Hertford gave their fans some Christmas cheer with this first league win in five games. In a one sided game it was Hertford who looked the likely winners throughout. Unlike last Saturday at Ruislip Manor, The Blues got an early breakthrough and never looked back. It was particularly pleasing that, with the two top scorers not in the best of form, four of the goals came from supporting midfield players.

Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Matt Watts, 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Panayiotis Panayiotou, 7. Dave Hunt, 8. Phil Goss, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Sunbs Used: 12. Ross Collins (for Hunt, 70), 14. Nicky Burt (for Goss, 70), 15. Joel Maybury (for Marsh, 77).

Biggleswade United: 1. Adam Lawrence, 2. Michael Scarisbrick, 3. Nicky Stilwell, 4. Andre Maltay, 5. Simon Catmur (capt), 6. Luke Jones, 7. Michael Leon, 8. Martin Russell, 9. Robbie O'Dell, 10. Craig Rydeheard, 11. Jason Darvall. Subs Used: 12. Daniel Gaskin (for Stilwell, 65), 14. Jay Goodship (for Leon, 76), 16. Sam Thrower (for Darvall, 65)

Hertford wasted no time at all in getting on the attack, as they kicked off towards the Stable End. They could have taken a first minute lead, when Ryan Redford did so well to float a centre on to Kevin Cooper's head. Unfortunately, the ball was a fraction too high and Cooper's header just cleared the crossbar. Then Redford got clear to get a shot in which United 'keeper Adam Lawrence was able to scoop off the ground. It took a fine move down the left from Hertford to bring the first goal, on 8 minutes. Kevin Cooper played the ball out to the unmarked Lee Roberts, and the winger sent over a searching cross which landed invitingly in front of PHIL GOSS, only a couple of yards out. Goss did not spurn the chance, tapping home to put his side a goal up.
A couple of minutes later, as Hertford continued to exploit the right hand side of the visitor's defence, Goss nearly scored aagain, as he headed another left wing cross on to the top of the crossbar. Then the busy Goss set up Ryan Redford, but unfortunately the centre forward made a complete mess of his header. Biggleswade United were struggling to mount any sort of attack, but on 18 minutes, Craig Rydeheard did manage a glancing header which Lee Robinson was able to watch to safety. It was only a temporary relief for the beleaguered visitors though. Pablo Ardiles was supporting Lee Roberts well down he left and when he beat the offside trap on 19 minutes, his shot was blocked by keeper Lawrence but only to Ryan Redford. Redford's shot was deflected for the first corner of the game. Even when United won a corner a few minutes later, the ball was quickly cleared to set up a counter atack which ended with a Lee Roberts shot over the bar.
It was as a direct result of the interchange between Roberts and Ardiles that Hertford doubled their advantage in the 38th minute. Ardiles crossed from the left and the ball came out to DAVE HUNT, outside the box. Hunt slotted home by way of a thin deflection off a defender which was enough to take the ball away from the despairing dive of Adam Lawrence. Hertford were totally in control now and it came as a surprise to no-one when they added a third, in similar fashion to the second. This time DAVE HUNT's finish was clean as he stroked home from just inside the box.

Half Time: Hertford Town 3 Biggleswade United 0

Biggleswade continued to offer little resistance in the second period, with The Blues attacking at will. Indifferent finishing was evident though, as Hertford spurned chances to really punish the visitors. United made a double substitution on 65 minutes, with Daniel Gaskin and Sam Thrower coming on for Nicky Stilwell and Jason Darvell, and this move seemed to lift them a little. Kevin Cooper laid off the ball to Phil Goss, and he brought a good save from Lawrence with a firm drive. A minute later though it was 4-0 when a Kevin Cooper effort struck Lawrence and fell to RYAN REDFORD who had an easy tap in as a consequence.
Dave Greenwood took off Dave Hunt and Phil Goss and sent on Ross Collins and Nicky Burt, and United used their last sub option by taking off Michael Leon and introducing Jay Goodship. Biggleswade were getting forward much more now, and won a free kick just outside the box on 77 minutes. Craig Rydeheard's kick was not far wide of the right hand upright, although Lee Robinson appeared to have it covered. Nicky Marsh went down injured and had to leave the field to be replaced by Joel Maybury with just over 10 minutes remaining. Robbie O'Dell won a corner off Pablo Ardiles and Ross Collins was on hand to head off the line. LEE ROBERTS made it 5-0 on 82 minutes when he squeezed the ball just inside the post but then United got their consolation goal on 82 minutes. CRAIG RYDEHEARD scored probably the best goal of the game with a fine strike from outside the box, which was well out of Lee Robinson's reach. Hertford should have made it six, first when Nicky Burt made a penetrating run fom the right wing but shot wide, and then Ryan Redford mmade an appalling miss by scooping the ball over the bar when brilliantly set up by Cooper and Burt. Nevertheless a good response to last week's shock defeat, and eleven goals in the week.

Final Score: Hertford Town 5 Biggleswade Town 1

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