In a largely forgettable 1st half Bedford notched the only score from a drag-flicked penalty corner awarded after Jame Price was adjudged not to have retreated the mandatory 5 metres before playing the ball in the 23.

The closest Hertford came to a reply was when Jamie Ker cut in from left-back and evaded a parade of sticks before firing a well-timed strike just wide of the left-post from the top of the circle.

As has been typical in the last few games, for all of Hertford’s attractive looking possession and movement in midfield, they were finding clear-cut chances hard to come by, and the frustration told as the language became as blue as the turf and the only rub of the green they were receiving was in the shape of triangular cards for Willey, Goodson and Kimberley.

The home side doubled their lead 15 minutes into the second half after a flurry of stickwork and interesting footwork by a Bedford forward near the baseline enabled him to square the ball across the goalmouth for a point-blank finish.

Hertford did rally, with a few penalty corner routines generating glimpses of goal, but pressing forward left some inevitable gaps as the tie became stretched in the final ten minutes. Man of the match Pete Sharman was doing the work of two defenders, ably preventing any real danger.

Ian Dunnett had a penalty corner awarded, when a penalty stroke might have been appropriate, after having his legs swept out from underneath him from a poorly-timed tackle by Bedford’s GK.

The loss sees Hertford fall into the (likely) relegation zone in Div1 South with 8 games left to play.

This weekend Hertford host league-toppers Old Southendian which certainly won’t be a day at the beach!

Hertford; Matthews; Ker, Sharman, Goodson (cpt), Holman; Skillett, A.Price; Dunnett, Akers, Willey; Kimberley. Subs: Barling, O’Sullivan, J.Price