Kennedy at the double to keep Stags marching

Hertford shuffled their pack with Tom Smith replacing the absent Max Capaldi in goal, Mike Hawes and Luke Kennedy replacing Simon Halfacre and Ciaran Begg who were carrying knocks, and Archie Akers coming in for Stan Power to provide a more attacking option.

The hosts started the stronger with some solid possession in midfield, seemingly finding their centre-forward at will, but never really testing Smith, and after some defensive adjustments, the visitors began to work their way into the contest as Jamie O’Sullivan and Oliver de Roeck were now beating their men to the ball and able to send Hertford forwards

It was fully 20 minutes before either side could open the scoring. Hertford cut in from the right and Nick Downer found a ball into the circle where Mike Branford won a penalty corner. Downer sent in a fizzing drag-flick, beating the keeper and man on the line to open his account for the season and give Hertford the lead.

A second quickly followed. Downer was involved again, having time to turn in midfield and thread a precision pass to Ben van Rooyen on the baseline, who in turn passed across the goalmouth to a waiting Luke Kennedy on the back post who had time to control and reverse-stick-sweep the ball up into the top of the net, giving no chance to the sprawling net minder.

Hertford maintained the pace of play which was troubling the home side, and had them stretching to tackle back when van Rooyen’s drive into the circle won another set piece. A training ground routine enabled Kennedy to deflect the ball onto the backboard to make it three-nil.

Letchworth reasserted themselves, carving out a few openings, but they found Smith quickly off his line on two occasions to smother the opportunity. The second of these allowed Hertford to break as Darren Norman was found on the left-wing in plenty of space. His early pass fed Akers who showed good composure to draw out the keeper and turn to flick the ball goal-bound, with the recovering defender unable to prevent it from crossing the line.

The hosts did make their mark on the scoreline with a penalty corner on the stroke of half-time, as O’Sullivan was unsighted on the right post, making it 1-4 at the break.

The late afternoon sun made the second half heavy-going. Letchworth had more joy in possession and in creating chances, but Hertford got numbers forward on several occasions, always appearing a goal-threat.

Smith made a smart-double save from a penalty corner, with a sharp right foot and then diving across to his left to stop the follow-up effort, while at the other end Norman turned provider again from the left wing, beating the last defender and selflessly squaring for Kennedy at the back post who inexplicably skewed his first time shot wide with a hat-trick seemingly on a plate.

Letchworth continued to press, and Smith again was called into action, as a strong cross was glanced away with a sliding stick-save to deny to waiting forwards on the back post.

Hertford put the tie to bed a fifth. van Rooyen worked hard to drive around the right hand side of the D and shot from a narrow angle, only for the ball to come straight back to him from the keeper’s save. The South African altered his angle for this second approach and fed the ball to the back post where Alec Short was on hand to bundle in his second of the season.

Undeterred, although now playing for pride and goal difference, Letchworth scored two late, almost carbon copy short corners as Hertford lost concentration in the final minutes. Both being switched and swept in on the left-post to make the final score 3-5.

The win keeps Hertford in 2nd in the table, with Luton Town - the only other side with a 100% record - above them.
This weekend Hertford visit Harpenden to see if they can keep their run of form going.

Hertford: Tom Smith; Elliot Barling, Mike Hawes, Jamie O’Sullivan, Oliver de Roeck; Alec Short, Ian Dunnett, Nick Downer; Darren Norman, Ben van Rooyen, Archie Akers. Subs: Mike Branford, Luke Kennedy.