Bedford VII 1 - 2 Hertford VII

In our seventh game, the 7s finally gained their first league points, and moved off the bottom spot, if only on goal difference.

In dry, but cold and blustery conditions, it wasn't our best performance. We fielded a largely veteran side against a youthful and pacey Bedford team who didn't allow us much time and space, regularly stretched our defence on the break, but had little finishing power up front.

Whilst we generally had the game under control, we were slow moving the ball forward, ran into tackles and gave the ball away far too much.

Andy Benson scored from a tight angle after15 minutes, Ian added another 10 minutes later and there really should have been a couple more before half time. Their diminutive young keeper made some excellent and brave saves. Bedford forced a handful of short corners but didn't give Nick too much to do. In the second half we pulled ourselves deeper to tame their breakaway threat, and the game rather lost direction with few scoring opportunities at either end. Bedford's goal came as a surprise when we missed half a dozen chances to clear a break down their right and a good cross, but that kicked the game back into life, as Grahame, Sean and Simon finally got our short passing game going and set up a succession of decent chances (though no goals) in the closing ten minutes. Gold star goes to Simon, finding his feet quickly in an unfamiliar central midfield role in the second half and winning countless 50:50 balls all over the pitch.