Blues' manager Dave Greenwood had to contend with the loss of 'keeper Nick Barnaby with a knee injury, sustained in the Vase match at Concord Rangers, which may keep him out for six weeks, as well as having to replace suspended pair Kevin Kilroy and midfielder Ryan Wade, both out for one game. Paul Taylor is another with a long long term injury, joining Mark Virgo and Pany Panayiotou. So reserve team 'keeper James Sturgeon was called into action, and there was yet another centre midfield pairing, this time Phil Goss and new signing Matt McArdle.
Teams: Hertford Town - 1. James Sturgeon, 2. Pablo Ardiles, 3. Louis Lancaster, 4. Robbie Carroll 5. Glenn Draper (Capt), 6. Matt McArdle, 7. Phil Goss, 8. Nicky Burt, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 14. Nicky Marsh (fo Lancaster, 82), 15. Rory Brien (for Roberts, 75), 16. Ross Collins (for Burt, 85)
Brimsdown Rovers: 1. Allan Buck, 2. Darren Reid, 3. Gary Schillaci, 4. Darren Williams, 5. Aaron Scott (Capt), 6. Gavin Taylor, 7. Ashley Taylor-Forbes, 8. Reece Prestedge, 9. Scott Atkinson, 10. Eric Managnu, 11. Danny Bleach. Subs Used: 15. Mervyn Abraham, 16. Tan Tezel

This gme kicked off at the early time of 1.00pm on account of the England v Estonia match at 3.00pm, and, on an unseasonably warm afternoon, the home side had most of the play in the opening half hour. Brimsdown looked capable of catching Hertford on the counter though, and on 9 minutes, Eric Manangu should have punished the home defence when a long ball, too high even for Glenn Draper, fell to him. With a perfect opportunity to lob home 'keeper James Sturgeon however, Manangu put the ball hopelessly wide. Hertford hit back straight away, and a fine ball from fit again Kevin Cooper found Pablo Ardiles, only for 'keeper Allan Buck to come out smartly and smother the ball.
A good break down the left by Phil Goss was spoiled when he overhit his cross, but Nicky Burt returned it into the middle, where a first time volley by Lee Roberts flashed wide of the goal. When Hertford won a 17 minute free kick, Matt McArdle's poorly hit effort fell fortuitously to Glenn Draper, who somehow managed to get the ball on to Ryan Redford. Unfortunately for the Blues, keeper Buck got to it before Redford. Then Lee Roberts had the freedom of the left wing and crossed to Kevin Cooper, whose shot was wide of the mark. It was good to see Cooper back in the side, as his ability to hold the ball had been sadly missed. When Brimsdown won a free kick 40 yards out, Reece Prestedge squared the ball to Gary Schillaci, who centred for the tall Gavin Taylor to head just wide.
Play went from end to end, with Cooper flicking on for Lee Roberts, whose shot was well saved, and then Ashley Taylor-Forbes had a free header which he directed straight to the grateful James Sturgeon. Hertford won their first corner of the game when trickery by Kevin Cooper gave him shooting chance, only for a defender to deflect his goalbound effort. Then Ryan Redford's weakly hit shot spilled out of Allan Buck's hands with Cooper waiting to pounce, but the keeper recovered to smother the ball.
As Brimsdown started to come more into the game, Ashley Forbes-Taylor's acrobatic strike brought a fine one handed save from James Sturgeon to concede a corner. When this was only half cleared though, it fell to GAVIN TAYLOR,who rifled home a shot from the edge of the box, to stun the home crowd and players alike. Hertford were up for the game however, and did not let the setback spoil their rhythm. Skipper for the day Glenn Draper was determined to lead by example, and he played a ball up to Kevin Cooper, only for the striker to miss the ball by inches. The equaliser came on 33 minutes though when, following a free kick in a dangerous central position, the ball reached PHIL GOSS, who stabbed the ball high into the Rovers net from close range.
Hertford were back on track now, and a mazy run by Cooper, and a pass to Phil Goss saw the ball end up with Ryan Redford, who narrowly missed from 6 yards. There was no mistake on 39 minutes though, as REDFORD hooked the ball home from close range after a Lee Roberts effort was blocked by a defender.

Half Time: Hetford Town 2 Brimsdown Rovers 1

The first booking of the game came on 47 minutes, when Darren Reid saw yellow for upending Ryan Redford just outside the angle of the 18 yard box. Lee Roberts floated in the free kick, which was turned round for a corner, and from this Phil Goss's lob was held under the bar by keeper Buck. Then a rapid raid by Lee Roberts down the unpopulated left wing petered out when Redford and Goss both arrived to receive the winger's deep cross at the same time and baulked each other.
Rovers' player-manager Meervyn Abraham came on to try and pep things up, and to a degree he did. Darren Williams became the second player booked, when he also fouled Ryan Redford just outside the box before play switched to the other end, and James Sturgeon made a magnificent save from an Eric Manangu header. Bimsdown were really applying pressure on the home defence at this stage, but the Blues looked able to withstand it. Lee Roberts was replaced by Rory Brien on 75 minutes, in a straight swap. James Sturgeon continued to play with great confidence, rushing out to beat Ashley Taylor-Forbes to a through ball. Then Hertford hit Rovers with a real sucker punch, when RYAN REDFORD chased a long punt forward, keeper Buck rushed out and completely missed the ball, and Redford was left to walk the ball into the net to make it 3-1 on 80 minutes.
Brimsdown responded immediately by bringing on Tan Tezel. Hertford countered by replacing Louis Lancaster with Nicky Marsh, and swapping Pablo Ardiles to left back to accommodate Marsh. Ross Collins followed, for Nicky Burt as manager Greenwood looked to freshen things up. With five to go, Darren Williams again fouled Ryan Redford, and Rory Brien's free kick was very nearly headed home by Ross Collins. The substitute's header at the far post was just kept out one handed by Allan Buck. Then, with a minute of normal time to go, the Hertford defence got themselves in a tangle and Ross Collins inexplicably tripped a Brimsdown forward in the box. GAVIN TAYLOR stepped up to fire past James Sturgeon for his second of the game. Lifted by this, Rovers threw everyone forward, and when they won a free kick, Gavin Taylor rose to head home what looked like his hat-trick goal, only to see the referee rule it out for an infringement. Feeling that they had been robbed of an equaliser, some Brimsdown players reacted badly. Danny Bleach was dismissed for taking this reaction too far, and, after the final whistle, the referee also red carded Tan Tezel, for a similar offence.

Final score: Hertford Town 3 Brimsdown Rovers 2 We hope you will find our website helpful and informative . There is a separate "Fans Forum", for which the Club accepts no reponsibility .