Stevenage VI 2 - 4 Hertford V

Viking puns flowed freely in the bar at Stevenage after the 5s bagged their first league points of the season. Taking a full squad of 16 for the first time in many a year, we handled the substitution rota tolerably well and had the better of the first half. But as so often against Stevenage, we fouund ourselved one down at half time to a soft goal. Happily, a stunningly motivational half time talk made all the difference, Chris Shattock drove a determined attack forward and provided the finish himself to get us level on 40 minutes. It was one way traffic for the next 15 minutes as Tor bagged his first hat trick, two from short range following persistent pressure, and one delightful slip past the keeper after robbing a defender just outside the D.

There could easily have been a couple more as the Stevenage keeper performed some remarkable acrobatics to keep out successive short range efforts. The game then petered out in the last quarter, we lost a bit of shape and were pushed into some scrappy but effective defence, Nick being called on for several sharp saves, so all Stevenage managed was a consolation short corner strike near the end.

A big welcome to Dave Roche, continung the rejuvenation program for the defence and bringing a useful combination of pace and solidity; Stevenage can be hard to defend against and the back line played a smart game. With Chris Shattock at the bottom of the diamond again, the midfield combination with Andy and Mark was full of energy and promises well for the future.

Good hard work from all the juniors again, but Man of the Match has to go to Tor for his first hat trick and for plenty of other neat touches. However, the champagne moment has to be my 60 yard sprint to chase down Chris Shattock's long ball into the right hand corner. I turned 53 on Friday....there won't be very many more of those.