Hertford manager Dave Greenwood put out a much changed side for this long delayed First Round Floodlight Cup game, with only 4 of the starting 11 from the Beaconsfield game retaining their places. New signings Carl Ashton and Ian Cooper got starts, as did Nicky Burt, Matt McArdle, and Ross Collins.
Team: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Nicky Burt, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Kevin Kilroy (capt), 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Carl Ashton, 7. Phil Goss, 8. Matt McArdle, 9. Ian Cooper, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Ross Collins. Subs Used: 12. Paul Taylor (for Collins, 72), 15. Ryan Redford (for Ashton, 58). 17. Mark Virgo (for Robinson, 45)

Ampthill Town : 1. Andy Gibb, 2. Leo Marsala, 3. Keith Snaylam, 4. Rob Tucker, 5. Dave Marlow, 6. Craig Townsend, 7. Mike Owens, 8. Matt Quinn (capt), 9. Christian Lester, 10. Stuart Reynolds, 11. Neil Mangan. Sub: 12. Craig Moss (for Mangan, 20).

After much hard work on the saturated pitch, in which manager Dave Greenwood and coach Dave Tripp played a big part, the game was never in any doubt. Ampthill boss Steve Goodridge, who last season successfully brought his Stony Stratford side to The Park in the Challenge Trophy, was looking anxiously for his remaining players as kick off time approached. In the end, he was able to field eleven and have one player on the bench. This was to prove inadequate though, as he lost two players through injury in the first half.
Hertford were able to dictate the game and took an early lead through a magnificent strike from KEVIN COOPER on 15 minutes. Not known for scoring from distance, on this occasion Coops let fly from outside the box to rifle the ball past a helpless Andy Gibb in the Ampthill goal. Up to that point the visitors had looked capable of taking the lead themselves, with Neil Mangan bringing the first save of the game, and then full back Keith Snaylam making a scintillating run down the left wing before firing in an excellant cross which Stuart Reynolds headed not far over. Hertford had been doing most of the attacking though, and Kevin Cooper had already sidefooted agonisingly wide from a pass by his brother Ian.
Ian Cooper was looking particularly lively, but being caught offside by the visitors' defence several times. Ampthill suffered another setback when midfielder Neil Mangam could not continue, and was replaced by Greg Moss. Pablo Ardiles joined in with the attack in trade-mark style on 25 minutes, but although he did well to cut into the box and cross, 'keeper Gibb did even better by plucking the ball out of the air confidently. Moments later though, Ian Cooper broke clear and ran into the box, only to be tripped by a defender, who gave the referee an easy decision to make. KEVIN COOPER stepped up to fire home with great aplomb to make it 2-0.
The two tall Ampthill front men occasionally got clear but the home defence were able to contain them. On 38 minutes, Christian Lester did get free enough to get in a shot, but it went high and wide. On 41 minutes, Ian Cooper was again bearing down on the Ampthill goal when he was fouled, right on the edge of the box. As the ball had broken to Carl Ashton, the referee waved play on, and Ashton got in a good shot on goal, which the impressive Andy Gibb turned over the bar for a corner. There was more misery for the visitors when Rob Tucker limped off , with no more substitutes available. Ampthill did not cave in though, and in the lead up to half time, Stuart Reynolds and Christian Lester combined to test Lee Robinson, who parried Lester's shot for a corner.

Half Time: Hertford Town 2 Ampthill Town 0

Mark Virgo replaced Lee Robinson in the Hertford goal for the second half. Virgo had only recently recovered from a serious ankle injury, and this was his return to first team action for the first time since September. Hertford's inabilty in recent weeks to turn pressure into goals manifested itself again in the second half of this game. With a man advantage over a team from a division lower, and already two up, it ought to have become a rout. But Ampthill stuck to their guns with some spirited defending, and the Blues' forwards spurned chance after chance. Ian Cooper went close when left back Pablo Ardiles popped up on the right and crossed to the debutant, but Cooper's shot went just wide. Matt McArdle fired in a cross-cum-shot and Kevin Cooper was inches away from turning the ball home. Carl Ashton had been impressive in central midfield in his first game for The Blues, but was taken off on the hour for Ryan Redford. Ross Collins moved into Ashton's vacated position an Ian Cooper moved out left to accommodate Redford. Mark Virgo got his first touch of the ball when he caught a free kick chipped over the wall by Mike Owens, then Ian Cooper scampered down the left wing in fine style before whipping in a good cross, which Gibb picked out of the air impressively. Hertford were really trying to get a third and Ryan Redford had several attempts without testing Gibb.
Hertford sent on Paul Taylor for Ross Collins on 72 minutes, and Ampthill threw caution to the wind and had a short spell of dominance, when Stuart Reynolds in particular looked dangerous without actually testing Mark Virgo. At the other end, Ryan Redford and Ian Cooper broke clear with a goal looking a formality. Whether it was just unselfishness, or perhaps lack of confidence, but Redford squared the ball to Cooper instead of shooting,and although Ian Cooper had time to take a touch, keeper Gibb covered himself in glory again by tipping the striker's close range effort over the bar for a corner. Ampthill were leaving big holes in their defence now but several attacks by Hertford failed to bring the third goal. Ryan Redford's best effort of the night was a fine shot, on target, from point blank range, but again Gibb was up to the task, and saved well. Then Ampthill had their one clear cut chance of the night, when Stuart Reynolds centred onto the head of skipper Matt Quinn, directly in front of goal. With Mark Virgo powerless to stop his, Quinn headed wide of the left upright.
Needless to say, the visitors were to pay for that miss as Hertford attacked, and KEVIN COOPER completed his hat-trick on 89 minutes when he hooked the ball home from close range.

Final Score: Hertford Town 3 Ampthill Town 0

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