This was perhaps a friendly too far, in more ways than one. Only 11 players made the trip, including several reserves, so they all had to do 90 minutes. On the hottest day of the year this was particularly challenging, with the home side, from Ryman Div 1 South, having a full squad to field.

Team: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Glen Holman, 3. Nicky Burt, 4. Kevin Kilroy (capt), 5. Louis Lancaster, 6. Paul Taylor, 7. Alex Scriven, 8. Pablo Ardiles, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Michael Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts.

Used to stroking the ball about in quick, short passes, the Blues were bamboozled by the long grass and the bustling home side. Chatham took the lead on 3 minutes when their lively no.10 beat Kevin Kilroy and slotted past a helpless Mark Virgo. Kilroy was to go on and be Hertford's best player (apart perhaps for Virgo). Chatham seemed to know exactly how to play the ball up to their front men and quickly fill in behind, and gave Hertford a lot of trouble at the back (where only Kilroy was playing from the regular back four). On 23 minutes Chatham doubled their lead when a good lay off to their no.7 gave him the chance to strike the ball home from 25 yards, giving Virgo no chance with a powerful drive. Ryan Redford made a typical run but put the ball past the far post, then the Chatham no. 10 hit the bar from 6 yards after some shambolic defending by The Blues. On 31 minutes a good long pass found Ryan Redford, but his lob from an acute angle just evaded the far post. The home centre backs were rather quicker than the average SSML defender and chances for Hertford's front men were few and far between. A superb cross by Lee Roberts to Redford looked like bringing a reward though, but the striker's shot from close in cannoned off the 'keeper's legs to safety.
Hertford did pull a goal back on 41 minutes though when they were awarded a penalty for a trip on Redford. KEVIN KILROY took the spot kick and scored with ease. At the other end, Mark Virgo had to make a brilliant save to prevent Chatham making an immediate reply.

Half Time: Chatham Town 2 Hertford Town 1

Hertford had the first significant chance of the second half when Paul Taylor played a defence splitting ball for Lee Roberts to run on to in the centre forward position, but the winger put his shot just wide of the post, with the goal at his mercy. On 65 minutes, the home 'keeper bizarrly followed Redford and the ball out to the corner flag, only to lose out to the striker, who turned and whipped in a cross. Lee Roberts was there, but his rather tame shot was blocked on the line. Chatham won a free kick in a dangerous position on the 18 yard line. Although the Hertford wall blocked the kick, Chatham exerted so much pressure that a chance was created for thier no. 14, who headed over the bar.
Mark Virgo made another superb save, this time one handed, as Chatham dominated, then Kilroy threw himself in the way to block and save a certain goal. Hertford broke away, and Ryan Redford set up Alex Scriven for his only clear cut chance of the game, but Scriven pulled the ball wide with a goal looking a certainty.
With 5 minutes to go, a flagging Blues side conceded again, when a Chatham defender produced a stunning far post diving header to score, from a searching left wing cross. Mark Virgo made yet another top class save just before the finish, and overall, the home side were left wondering how they had not won by a more convincing margin.

Final score: Chatham Town 3 Hertford Town 1





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