Stags avoid slip-up

Two goals from in-form Ben van Rooyen helped Hertford Men's 1st team secured back-to-back wins for only the second time this season, narrowly edging a seven goal affair away to Royston on Saturday.

Hertford were forced into a few shuffles with Jamie O'Sullivan unavailable, Gavin Elliot returned to the side, covering in the centre of defence.

The home side couldn't have got off to a better start. The hard and slippery pitch would cause issues for both sides at times though the match, but Stan Power fell foul of it with one of the first passes of the game, gifting the ball to a Royston forward who drove into the D and won a penalty corner. The resulting set-piece was shuffled around the D, and looked a certain goal, only for Elliot to deny the shot on target with a brave body-block, conceding the penalty stroke.

The penalty was unconvincing, but ultimately successful, just creeping under Max Capaldi's right foot to put the hosts one-nil up.

Hertford responded well, securing possession of the ball, finding space down the channels and adjusting their play to the pitch conditions, and it didn't take long for them to draw level.

A neat interchange and overlap down the left saw Power squeeze a donkey pass infield to Ian Dunnett, who just managed to get the bouncing ball under control at the top of the circle, but was fouled by a recovering defender before he could get the shot away, earning a penalty corner. Van Rooyen kept up his 100% scoring record, firing in low on an angle from the left of the D, after a slick switched routine.

The new formation, with three forwards was placing pressure on Royston's defence. When trying to play it out from the back, Nick Downer seized on the ball and drove by one the last man, selflessly squaring for Akers, who could almost walk to the ball into the net for his maiden goal for the 1st team, to put Hertford a goal to the good.

The pressure continued as Royston looked rushed in possession. A sloppy pass into the centre of the pitch was intercepted by Dunnett, and played to Alec Short, who drove around the back of the defence and squared, only to be denied by a Royston foot.
Hertford used the awarded penalty corner to full advantage with another training ground routine, this time setting up Downer who could rifle beyond the on-rushing netminder for his 11th of the campaign, just before the half time break.

The home side came out re-purposed in the second half, and were determined to give Hertford some of their own medicine with a higher intensity and press, forcing Hertford into a few mistakes leading to a much more open game.

Hertford were creating chances, but were unable to find the angle for the shot, or the final touch, with Royston's goalie quickly off his line to smother on a several occasions.

Royston were having some success in creating chances of their own, with successive penalty corner opportunities. Hertford held firm for several minutes, with good closing down by Elliot Barling and a sharp save by Capaldi's knee, but they we finally undone by a near unstoppable drag-flick from Royston's Nathan Sugden, nestling high in the side-netting to Capaldi's left to reduce the deficit to one.

Hertford might have become nervous at this point, but were relieved to re-establish a two-goal cushion. Playing more direct than they had done for much of the game, Downer collected the ball in midfield and sent a precision pass to van Rooyen on the D. Once again Royston's keeper came out to prevent the chance, but the South African's first time deflected effort just did enough to slide underneath the attempted save, taking him into double figures in just nine appearances.

The ebbing and flowing had not quite finished yet however, as Royston once more closed the gap. Yet another penalty corner doing the damage as Hertford were unable to clear their lines, as a follow-up attempt, after a block and a save, was squeezed home at Capaldi's left-post.

With only a few minutes to play Royston pushed for an equaliser, but some firm defending and good holding play from Hertford's forward line saw out the tie.

The win places Hertford 6th is division Three SouthWest, which they will be looking to maintain on a tricky visit to Luton next weekend.

Hertford: Max Capaldi; Elliot Barling, Ben Tootell, Gavin Elliot, Stan Power; Alec Short, Ian Dunnett, Nick Downer; Ciaran Begg, Ben van Rooyen, Archie Akers. Sub: Mike Branford