CHESHUNT 3 HITCHIN TOWN 2
Herts Senior Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 2nd December 2008
Cheshunt gave one of their best displays of the season in front of 100 brave souls at a freezing Theobalds lane to put Southern Premier league Hitchin out of the Herts Senior Cup. Following a one-match ban, Skipper Glen Parry returned to the line up and instilled some of the passion that was so clearly missing from the previous Saturdays defeat by Great Wakering.
The frosty surface made for quick play and the Canaries, playing in their attractive green change kit, nearly opened the scoring in the first minute when striker Paul Barnes found himself with only Chris Goodchild to beat. A fine save by the Ambers keeper, sporting yet another new hair colour, kept the scoreline level. Chances fell to Ashley Taylor-Forbes and Lee Roberts soon after but then Hitchin came close again when Dean Gilbert put a free header wide.
Full back Michael Pelley had Cheshunt's first real effort on goal in the 13th minute when he hooked a left-foot shot just wide of the post. From then on, Cheshunt showed a confident passing display that Hitchin struggled to contain. Reece Prestedge saw a good effort deflected wide for a corner though a break by Ian Hillare at the other end almost saw Hitchin take the lead. He was brought down on the edge of the area by Michael Filletti but Referee Lee Marshallsay waved play on. In the final minute of the half, a pass from Kai Ramshaw was collected by Lee Roberts who beat a defender then fired the ball into the roof of the net to open his account for the Ambers.
The second half continued with Cheshunt in a determined mood and their efforts were rewarded in the 58th minute when Pelleys cross found Gavin Taylor who put a looping header past Martin Bennett. Hitchin reacted swiftly when substitute Russell Bull set up Mark Barnes to bring his side back into the game. Soon after Taylor-Forbes found Roberts and Bennett did well to stop his powerful drive. Taylor-Forbes himself had a strike on goal soon after, though Bennett found this easier to handle. A free kick was awarded to the Ambers in the 70th minute and Roberts struck a perfect ball onto the head of the unmarked Ricky Dobson who nodded home his first goal for the club, restoring Cheshunt's two-goal cushion. Two chances for a fourth goal followed. Sub Mervin Abraham skimmed the bar, then Des Boateng almost put into his own net when a Roberts cross caught him in the face, with the rebound going inches wide of the post. With three minutes remaining the visitors pulled one back when Barnes tapped home his second of the night, following a point-blank save from Goodchild from Boateng.
A Hitchin corner in the final minute gave Cheshunt's faithful few some anxious moments but a whistle for a foul on Prestedge ended the visitors hopes of an equaliser.
Cheshunt now await Fridays draw to see who they will get in the quarter-finals.
CHESHUNT: Goodchild, Pelley, Parry (cpt), Filletti, Dobson, Ramshaw, Taylor-Forbes, Prestedge, Taylor, Akers (Abraham 70), Roberts (Toner 89).
Not used: Harris, Harrison, McGowen.
HITCHIN TOWN: Bennett, Pepper, Ellams, Boateng, Gilbert, E’Beyer, M.Barnes, Stupple, P.Barnes (Payne 45), Hilaire, Charge (Bull 57)
Not used: Williams, Hay, Howard
Attendance - 101
Other results from Round 2:
| Tring Athletic | 1 | 2 | Hertford Town | |
| Sawbridgeworth Town | 1 | 3 | Boreham Wood | |
| Ware | Bishops Stortford | 09/12/08 | ||
| Leverstock Green | 3 | 0 | Watford | |
| Berkhamstead Town | Stevenage Borough | 16/12/08 | ||
| St Margaretsbury | 2 | 4 | St Albans City | |
| Oxhey Jets | Welwyn Garden City | 03/12/08 | ||
| Cheshunt | 3 | 2 | Hitchin Town |
|