Hertford Ladies 1's vs Harpenden

Hertford ladies 1's travelled away to face Harpenden at the old Clarence Park pitch on Saturday with keeper Olivia Veoden taking the place of Ella Mitham and Maddy Twyning absent. After a slight debacle warming up at the wrong pitch Hertford started strong and quickly gained possession of a Harpenden push back. The game was fairly even for all of the first half and after a couple of excellent aerials from defence Lotte Butler and some great runs from Catryn Langley in midfield Hertford were beginning to unnerve the home side. Hertfords tempo was the key element of the first half but unfortunately despite winning a couple of short corners it remained level with no goals scored at half time. It might have been the stick that captain Molly Pallett took to the head in the first half or one of many more brutal tackles against the Hertford side throughout the game but it did not make for pretty watching.
Hertford took the lead early in the second half with a cracking ball from Langley into forward Jen Heath who finished with a stunning reverse stick deflection. Harpenden were quick to retaliate and make it 1-1 and unfortunately for Hertford were awarded a penalty flick soon after which gave them a 2-1 lead. Hertfords defender Nicky Estherby got banished to the sideline with a green card for her response to the decision and Harpenden stormed with another 2 goals to make it 4-1. As the hail came down it raised not only the tempo but also the ferocity of the game. Forward Helen Owen used her pace to run almost the entire length of the pitch before crossing in a cracker to Sian Foster hanging by the keeper. Despite getting face planted to the floor and losing the skin off her left breast, Foster still managed to put the ball in the back of the goal and make it 4-2. Harpenden managed to clinch another to finish the game 5-2 but Hertfords half comeback in this rather fiesty match made the defeat less humiliating. Special mention goes to man of the match Heath for her superb work rate and her ability to refrain from a punch up on pitch!