100% Record Continues

Where's that I hear you cry? Hertfordshire is quite a large county, and the west of it is suitably vague. It evokes thoughts of a rural club, based in a beautiful village setting. Maybe a thatched clubhouse, hanging baskets adorning the facade, with a kindly, rotund tea lady in a lace apron serving a warming, hearty dish post match.

Nope, it's basically Watford Hockey club.

Why wouldn't you call yourself Watford Hockey Club if that is essentially who you are? We are Hertford and proud. Ditto the likes of Potters Bar, Bedford, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage (although if they wanted to call themselves something else to disassociate themselves with the leisure park theme, it wouldn't be the worst). I thought I'd do some digging.

It's a club that's been around for 90 years. They have clear links to the Old Fullerians club and there were many players who hailed from that old school link. One thing that is clearly lacking from our visit are lessons in a friendly welcome. I checked Britains friendliest cities, suffice to say Watford didn't appear in the top 20...

Saturday's visit to Watford was the first real test of the season. Or so our skipper would have us believe. Emails during the week, exhorting the troops to heights never previously achieved were sent. 8 - 2 victories were dismissed as trifling, there was even a missive sent on the match day morning instilling tactics to the squad as well as a pre match warm up agenda

Despite the average age of the squad being a little higher than normal, with neither of the Robs being selected this week, we still had youth on the flanks at the rear with Sam and Luke. Notwithstanding scoring last week, as well as having a stick emblazoned with the moniker 'striker' Hiskens was asked to play as a poor mans Howie at the back alongside Miles

After our pre match rigorous warm up routine (not being allowed to warm up here, there or anywhere frankly) we tore into the opposition with some punchy and fast moving passing hockey. However it became clear that the Watford were well worth their lofty position in the table and matched us physically and in terms of skill and technique. With some skilful forward facing players and experienced defensive combatants we were definitely going to be made to work to maintain our 100% record

Jon Green and Clive were certainly testing the opposition back line with a mix of skill and tenacious closing down. You can probably work out who was doing what....
Clive was in danger of burning himself out so gave himself a little 5 minute rest and when he was sunning himself on the sidelines Hertford took the lead.

Jon was first to a mistimed clearance yet again and drive into the D. Despite the attentions of a particularly high class keeper, Jon opened the scoring with a well placed finish.

The next period of the match was well matched with both sides moving the ball around well, the gallery on the newly crafted viewing platform began to swell as the Watford locals decided that good hockey spectating was a preferential pastime to repelling inhabitants from neighbouring parishes.

Sam, Luke and Miles were in fine form, keeping some particularly skilful forwards at bay, but it was notable that the hornets broke with pace and played particularly high up the pitch. Sadly we couldn't hold out until half time and after a failure to clear our lines, an opposition equaliser meant that it was all square at the break.

The general consensus was that we had started well, needed to take our chances but had to be wary of the fast breaking Watford crew.

Skipper decided in a quick reshuffle at half time, putting himself at the back and introducing a new midfield partnership.

Whatever our half time team talk was like, all I can say is Watfords must have been better. So a little lesson for our own Mourinho is that all the pre match emails are not as effective as a Churchillian address during the match!

Watford came out all guns blazing and we were placed under huge pressure for the opening 10 minutes of the second period. Despite great efforts to repel the onrushing tidal wave, we just could not keep possession for any length of time to break up the momentum. It was only a matter of time before a second was forced home and at 2 - 1 down we knew we were in a real battle.

It looked as if it would be an even greater struggle when the ball went into the net for a third time, but the goal was correctly ruled out for coming off the opposition strikers body.

We reshuffled again, with the skipper pushing himself further forward to try and wrest the initiative back in the central areas and it proved a masterstroke as almost immediately Andre scored his debut goal for the 3s with a timely finish.

It was clear this was going to be nip and tuck, but we had uncovered the best formation and personnel to deliver it and a fantastic move that started from our 16 hit via Sam, Jason, James, Jon and Clive ended with Andy Williamson netting to make it 3 - 2. The Watford massive clearly believed they deserved a point from the match and fought tooth and nail to gain an equaliser. Sam and Luke stood up like Colossians during this final period, ensuring that nothing would pass them on the flanks.

There was still an opportunity for the skipper to make it safe but he decided that the one goal margin was sufficient so popped the ball over the bar instead of in the roof. His coronation as dick of the day was complete when he admitted that he didn't realise we had actually won the match and he thought he'd missed a far more vital chance....

So overall a very pleasing victory, hard fought against a physical but sporting opposition. Fair to say I think they'll be in the mix at the end of the season for the promotion places.

There was just one more chance to get a bollocking on the day for daring to take a bag into bar area (I've never understood why this is such a crime...) but despite being made to feel is if we were back at school pretty much all day, the stags returned to Hertford heads held high with the 3 points

Mom - sam Moloney. Great defensive performance, honourable mention to Clive for a great forwards performance.

Dod - skipper. For thinking we had drawn....