Hertford VI 2 - 2 St Alban's IX

This time it's nice to be able to say that they were the stronger team (as good as any we've faced this season) but we raised our game and took our chances and came away with a well deserved point.

Kash gave us the lead, finishing from close range, St Alban's equalised from a short corner. Before the break we scored our best goal so far this season, Kash holding up the ball outside the D after a fast move through midfield, slipping right to Aaron who played first time onto the keepers pads where Nick raced in to sweep home. We played some great hockey through the third quarter and had a couple of chances to increase our lead, Dave Harding seeing a short corner strike well saved and Kash's cross from the right racing tantalisingly across an open goalmouth; but St Alban's pushed players up and always looked capable of hitting back. After their equaliser we found ourselves under siege at the back for long periods, but kept the marking tight, gave them no easy options and waited for their errors. We finished with a few exciting charges on the break but too few of us had the legs left to get all the way to the far end of the pitch.

Hard call for man of the match but I will go with Kash for his fine stick skills and incisive running lines, keeping the St Alban's defence constantly in their toes. Dave Harding and Chris Dean put in lots of less obtrusive but vital work in midfield, Aaron scrapped tirelessly and effectively at right mid, and of course special thanks to Tom Smith for shoring everything up at the back for us. Our 4th father / son combination this season!

Finally thanks to Liz Bailes for our teas. Let's see if we can get our first ever points at SFO next week!