Final Day Drama Ends in Disappointment for Stags

Hertford were without defensive stalwart Simon Halfacre, along with James Rollins in midfield and Archie Akers in the front line. Oliver de Roeck was recalled at left back, with Nick Downer, Mike Branford and Luke Kennedy also coming back into the squad after three, two and one weeks out respectively. Finn Kennedy and Jonny Goodson were called up to fill slots on the bench and provide cover.

Letchworth were undoubtedly a much stronger side than the last time the two teams met, coming into the game on the back of five straight wins, including having inflicted the only defeat on league champions Berkhamsted. Hertford had rushed into a four goal first half lead in the previous encounter but it was clear from the outset that they weren’t going to have things all their own way on a warm day, with both sides well supported from the sidelines.

Hertford started slightly better than their opponents, showing good tenacity in midfield and finding the leads of their forwards, but were struggling to register shots on target as a talented pair of full-backs kept them at bay and showed deft skill in bringing the ball out of defence.

Letchworth felt their way into the game, but Hertford were tactically preventing their progress outside of the circle.

It was the home side who managed to break the tension with the opener. An infield pass found Ben van Rooyen - who had only arrived back in the country at 1am - at the top of the circle. His turn and lay-off reached Darren Norman near the penalty spot. Norman pulled the ball onto his reverse stick and played not back across goal, deflecting up off the goalkeeper, where van Rooyen was on hand to force it home from close range for his sixteenth goal in only his thirteenth appearance.

The goal was the wake-up call Letchworth needed, who began to apply more pressure to Hertford. A speculative cross to the back post was nearly deflected in, and then a switched short corner routine was put wide by the injector following in when it looked easier to score. Max Capaldi then produced a couple of excellent saves from further attempts on goal to keep Hertford in front.

The pressure was building, but it was a poor tactical switch by Hertford which let Letchworth equalise, as a substitution in midfield was made at precisely the wrong moment, leaving a man unmarked, who was able to dribble unchallenged across the top of the host’s D and drill a well-placed shot past the right-foot of Capaldi.

Hertford redoubled their efforts before half-time, with van Rooyen finding Ian Dunnett on the overlap, but his cross couldn’t find Luke Kennedy in the D.

Letchworth came out much the brighter of the two sides in the second half, seizing on loose passes and pressing the Hertford D, forcing them into mistakes. Capaldi remained in good form, turning a low placed drag-flick around his right post, and continuing to keep the scores level.

Ciaran Begg and Luke Kennedy were coming into the game more at the other end for Hertford, having to demonstrate their skill to retain the ball as they became isolated from a midfield which was tiring in the sun and having to become more defensive to protect the scoreline.

Letchworth’s momentum finally told as they took the lead with ten minutes left in the tie. A ball in to the top of the circle from the right hand side found a forward, who was afforded far too much space when a Hertford defender over-committed in the tackle. With plenty of time he picked his spot and unleashed a strike into the top-right of the goal, giving Capaldi no chance.

Hertford tried to dig deep and push on again. Norman forced a save with a hit on the turn, then van Rooyen put the ball on target from a narrow angle, before Dunnett also called the keeper into action, picking up a rebound on the left of the circle, but his reverse stick strike was well-saved.

At the other end some last-ditch measures were being taken to prevent Letchworth, with Ben Tootell being shown a green card for the second game in succession.

Despite sacrificing a defender in the closing stages, putting a fourth man up front, Hertford were unable to secure the draw they needed as Letchworth camped in their own half and cleared their lines to see out the final minutes.

The loss means Hertford drop to third place in Division 3SW to end the season, with Letchworth 2nd snatching the final promotion place. Despite the result Hertford finished with their highest ever points total in the division, and will be confident of pushing for promotion again next season.

Hertford: Max Capaldi; Elliot Barling, Jamie O’Sullivan, Ben Tootell, Oliver de Roeck; Ian Dunnett, Mike Branford, Nick Downer; Ben van Rooyen, Ciaran Begg, Luke Kennedy. Subs: Jonny Goodson, Alec Short, Marcus Stirling, Finn Kennedy, Darren Norman.