Hertford have had a tough run of fixtures since the new year playing the teams at the top of the table. Unfortunately this had lead to some heavy defeats for the Stags but we approached the game like champions none the less. Our ranks were some what depleted, with some key players missing. Lashing in Manchester, yellow cards and Navy Seal tactical marksmanship being responsible. The opponents we Harpenden HC, a young, well drilled side who had the better of Hertford the first time around.

Warm up:

A solid warm up of bunding and touch rugby kept the fast twitch muscle fibres lose and ready.

Game:

Hertford lined up with a 451 formation hoping to stay compact in midfield and defence, springing deadly counters with expert precision. Hertford went 1 nil down with Harpenden scoring a scrappy goal out of nothing. Hertford were keeping the ball well at times with Ben Tootell playing the Pirlo role after getting the call up through Tom Evans being injured during training...Some good breaks upfront led to some chances and a short corner was won. Ben Cooper stepped up for the short corner. Like a speeding train he slung the ball into the bottom left corner and the keeper was left rooted. The near capacity crowd really showed its support with a coliseum esc like roar only the Romans would recognise. Another weak goal for Harpenden followed which was really slightly unfair with both teams being fairly even to that point. Nick Hart played like a man possessed at times. Both the creator and the destroyer. Intercepting a pass from a Harpenden player just inside the Harpenden half he drove towards the D with James Harris in support. With a sole defender left it was a 2v1, in which Nick calmly committed his man and slipped to James who rounded the oncoming keeper and finished his dinner to make it 2-2. The Hertford crowd went wild which kept the adrenaline pumping going into the re start. Harpenden had more of the ball and created the better chances late in the second half, fizzing balls into the D but Hertford stayed compact making sure they didn't concede before half time.

The second half didn't start too well with Harpenden gaining control with a tidy and composed midfield feeding balls upfront to their forwards who eventually won a short corner. A slap back to the injector through our defenders off the scent and was deflected home to take the lead 3-2. Hertford worked tirelessly and again good counter attacking and some good aerials from our veteran CB Adrian Crawley led to some decent chances but perhaps tiredness led to a slight lack of composure in the final third. Elliot Barling at times was reminiscent of Daniel Alves in his prime with lung bursting runs down the right giving great support. All this being said, Hertford then lost their shape slightly and struggled to get the ball from back to front and a well drilled Harpenden side took control of the game. A lightning fast Hertford attack down the right led to a short corner which Ben Cooper rifled at goal, only to spill to Ian Dunnett a yard from goal, only to miss. Spin imparted on the ball by the goalkeepers right shin was to blame but Ian knew it was a missed opportunity shown by the primeval like scream that shortly followed. That was more or less the last good chance Hertford had with Harpenden keeping the ball and stifling the last 10 mins or so. Harpenden held onto the lead with the game finishing 2-3 with Hertford feeling slightly hard done by.

The work ethic was exceptional considering one 1 sub was available and all could hold their heads up high. All Hertford can do now is take that work ethic into the coming games which are all against teams in and around the drop. Forget promotion, this years relegation battle is hotting up to be something of a blockbuster...let's just hope Hertford have enough in the tank to get them over the finishing line come April.

DOD Draw between Toots and ...
MOTM N Hart