Stags Strike Six to Slay Stevenage

Hertford were back to a fuller-strength side, making five changes from the previous week. Max Capaldi returned in goal in place of Tom Smith, with Mike Branford dropping to left-back to cover the absent Oliver de Roeck. Player-coach Nick Downer was back in midfield and the attacking trio of Ben van Rooyen, Ciaran Begg and Darren Norman were welcomed back in place of Archie Akers, Ben Cooper and Finn Kennedy.

Despite the strong line-up on paper Hertford were slower out of the blocks than their opponents. Stevenage kept possession well just outside Hertford's circle and when they advanced down the right they created a good chance on goal, but the shot went harmlessly wide at Capaldi's near post.

It was the wake-up call Hertford needed. Producing some good play down the left, and working the ball into the circle, for a shot that was well saved by the glove of Stevenage's goalie, but Downer expertly collected the rebound in the air and cantered for Begg, who was fouled before he could get his shot away. A simple routine from the resulting penalty corner saw van Rooyen dispatch the ball onto the backboard with aplomb to open the scoring.

Hertford doubled their lead shortly afterwards. A quickly taken sideline caught Stevenage napping, and the recovering tackle was deemed poor enough to warrant another penalty corner. This time a switched move involving Downer and Luke Kennedy found van Rooyen in space who finished with a firmly swept shot to make it 2-0.

At this stage the hosts were guilty of relaxing too much and some sloppy play let Stevenage back into the tie. A lack of ball pace in midfield gifted the visitors possession, playing a neat one-two around the last line of defence, and squaring a pass for the striker to score despite the advancing Capaldi's deflection.

The goal gave Stevenage some confidence, and they pushed on to level before half time. More indecision in midfield gave the ball away, and when Hertford hesitated as they thought an infringement had occurred, Stevenage played on and capitalised to make it 2-2.

Reasserting themselves after the break Hertford found some rhythm, a sense of urgency, and a bit of inspiration. In a pattern of play that could have come straight from a training drill, Elliot Barling adavanced from full-back down the right, feeding the wide lead of Ian Dunnett, who checked back inside one defender and played a lifted pass beyond another to Downer, who teed the ball up with one touch and unleashed a sumptuous strike across goal, fizzing past the keeper's outstretched stick and glancing in off the top of the left-hand post to restore Hertford's lead.

It was Stevenage's turn to hesitate as Hertford extended their lead. Van Rooyen was fed at the top of the circle by Alec Short, but when his run was halted by an obstruction the visiting defence paused, but a good advantage was played and van Rooyen struck home to compete his hat-trick, taking him into double-figures for the season.

It could have been five shortly afterwards when some enticing combination play freed Norman, who rounded the goalie, but couldn't get his shot on target as Stevenage's defence scrambled back to cover the line.

Stevenage fought their way back into the tie as Hertford conceded a soft penalty corner, with the straight-strike kissing the top of the backboard to make it 4-3.

Hertford kept their composure better than when conceding a two-goal advantage in the first half, maintaining better space and ball pace through midfield. This time Downer turned provider, driving into the centre of the pitch, then providing a pin-point pass to the penalty spot for Kennedy to deflect an effort on goal. The shot was well saved, but Kennedy collected the rebound and beat the goalie with some deft skill, leaving himself an empty net to reverse-sweep for his fifth of the season.

Downer completed the scoring in fine style. A cross into the box from the right created a melee at the back post, resulting in a stick tackle on Branford. The resulting penalty corner was converted on the drag flick by Downer into the very top corner.

The win keeps Hertford in second place in division 3SW, four points off top, as they go into the seasonal break, with a crucial run of games awaiting them on the other side of the festivities, as they face 4th, 3rd and 5th in the first three games in January.

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