Stags make Blue Hearts

Hertford began the afternoon having scraped past Wapping the weekend before and moved into this game knowing they could score goals but were also still vulnerable to concede several. With their opposition notching up a 6-3 victory over Harpenden the previous weekend, the hosts knew this would be a stern test. With the season underway Scott Apps joined the team for his first game of the season, but Jamie O'Sullivan and Alec Short were absent. Gary Brown retained his spot after two goals in two appearances.

The game began with a similar story to last weekend with both teams looking to drive with pace and look to find their rhythm with through balls from midfield. It didn’t take long for Hertford to break the deadlock when Gary Brown made it three in three. The Blueharts keeper made an initial save but bounced the ball straight back to Gary who had an open goal to slot the ball into. Having gone a goal up Hertford failed to keep the momentum going with several passes going straight to Blueharts sticks, allowing them to break from midfield and overload the Stags' defence. With an initial wave held off Hertford found the net again to double their advantage. An innocuous looking long corner saw Adrian Fileczki drive round the right of the circle and fire in a cross for Brown to deflect into the net.

Blueharts continued to threaten, winning a barrage of penalty corners, and seeing good passes across the D go unmet.
But it was Hertford who scored again. A threaded Brown pass looked to be going to the keeper, but Darren Norman nipped in front, beat him to it and took a touch towards goal only to be swiped by the Blueharts' defender's stick resulting in a penalty flick. Nick Downer handled the pressure and stepped up to put Hertford 3-0 up at the break.

Despite the scoreline Hertford knew they could not get complacent having been 3 up the previous weekend only to concede 3 goals in quick succession and needing a late winner to seal the 3 points. Despite this Hertford remained composed and it wasn’t long before the fourth goal was scored. Dylan Parker beat the first defender just inside the 23 and with the defender trying to make up for his missed tackle he bundled Parker over and concede a short corner.

Parker took on a drag flick from the top which was smartly saved by the keeper but dropped the other side of him where Ian Dunnett met it in the air to nudge it over the line. The game wore on and Blueharts grew ever more frustrated with their lack of finishing and set-piece prowess, but despite this it was Hertford who received the first card of the game when Arthur Twyning tracked back to shadow an attacked and left his stick trailing before missing the ball, only connecting with the attacker's stick and receiving a green card.

Blueharts grabbed a conciliation goal before the end but could not make anymore of their chances. Hertford will be pleased with the 3 points especially having only conceded 1 goal and looking ever closer to the team they were at the beginning of last season.

Next week Hertford travel to Felixstowe where they will be looking to come close to the 10-2 victory they had last season over on the east coast.

Hertford - Tom Smith; Mike Branford, Ben Tootell, Simon Halfcare; Dylan Parker, Ian Dunnett, Nick Downer; Gary Brown, Darren Norman, Arthur Twyning. Subs - Adrian Fileczki, Scott Apps