After Saturday's huge disappointment, The Blues used this East Anglian Cup game against near neighbours Hoddesdon Town to get back on track. Ryan Wade began his lengthy suspension, and also absent from Saturday's line up were Louis Lancaster and Dave Hunt. Fit again Kevin Kilroy was not risked in this fixture. In came Pablo Ardiles, Panayiotis Panayiotou and Matt McArdle.

Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Matt Watts, 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Matt McArdle, 7. Panayiotis Panayiotou, 8. Nicky Burt, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper (capt), 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 12. Ross Collins (for Burt, 83), 14. Paul Taylor (for Panayiotou,73), 15. Joel Maybury (for Ardiles, 66)

Hoddesdon Town: 1. Chris Fitkin, 2. Mark Teasdale, Kevin Melivier, 4. Damien Thomas (capt), 5. Lee Knight, 6. Aaron Tourlamain, 7. Matt Spiers, 8. Richard Howard, 9. Peter Ulatowski, 10. Andy Martin, 11. Nick Newbery. Subs Used: 12. Craig Hinton (for Newbery, 70), 14. Adam Arnold (for Knight, 90+5), 16. Shaun Dyer (86)

It was clear that manager Dave Greenwood had read the riot act to the squad after Saturday's debacle at Ruislip Manor, and the eleven who turned out for this local encounter got stuck in right from the off, being two goals to the good after only eleven minutes. The first came on 9 minutes when LEE ROBERTS cut inside and lobbed the not inconsiderable Chris Fitkin. The 6'4" ex Blue used all of his height to get his fingers to the ball but still couldn't prevent it falling into the net. The second, on 11 minutes was scored by RYAN REDFORD from close range after the offside Kevin Cooper had stood stock still to avoid being flagged. A similar situation on Saturday had been called offside, and there were those who supported that view on this occasion.
Hoddesdon were finding the Premier Division side a bit quicker than themselves but twice got forward, only to waste chances, first through another ex Hertford man, Peter Ulatowski, and then Andy Martin. Hoddesdon were regularly catching Hertford offside, a dangerous tactic with Ryan Redford and Lee Roberts around. On the half hour, Redford made a rapid run through the visitors' defence, but then spoiled excellant approach work with a poor finish. Andy Martin was booked for the visitors, then, on 41 minutes, Hertford put the game beyond Hoddesdon when LEE ROBERTS grabbed his second with a crisp half volley from a central position.

Half Time: Hertford Town 3 Hoddeson Town 0

Hoddesdon tried to up their game at the start of the second period, and Ulatowski went closer with a 22 yard effort, but still without testing Lee Robinson in the home goal. Around the hour mark there was a short spell when Hoddesdon could not clear their lines and in the end Hertford won a free kick on the edge of the box. With none of the usual free kick specialists on the pitch, Kevin Cooper tried his luck and was not far away at all with his dipping shot. Nicky Burt became the first Hertford player booked, on 63 mniutes as he reacted to being pulled up for a foul. The prolific Richie Howard won a free kick on the edge of the home box, and yet another ex Blue, Mark Teadsale floated over the 66th minute kick, which fell to ANDY MARTIN at the far post, who gave some hope to his side by heading home for 3-1.
Both sides made substitutions after this goal, with Joel Maybury replacing Pablo Ardiles for Hertford, and Craig Hinton coming on in place of Nick Newbery for Hoddesdson. Aaron Tourlamain fouled Pany Panayiotou and the Hertford man reacted to such an extent that he was booked. Seconds later, Joel Maybury was booked for taking too long over a throw in. Dave Greenwood decided to help Panayiotou cool down by substituting him, Paul Taylor coming on for his first game since the serious knee injury sustained at Concord Rangers in early October.
Richie Howard came close for the visitors, then Ross Collins replaced the limping Nicky Burt, on 83 minutes. As the game went into the last minute of the 90, Ryan Redford outran the Hoddesdon defence and saw ROSS COLLINS making ground to his right. Redford played a perfect ball into the path of the sustitute, who coolly slotted home to make it 4-1. Then0 came a remarkable spell in the six minutes of added time. MATT SPIERS got a second for Hoddesdon, then Hertford were awarded a penalty when Ryan Redford was felled as he headed for goal. Regular penalty taker Kevin Cooper sportingly stepped aside to allow LEE ROBERTS to complete his hat-trick with a precisely placed kick which gave Chris Fitkin no chance.
Still the scoring was not over, as RYAN REDFORD added to the visitors' woes when he broke away and netted confidently against the club where he first made his name.

Final Score: Hertford Town 6 Hoddesdon Town 2

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