Trip to the seaside no holiday

With some serious injury and unavailability issues Hertford were forced into four changes. Jamie O'Sullivan came in for his second appearance of the season defence as Mike Branford moved up into midfield. Taylor Weeks hadn't recovered from a hand injury the previous week, giving Rob Holman his first appearance of the season at left back. Midfield duo Nick Downer and Adrian Fileczki were absent, giving a first team competitive debut to teenager Josh Over who after impressing in the off-season. Archie Akers joined the forward ranks with Darren Norman also unavailable.

As was the case the previous week Hertford showed some good composure in the early stages. Using the pace of the pitch to switch the ball and waiting for openings. They were able to build up some pressure on their opponents and made it tell to get off the mark. Felixstowe thought they'd managed to clear the ball following a melee just in front of the penalty spot, but Gary Brown scampered to retrieve possession and stuck the ball at pace across the goalmouth. Arthur Twyning was perfectly placed, showing instant reverse stick control before tapping in at the far post for this second of the season.

The pressure continued to tell as Hertford doubled their lead. Utilising the width, O'Sullivan ventured up from left back and was given too much space to pick his cross, with last year's top scorer Scott Apps getting off the mark with a deft deflection over the sliding keeper.

It was three before long with Brown continuing his excellent goalscoring form. Dylan Parker feeding the ball in from the top of the circle for Apps to strike across goal. Brown had ghosted in at the back post and did really well to control the ball with one touch and wristily flick the ball over the line with his next.

And it was four before half time. Some neat one-twos at the top of the circle between Ian Dunnett and Parker drew the defence out before finding Apps in the circle. His reverse stick effort was half blocked by a combination of two defenders, but the ball rolled kindly for Brown in a similar position to his first, for an easy finish.

Felixstowe did get something just before the break when Hertford were caught playing out from the back and outnumbered in defence. The visitors though they had forced the ball wide enough, but Tom Smith was beaten when the pushed shot found its way between his legs as he tried to rush off his line to close down the striker.

Hertford thought normal service had been resumed shortly after the break. Some slick play through midfield and some deft stickwork from Twyning to beat the last defender and square the ball for Brown to have time to pick his spot at the near post to notch up his maiden hat-trick for the club.

But Felixstowe weren't done. Smith dealt with an initial effort after a penalty corner, but a flicked follow-up was deflected out of the air by Parker, cruelly wrong-footing Smith and Halfacre guarding the line. 2-5.

The hosts closed the gap further when some lacklustre tracking back gave Felixstowe an overlap down the left. Halfacre half-cleared the cross, but the ball fell for a waiting attacker who squared for a first time deflection over the line, which had enough spin to roll over the top of Dunnett's stick as he dived full-length. 3-5.

The entertainment continued as Hertford steadied their play, and played some excellent two-touch hockey down the right flank, feeding Twyning, who played just a pass with just enough weight for Apps to beat the sliding keeper to it, and steady himself before flicking past a brave defender on the line. 3-6.

Not knowing when they were beaten Felixstowe ventured forward again. A first shot was booted back by Smith, but only to an attacker who forced the ball in past Smith's left foot and into the far corner. 4-6.

Hertford then netted a quick double to put the game beyond doubt. Felixstowe didn't retreat the required 5 metres from Parker inside the 23, remarkably earning Hertford their first penalty corner of the game. Apps showed everyone what they had been missing out on as he unleashed an unstoppable drag flick to complete his hat-trick. Brown made it eight, with half of them for himself, as a Felixstowe penalty corner broke down, Rob Holman cleared with a sharp reverse-stick hit, finding Twyning near the halfway line. Twyning dallied his way up to the circle, selflessly squaring once more for Brown to apply a smart finish with a chipped effort spinning over the advancing keeper, nestling inside the far post.

However, the game wasn't done. In trying to maintain the four goal advantage Smith completely misjudged his attempted slide, barrelling into the back of a Felixstowe forward. Smith was sent to the stands for the remainder of the tie, with the unpadded Ben Tootell unable to stop the resulting penalty stroke. 5-8. Tootell showed his frustration by throwing his face mask to one side in a manner the umpire took exception to, suspending the defender for two minutes.

With no goal keeper and only nine players on the field, Hertford were inevitably under pressure, especially as Felixstowe sacrificed their own goalie to gain an extra man advantage. A young Felixstowe attacker forced a sixth into the unguarded net in the dying minutes, but the final whistle sounded before any more damage could be done.

Hertford move up to third in the table, but will need to be much more resolute next week when they host long time rivals Harpenden who have had a mixed start to the season, currently sitting eighth after winning two and losing two of their opening four games.

Hertford - Tom Smith; Jamie O'Sullivan, Simon Halfacre, Ben Tootell, Rob Holman; Dylan Parker, Ian Dunnett, Mike Branford; Arthur Twyning, Scott Apps, Gary Brown. Subs - Josh Over, Archie Akers