Last-minute Letchworth Leveller

Hertford missed the chance to go fourth in the table on Saturday, dipping to a disappointing one-all draw against Letchworth 2nd XI, after leading for much of the match.

With the experienced trio of Gavin Elliot, Stan Power and Ben van Rooyen unavailable for the tie, Ian Dunnett and Mike Branford returned to the squad and Finn Kennedy joined younger brother Luke in the forward-line.

Having identified Letchworth’s danger-men from their previous encounter Hertford set the tone for the majority of the game, making sharp movement up-front and playing quick passes through the midfield. This approach led to clear chances being created at regular intervals for the hosts, but the first ten minutes passed without any real threats on goal.

After a few set-piece penalty corners didn’t quite find their mark, Player-Coach Nick Downer decided to take the more direct option, drag-flicking an effort that could only be gloved to the floor by the Letchworth net minder, where Alec Short pounced to force home the rebound to register his fourth of the season.

Further penalty corner opportunities came and went as the first half closed out, and Luke Kennedy saw his effort saved with a shot that was just too near to the goal keeper to create a scoring angle.

Despite a strong first half, Hertford didn’t continue to dominate in the second period. Letchworth found a tactic to find runners from midfield which placed the hosts on the back-foot.

Letchworth hit the post with a thunderous strike from the right of the D and then twice - much to their frustration - had the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled out; once with the ball adjudged not to have come out of the D from a penalty corner, and then a pull-back from the right hand side having been deemed to have crossed the baseline before it was passed.

Things got more nervous for Hertford as Jamie O’Sullivan was withdrawn through injury, necessitating some defensive shuffles.

Hertford could have put the tie beyond doubt, after good work down the left from Finn Kennedy and Begg led to a reverse stick flick across the goalmouth, just evading Kennedy the younger at the back-post.

Letchworth finally made Hertford pay for their lack of clinical finishing, as they won a penalty corner on the final whistle. Short bravely blocked the first, but a second set-piece was sent out to the right and crossed strongly to the back post for a telling touch to earn a point.

With only three games remaining this season, the draw keeps Hertford in sixth in the division, with a much more testing opponent in local rivals, and table toppers, Broxbourne who the Stag travel to next Saturday.

Hertford: Tom Smith; Elliot Barling, Ben Tootell, Jamie O’Sullivan, Mike Branford; Alec Short (cpt), Ian Dunnett, Nick Downer; Ciaran Begg, Luke Kennedy, Jeremiah Donogue. Sub: Finn Kennedy.