The match was always going to be hard-fought, but the driving rain added a further complicating factor, and tarnished the debut of Hertford’s new kit, supported by local letting agents ‘Abel of Hertford’.

With only four ever-presents so far the season Hertford once again made some changes to their squad; with defensive pair Gavin Elliot and Mike Hawes unavailable, Stan Power returned from injury and Jamie O’Sullivan received his first call-up of the season to bolster the rear-guard, with Ben van Rooyen making his second appearance of the season up front.

The hosts started brightly, but couldn’t make the most of their early chances, with two penalty corners going awry even before they reached the top of the circle.

These lapses cost Hertford as Broxbourne took the lead. Hertford failed to clear the ball despite a few chances to do so, and when a pass broke at the back post a Broxbourne forward was easily to tap home.

Hertford tried to reassert themselves. Darren Norman was denied by a tip-of-the-toe save from the right hand side of the D, after being put through on goal from Ian Dunnett’s wrap-around pass.

However, the hosts were leaving too many gaps at the back and allowing Broxbourne time and space in midfield. The visitors took the open invitation, doubling their advantage. A passing move from a side-line on the left of the pitch was struck on goal from an angle, with Max Capaldi in the Hertford goal only able deflect the ball into the path of an unmarked Broxbourne midfielder who slotted into the right-corner.

Broxbourne realistically could have increased their lead before half-time, but Capaldi stood strong to deny a string of opportunities.

The home side took the half time break to rediscover their spine, turning in a much-improved second half performance, while still living dangerously on occasion in an attempt to get a foothold in the tie. A few failed through-balls allowed Broxbourne to pick-off the Hertford defence, but the combination of some recovering defenders and poor finishing kept the gap to two goals.

When Hertford did eventually find a telling forward ball, Norman collected down the left hand side and set van Rooyen through on goal, only for the South African to be unceremoniously felled by the advancing Broxbourne net-minder. The umpire decided the penalty was punishment enough, and Nick Downer stepped up to slot home for his fifth of the season to narrow the tie.

Having worked so hard to get back into the game Hertford were kicking themselves – and the ball – five minutes later as Broxbourne re-established a two-goal cushion. A speculative ball into the D pinged around several sticks and feet to break at the top of the circle, where the ball was passed towards the penalty spot and subsequently swept into the far corner of the net.

Broxbourne sat back and invited, determined to defend their lead, but Hertford fought their way into contention again. The ever-willing running Elliot Barling broke on the overlapping down the right flank, driving into the D and winning a penalty corner. Hertford reverted to the simplest of routines as van Rooyen maintained his 100% scoring record with a bullet-strike being deflected up into the Broxbourne net.

Buoyed by the goal, and with the momentum Hertford pressed again, and when another penalty corner was won, van Rooyen’s effort was adjudged to have been on target when it was blocked by a Broxbourne defender’s body for the second penalty stroke of the match. Downer took on the responsibility once more, but was thwarted in his attempt as the visiting goalie smothered the flick.

Hertford continued to attack, with Alec Short going close from a close range deflected effort, getting on the end of a Dunnett reverse-stick cross, but they were unable to find a leveller before the final whistle.

With only three weeks until the Christmas break Hertford will be looking for a strong finish to the first half of the season, and they’ll have every opportunity as they travel to tenth-placed Welwyn Garden City next week.

Hertford: M. Capaldi; E. Barling, S. Power, B. Tootell, J. O’Sullivan; A. Short (cpt), I. Dunnett, N. Downer, M. Branford; D. Norman, B. van Rooyen. Sub: C. Begg.