By the Dozen

Alec Short remains on the injury list, so Oliver deRoeck was recalled to the squad at left-back.

Hertford started with the ball and didn't give it back very often.

Ben van Rooyen opened the scoring, his lead into the circle being fed by Ian Dunnett, which resulted in a sharp reverse stick shot into the net, for his fourth of the campaign.
It wasn't long before it was two, with the same combination of Dunnett to van Rooyen for a reverse stick finish providing the same result.

Ciaran Begg thought he'd made it three-nil moments later when Nick Downers's quick thinking from a free hit bounced up off the keeper and Begg neatly volleyed home on the reverse, but the umpires decided play had been dangerous.

Hertford registered their third from a penalty corner. Dunnett feeding Luke Kennedy on the penalty spot, whose turn and shot could only find a denfender's foot. The resulting set piece was well-worked between Downer and van Rooyen at the top of the circle, with the South African's effort on goal being glanced in at the near post by Dunnett.

Southgate might have got back into the match at this stage, as a ball to the back post was controlled and slotted into the goal, but in a praiseworthy display of sportsmanship they owned-up to having used the wrong side of the stick to control the ball.

Hertford showed a little patience in grabbing their fourth. The ball was shifted from side to side, creating gaps in the Southgate backline. Simon Halfacre played a fizzing square pass for Dunnett on the edge of the 23, who drove into the circle but had his shooting angle on his reverse narrowed by the defender. Dunnett span back on to his open side and struck an uncharacteristic drive past the goalie's right foot.

Dunnett completed an unlikely hat-trick, and the first half scoring, as more patient build-up allowed Elliot Barling to be the provider from right back. With plenty of options the Southgate netminder wasn’t able to cover all the angles, allowing Dunnett to sweep a reverse stick shot back across goal, over an outstretched pad and into the bottom corner.

The goals continued in the second half, with a few more team efforts. Good running by the forwards opened a gap for Downer to drive into the circle, who, with plenty of space, unselfishly picked out Begg for a simple finish from eight yards out.

Downer then picked up a goal himself, as Kennedy showed some audacious skill to weave his way in from the left of the D, mesmerising defenders to a standstill such that none reacted as he calmly slid a pass across the goalmouth for Downer to tap-in at the far post.

Top goal-scorer Darren Norman got in on the act. Begg driving down the right and pulling the ball back for Dunnett at the top of the circle, slipping the ball down the side of the keeper for Norman to sweep home.

Van Rooyen picked up the next, completing his hat-trick. Downer’s surge down the right hand side and cross, was deflected goalbound by Norman, but well-saved, only for the rebound to fal kindly for van Rooyen who made no mistake.

Norman picked up another, taking him into double-figures for the season and Hertford into double-figures in the match. Oliver deRoeck forayed forwards from full-back and found the pass to Norman in a crowded area. The flicked shot evaded everyone, and nestled in the far corner of the net.

Greg Page ensured that all the forwards got on the score-sheet picking up a quick-fire brace. Firstly, expertly glancing home a reverse stick deflection as once again Downer was afforded too much space on the right to pick out a cross, and then Kennedy – in a man of the match performance – once again displayed deft touch and mastery to bamboozle a few defenders, slipping the ball left for Page to strike first-time, with just too much power for the keeper to prevent the ball crossing the line.

In the dying minutes Hertford lost their clean-sheet. Returning the earlier sportsmanship shown by Southgate, Dunnett informed the umpires an infringement had been inside the circle when a free-hit was awarded. The resulting penalty corner was struck hard past Max Capaldi’s right foot, who might have been excused for having stiffened up a little having not had too much to do in the second half.

The victory keeps Hertford in second place in the table, three points away from leaders Berkhamsted but they'll be expecting a much tougher test when Luton visit the Simon Balle ground this Saturday.

Hertford: Max Capaldi; Elliot Barling, Jamie O'Sullivan, Simon Halfacre, Oliver deRoeck; Ian Dunnett, Nick Downer, Luke Kennedy; Ciaran Begg, Ben van Rooyen, Greg Page. Subs: Mike Branford, Darren Norman.