Hertford lost out to a freak own goal by Glenn Draper in a poor match in which neither 'keeper was required to make a proper save. Hertford were without Kevin Kilroy (injured) and Kevin Cooper, Nicky Marsh, Matt Watts and Panayiotis Panayiotou (all unavailable). Young reserve defender Shaun Crossley was preferred to Joel Maybury at centre back and Phil Goss moved back to right back in place of Marsh. Stansted included ex Hertford custodian Matt Cope.
Team: 1. Mark Virgo, 2. Phil Goss, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Shaun Crossley, 5. Glenn Draper (capt), 6. Carl Ashton, 7. Dave Hunt, 8. Matt McArdle, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Ian Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 12. Ryan Wade (for Ashton, 76), 14. Joel Maybury (for Crossley, 52)
Stansted: 1. Matt Cope, 2. Steve Merrick, 3. Adam Syrett, 4. Steve Brown, 5. Mike Palmieri, 6. Ross Crabtree, 7. Billy Ellis, 8. Paul Seymour, 9. Rob Whitfield, 10. Jamie Haywood, 11. Danny Dow. Subs Used: 12. Greig Taylor (for Ellis, 74).

Stansted began very brightly and Glenn Draper needed to clear off the line in the first minute. At the other end Lee Roberts put in a fine ball across the face of the goal, but neither Ryan Redford nor Dave Hunt was able to turn the ball in from right in front of goal. Then Pablo Ardiles did some fine work before crossing to Ryan Redford, who headed wide of the target. When Hertford had a 14th minute corner, Shaun Crossley very nearly scored when Matt Cope dropped the ball in front of him.
Having ridden the storm of Stansted's bright start, and fashioned some opportunities of their own, it came as a shock when Hertford fell behind to a bizarre goal in the 17th minute. Ross Crabtree scuffed his shot, but the ball bounced up wickedly off Glenn Draper's foot and looped high in the air before clearing Mark Virgo and dropping into the net behind him.
The quality of the game, which had never been especially high, deteriorated and was punctuated by bookings to Stansted's Paul Seymour, for failing to retreat at a free kick, and Glenn Draper, for a heavy tackle.
Half Time: Stansted 1 Hertford Town 0

Early in the second period, Stansted's Steve Merrick was booked for a scything challenge on Lee Roberts, after the Hertford man had looked to be running clear on goal, then on 52 minutes, Shaun Crossley banged his head on the barrier behind the goal and had to be substituted by Joel Maybury, the game being held up for over five minutes. Crossley was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Stansted were dealing with everything that Hertford threw at them, without really threatening to add to their slender lead, and there were further bookings for Hertford when first Joel Maybury and then Ryan Wade were shown yellow cards. It looked like Hertford had equalised in the seond minute of time added when he swept the ball home, but Glenn Draper had handled the ball in the build up. Ther ewas no faulting Hertford for effort, but they just did not have the guile to break down a resolute home defence.

Final score: Stansted 1 Hertford Town 0 We hope you will find our website helpful and informative .