Consistent Patches

Hertford Men’s 1st team produced their fourth draw in eight games on Saturday, following a 1-1 result away to Letchworth 2s.

Hertford recalled Archie Akers in place of the unavailable Ben Cooper and with Stan Power unable to pass a late fitness test, Ciaran Begg was called up for his first team debut.

The hosts started the stronger and Hertford looked nervous, as their recent nemesis, the penalty corner, made an attempt to haunt them once more, but some staunch defensive work and improved ball-pace across the pitch helped them find a way into the game.

Hertford had a chance from a penalty corner of their own as Nick Downer’s flick was stopped illegally on its way into the goal and the set piece was upgraded to a penalty stroke. Downer took on the responsibility, but was unable to repeat his previous two efforts this season as the Letchworth netminder read his intentions to keep it goalless.

The youthful movement of Akers and Begg in the front-line enabled Hertford to find good channels of attack, and when the latter latched on to a diagonal ball into the D, he was able to control on his reverse side, draw a defender and pull the ball back for the waiting Darren Norman to control and fire home on the angle, putting Hertford deservedly in front with his second of the season.

Letchworth tried to respond before the break, but despite enjoying some encouraging possession, the able marshalling of Mike Hawes and interceptions of Ben Tootell kept Max Capaldi in the Hertford net from being called into action.

Hertford stayed on top for most of the second half, but were unable to find a breakthrough. Gavin Elliot was finding his range with some excellent through-balls from full-back, and Elliot Barling put in a man-of-the-match performance on the other side of the pitch, consistently beating his man to the ball and foraying forwards.

Darren Norman had a few opportunities to double the lead, but didn’t quite find his connection on the first occasion and then was denied by a good recovery tackle at the last second. Next, Begg was unlucky as a cross flashed-in from the left was just out of reach.

Hertford were made to pay for their lack of conviction. A rare venture forwards by Letchworth resulted in a short corner, and when Capaldi was only able to get a toe to the strike, the ball arrowed towards the target, only for Elliot to have been adjudged – must to his displeasure – to have prevented a goal with his body.

The Letchworth forward convincingly slotted home form the resulting penalty to level the tie.

Hertford were unable to fashion many more clear-cut chances, and things were made more difficult for them in the last ten minutes as firstly Begg saw green for a challenge from behind and then the visitors were temporarily down to nine men when a contested ball in midfield ended with Downer being shown a yellow card. The match simmered to a close without either side able to add to the score-sheet.

The draw means Hertford remain unbeaten in four matches, but now sit a mediocre eighth in division three south-west.

Next week has the making of a tough-match for Hertford as they host third-placed local rivals Broxbourne at the Simon Balle ground.

Hertford: M. Capaldi; E. Barling, M. Hawes, B. Tootell, G. Elliot; A. Short, N. Downer, I. Dunnett, M. Branford; D. Norman, C. Begg. Sub: A. Akers.