The Blues were wearing their new "Centenery" kit for the first time as they entertained Essex Senior Leaguers Barkingside in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, both clubs having safely negotiated two earlier rounds. Hertford were without new boy Robbie Carroll, who was unavailable, and reverted to their usual line-up after the midweek changes.
Team: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Kevin Kilroy (Capt), 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Ryan Wade, 7. Ross Collins, 8. Phil Goss, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts, Subs Used: 15. Paul Taylor (for Collins, 67), 16. Rory Brien (for Goss, 81)
Barkingside: 1. Chris Clark, 2. Jamie Langton, 3. Paul Kavanagh, 4. Brian Suchley, 5. Matt Frew, 6. Callum Foley, 7. Dom Harkins, 8 Greg Thompson (Capt), 9. Mark Doyle, 10. Mark Steadman, 11. Darren Mole. Subs Used: 12. Corey Ellis (for Frew, 45), 14. Brad Foley (for Mole, 65), 15. Antony Scott (for Doyle, 81).

It's becoming a bad habit for The Blues to start slowly, and this game was no exception. In their first attack, Barkingside easily found their way through the home defence to take a 2nd minute lead, through a fine strike by MARK DOYLE.
Hertford, to their credit, simply set about Barkingside in their usual fashion. Ryan Wade had the first chance to equalise on 5 minutes, when he stole the ball but shot badly, when Ryan Redford was free in space begging for the ball. Then Redford made a good turn only to shoot over the bar from 20 yards. Pablo Ardiles raided down the left but his cross to Kevin Cooper was cut out by a desperate defender. On 9 minutes, Kevin Kilroy played a superb cross field ball to Lee Roberts, but the winger wasted the oportunity to get behind the visitors defence. Then, on 10 minutes, KEVIN COOPER equalised. Ryan Redford flicked the ball on, and Cooper, just about onside managed at the second attempt to prod the ball home, to the obvious joy of the Stable Enders. Cooper turned from hero to villain four minutes later when he lost possession in the middle of the park, and the ball broke quickly to Barkingside's DOM HARKINS, over the flat home backline. Harkins took his opportunity well, and Barkingside were ahead again - two goals from two visits down the field.
Immediately, The Blues were on the attack again, and quite brilliant work by Ryan Redford set up a chance for Ryan Wade, but the little midfielder spooned the ball over the bar from 15 yards.Then Hertford won a free kick right in front of goal which Kevin Kilroy fired at 'keeper Chris Clark.
The home crowd (and for that matter the visiting fans also) watched in disbelief as the visitors went 3-1 up through MARK STEADMAN, when another long ball over the top caught out the Blues' defence again. Three goals from three attacks by the visitors was surely too much to come back from? But those watching had seen enough of the desperate nature of the Barkingside defending to believe that the game was far from over. The Blues were slicing through the visitors' defence at will but just not converting the pressure into goals. A trademark Ryan Redford run set up Cooper, but he scooped the ball over the bar when he could have done better. On 21 minutes Redford again had the freedom of Barkingside's last third, this time it was Pablo Ardiles who got on the end of his pass - it looked like Ardiles' shot was deflected but a goal kick was all he got for his efforts.
Many 3-1 reverses look terminal, but this one didn't. On 29 minutes, with Hertford still doing all of the attacking, Redford was tripped as he ran into the box, and Barkingside's Greg Thompson was booked for the foul. A penalty was awarded and KEVIN COOPER made no mistake as he fired confidently past Clark.
A rare Barkingside attack saw them win a free kick which skimmed off Kevin Kilroy's head to Darren Mole, who shinned the ball wide as it came to him unexpectedly.
The Blues very nearly got level on 34 minutes when a 35 yard free kick found it's way to Cooper, who played in Redford, only for the no. 9 to fire just wide of the upright. Barkingside's Darren Mole was booked for a foul on Phil Goss, but Kevin Kilroy's free kick was too strong for Kevin Cooper, who couldn't control his header.

Half Time: Hertford Town 2 Barkingside 3

The visitors made a tactical substitution at half time, replacing centre half Matt Frew with Corey Ellis. The substitute looked a lot quicker than Frew and had clearly been put on to combat Ryan Redford. The home side won a couple of early free kicks and a corner as they pressed for the leveller. Kevin Kilroy went close with a looping header from the corner, with the home supporters sure he was going to score. Mark Doyle nearly got onto a through pass, but Mark Virgo came out quickly to grab the ball from his feet. Ryan Wade fed Redford who made a mazy run into the box before again shooting wide. Around the hour mark, The Blues began to become frustrated with the officials, as first the assistant signalled Redford offside when he wasn't, and then the referee didn't allow advantage following a foul, with Kevin Cooper in possession and bearing down on goal.
Barkingside made their second substitution on 65 minutes, with Brad Foley replacing Darren Mole. Hertford made their first substitution on 67 minutes when Ross Collins was replaced by Paul Taylor, who had clear instructions to get the ball forward to Redford and Cooper. It only took two minutes for the plan to work, as a through ball from Taylor was latched onto by KEVIN COOPER, who ran on and smacked the ball home to equalise, and complete an excellant hat-trick. Try as they might though, Hertford couldn't get the winner. Barkingside were playing a pretty effective offside trap now and the home forwards were caught out several times. Rory Brien came on for Phil Goss on 81 minutes but had little time to get into the game. A marvellous trick by Ryan Wade completely beat his opponent, but his close range shot was blocked to safety.
So it was a replay at Barkingside, on Monday evening.

Final Score: Hertford Town 3 Barkingside 3 We hope you will find our website helpful and informative . There is a separate "Fans Forum", for which the Club accepts no reponsibility .