FOOTBALL: Hertfordshire produced a smash-and-grab raid as Jonathan McNamara struck five minutes from the end of extra time to earn a place in the Third Round of the FA County Youth Cup with a 1-0 victory over Essex at Hoddesdon Town FC.

The sucker punch for the visitors saw Herts snatch the tie with their only effort on target in 120 minutes as Essex dominated despite playing for a whopping 110 minutes with only ten men after Ryan Henshaw was sent off following a mis-timed tackle on McNamara.

Essex had threatened prior to stand-in skipper Henshaw’s dismissal when Ross Lamb curled over the top after just 6 minutes but, despite being a player short from the 11th minute, it was the visitors who continued to create the best of the chances. A good move involving Pelé Salmon and Lamb saw the latter fire into the gloves of ‘keeper Michael Johnson before the Herts stopper had to be alert to keep out Jacob Cleaver’s low drive.

The best chance of the first period arrived on the stroke of half time, an excellent flick from Jack Gardner finding the run of Lamb but the Chelmsford forward could only fire at Johnson when through on goal. Just four minutes after the re-start Essex found themselves on top again. A terrific ball from Jamie Oates fed Gardner, but his angled shot found the side netting before Lamb hit an effort marginally over the top from 20 yards.

With 14 minutes of normal time remaining, Cleaver’s thunderous 20-yarder crashed against a post before the same player was played in on goal by Gardner only for Johnson to come to the hosts’ rescue once more with a brave block. A stinging Salmon free-kick then brought another fine stop from Johnson before Gardner, with two minutes left on the clock, weaved into the six-yard box before pulling an angle shot inches wide of the near post.

As both sides tired, extra time produced few chances at either end. It wasn’t until the second period that Gardner shot wide for the visitors but, with five minutes remaining, the hosts stole the tie, McNamara beating the offside trap to head home Luke Strahan’s cross from two yards. There was still time for Johnson to perform heroics again, though, denying Gardner after the midfielder found himself through on goal to seal his side’s Third Round tie away to Norfolk.

Hertfordshire: Michael Johnson (Hertfordshire Schools), Jordan Knight (Andrew Pierce, 91), Joseph Webb (Letchworth Garden City Eagles), Joe Doyle (Cuffley), Joe Luca (Letchworth Garden City Eagles), Alex Coppin (Hertfordshire Schools) (Dan Dixon [Cheshunt], 46), Luke Strahan (Cuffley), Billy Baird (Stotfold), Jonathan McNamara (Letchworth Garden City Eagles), Rhys Parkinson (Barnet) (Michael King [Stotfold], 82), Ben Hart (Hertfordshire Schools). Unused Substitutes: Jay Brooke (Hertfordshire Schools).

Essex: Tim Pitman (Brentwood Town), Connor Mackay (Thurrock) (Nathan Bertram-Cooper [Manford Way], 118), Tyler Spillman (Thurrock), Ryan Batchford (Chelmsford City), James Regis (Barking Abbey College), Ryan Henshaw (AFC Sudbury), Jamie Oates (Brentwood Town) (Luke MacDonald [Chigwell], 95), Jack Gardner (Brentwood Town), Jacob Cleaver (Hullbridge Sports), Ross Lamb (Chelmsford City) (Billy Radley [Billericay Town], 76), Pele Salmon (Barking Abbey College). Unused Substitutes: Joe Fowler (Heybridge Swifts).