Hertford started strongly and enjoyed the best of the opening phases but somehow found themselves 2-0 down early on after Havering’s only two forays into the D yielded two short corners, both of which they converted. Unperturbed, the visitors continued to push forward and, sensing most success through the channels defended by the aforementioned elderly gentleman, reaped their rewards.

Kitt Skillett produced a 360 spin at the top D that would have left any defender in need of a hip replacement, let alone someone who might have already had one, before finding Archie Akers in the D who deflected over the onrushing keeper to half the deficit. Confused, scared and in a bid to hide from the action, the member of our greatest generation bizarrely deployed himself as a second left back (as opposed to far right-wing) but only succeeded in tamely coughing up possession to James Rollins. Rollins found Adam Price in space and Price didn’t hesistate in firing an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner to ensure Hertford headed into the break all square.

Shortly after half time, the away side went ahead for the first time after good work down the left flank by Ian Dunnett gave him the space to fire across goal, which despite a double-hit found George Kimberley, who slipped the ball under the keeper and towards goal for Archie Akers to make certain it was going in from four inches out. Havering’s star player, P. Corner stepped up again to briefly level the match but the momentum was very much with Hertford as the second half wore. Not to be denied his deserving place on the scoresheet by his own strike partner, Kimberley’s quick fire double gave Hertford a bit of breathing space, the first of the two being a pleasing rifel into the top of the net to open his account for Hertford 1st XI.

Even the efforts of captain Jonny Goodson, who first attempted to play the game in Havering colours before then demonstrating that the hosts could score from open player by firing past his own keeper, couldn't stop Hertford’s charge as they added a sixth after a stunning assist from Jamie O’Sullivan left Adam Price with little to do, except for - aptly given the current Winter Olympics - slaloming past a dozen defenders, sitting down the keeper and finishing from an impossible angle.

Ironically, for all Havering’s set piece dependence, it was a Hertford short corner that ultimately proved to be the difference. Havering’s 'experienced' player of had had a quiet second half, and after perhaps having gone for a nap, mistook James Rollins for his grandson in midfield and went to embrace him, creating the space for Hertford to draw a foul in the D. Up stepped Kitt Skillett, showing that Hertford can score from penalty corners too but choose not to because it’s less entertaining, who fired high past the keeper to make it 7-4. As Hertford celebrated, the ever-compassionate O’Sullivan sought to check on the wellbeing of the eldest player, but his efforts were met with confusion and anger.

As the minutes ran out, there was still time for Havering to add a veneer of closeness to the scoreboard unreflective of the game with two flowing, intricate end-to-end demonstrations of skilful and aesthetic hockey (lol, jk they were both PCs obvs) but the final result never looked to be in doubt.

Hertford: T. Smith; J. Ker, J. Goodson (cpt), O deRoeck, R. Holman; K. Skillett, J O'Sullivan; A. Akers, A. Price, I. Dunnett; G. Kimberley. Subs: E. Barling, P. Sharman, J. Rollins.