Akers to the Rescue

After a disappointing result against Upminster in the previous game week the Stags now found
themselves in a relegation fight given the uncertainty over the number of relegation spots in the
league.

Life didn’t appear to be getting much easier as this week they hosted third place St Albans who
collected all 3 points in the reverse fixture. Despite the previous result Hertford knew their game
plan and knew they could put in the work required to get a result.

Hertford could not have asked for a better start as they grabbed a goal early on. Nick ‘better
coach than St Albans’ Downer found himself with enough space to smoke the ball into the D for
Gary Brown, who finished his PTSD treatment following the Havering game. Unfortunately being
high on life again he missed the deflection but caused the keeper to make the save and kick it
straight back to Archie Akers who picked the ball and slotted it into the back of the net. That’s 5
goals for Akers this season, an unprecedented number for the forward, with coach Downer taking
all of the credit for his current run of form.

Despite being 1-0 up Hertford did not decide to shut the game down and continued to push St
Albans back whilst also soaking up patches of pressure from a very fluid moving St Albans side.
Despite the visitors having multiple short corners they were unable to get anything past Tom
Smith in goal who had clearly been working on closing his legs all week.

As the game went on the pressure for St Albans grew with Hertford defending well as a unit,
communicating well and slowly putting a smile back on captain O’Sullivans face.

In the closing stages Adrian Fileczki decided to pretend like he wanted to put the game to bed.
He twice picked the St Albans centre back becoming through on goal. The first effort he was
stopped by a hooked stick on the defender, throwing an almost Rollins like strop before being
calmed down by a bellowing Neil Akers on the side line. Fileczki had an opportunity again but this
time decided to strike the ball from the top of the D straight at the goalkeeper and in an interview
after the game said “I saw the light but on reflection made the wrong decision. I should have
taken a leaf out of Archie Akers book on scoring”.

Despite the efforts not ending in a goal, Hertford saw the game out and now have the relegation
issue firmly in their own hands. They head to Old Loughts next week in the final game of the
season and know a win will secure their place in the league next season.