.
Ritchie Johns had to clear the ball off the line a minute before the end of normal time from Marney’s shot, as Cheshunt looked like they were going down without a fight. However, a last-gasp double-salvo gave Cheshunt a victory when all looked lost. A minute into stoppage time, a ball down the left was torridly defended and Harrison whipped in behind the defender, coolly sliding the ball under the out rushing goalkeeper for the equaliser. The celebrations were short-lived though, as there was still a few minutes of stoppage time remaining.
A minute later O'Connor saw a powerful shot come back off the crossbar, and it looked like game over. Taylor's little flick to O'Connor on ninety-four minutes though was brilliant, and O'Connor welcomed the opportunity, placing a shot well down in the bottom-left.
The action wasn't over though, and Hillingdon's Marney was just seven yards out in the final seconds of the game, but spooned his shot over the bar, meaning his side were stunned by a 2-1 defeat, which sees them still firmly rooted to the bottom of the table,
Hillingdon: Harris, Gill, Fongho, Gallagher, Edwards, Stevens, Williams (Pugh 86), Warrell (c), Marney (Allen 82), Froud, Grant (Midega 71).
Not used: Jolliffe, Lyons
Cheshunt: Goodchild, Pelley, Parry (c), Thorogood, Johns, Boyce, Akkinawo (Tresadern 82'), Harrison, Taylor, O'Connor (McGowan 95'), Roberts (Churchouse 82')
Not used: Harris, Crooks
Attendance: 40