TUESDAY 17 JULY 2007 - PRE-SEASON GAME
HERTFORD TOWN 1 ENFIELD (1893) 2

This pre-season fixture saw The Blues become the first club to play against the newly structured Enfield FC. There was a very familiar look to Hertford's line-up, with only three new faces in the squad of 17 who took part in the game. The new players were Louis Lancaster (from Enfield), Bradley Stamp (from Ware) and Nicky Burt (from Waltham Abbey).
Team: (First Half) - 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Kevin Kilroy, 5. Dave Greenwood, 6. Paul Taylor, 7. Panaiotis Panayiotou, 8. Nicky Burt, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts.
(Second Half) - 1. Nick Barnaby, 2. Nicky Marsh, 16. Louis Lancaster, 4. Kevin Kilroy, 17. Joel Maybury, 14. Phil Goss, 12. Ryan Wade, 15. Bradley Stamp, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts.

Watched by a crowd of over 70, the game began at a high tempo for the first game of the season, with both outfits looking sharp and ready for the season to come. The first goalmouth action came on 7 minutes when Mark Virgo was required to get down low and make a fine one handed save at close range. A minute later though, and it was The Blues who took the lead. KEVIN COOPER saw his mate Lee Robinson in no man's land in the E's goal, and coolly lobbed him from 20 yards for the perfect opener.
Hertford started to put together some fine attacking moves, and from one Lee Roberts saw his shot deflected for a corner. Enfield's no. 9 made a rapid break when another Hertford attack foundered but Paul Taylor got across to rob him of the ball at the expense of a corner. Then Lee Robinson made a smart point blank save from Kevin Cooper, after the striker had made a fine turn in the box after receiving the ball from Ryan Redford. On 17 minutes Robinson just beat Redford to the ball as the no. 9 chased a fine through ball.
After the brisk opening things settled down somewhat, with Enfield stemming the flow of Blues' attacks. The E's equalised on 34 minutes when they were awarded a penalty when home player/manager Dave Greenwood was adjudged to have pulled down an attacker. DEAN THOMAS coolly placed his spot kick into the top corner to make the score 1-1. Only five minutes later, it was Enfield who took the lead with a very fortuitous goal. A terrible shot by their no. 5 grubbed it's way along the ground, through a sea of defenders to DEAN THOMAS, standing alone in front of goal and looking very offside. Thomas showed great composure by slotting the ball past Mark Virgo.

Half Time: Hertford Town 1 Enfield (1893) 2

Both sides made many changes for the second half, and the game suffered as a spectacle. Phil Goss, playing down the right, floated over a long range lob on 50 minutes, which caused the replacement E's 'keeper a few anxious moments before sailing just over the bar. A minute later, Hertford won a corner, from which Kevin Kilroy's header was not far away. Midfielder Ryan Wade played a good pass to Bradley Stamp, but the newcomer snatched at his shot and lifted the ball high over the bar. Enfield, whilst having their fair share of the ball were reduced to a few long range shots which caused Nick Barnaby in the Blues' goal no problems. Hertford replaced the players who had remained on at half time, so that no player completed the full 90 minutes, but neither side looked like adding to their goals total. Nevertheless, this was a good workout for both sides, and both managers must have been pleased with the overall performance in the first outing for their sides.

After the game, Hertford presented Enfield with a pennant, signed by the players, to commemorate the occasion.

Full Time: Hertford Town 1 Enfield (1893) 2




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