Hertford welcomed back Joel Maybury after his short spell at Broxbourne Borough, and he took his place in the middle of defence because of the continued absence of Kevin Kilroy through injury and Glenn Draper's unavailabilty.
Teams - Hertford Town: 1. Lee Robinson, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Joel Maybury, 5. Matt Watts, 6. Ryan Wade, 7. Dave Hunt, 8. Phil Goss, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper (capt), 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 14. Louis Lancaster (for Ardiles ,5), 15. Ross Collins (for Goss, 22)

St Margaretsbury - 1. Kris Smithers, 2. Kane Lovett (capt), 3. Ricky Light, 4. John Barker, 5. Steve Barker, 6. Kevin Eldridge, 7. Marc Angelini, 8. Andy Birnie, 9. Matt Maskell, 10. Louis Rose, 11. Tony Neilson. Subs Used: 12. Alfie Koroma (for Marskell, 84), 14. Dean Glass (for Angelini, 58)

This local derby was a closely fought affair by two sides well known to each other and featuring a number of players who had worn the colours of both sides. In particular, two ex Blues figured large in the match. John Barker played superbly at the heart of the home defence, but conceded the penalty from which The Blues took a first half lead, and then Tony Nielson won a penalty for The Saints, as well as twice rattling the crossbar.
Hertford began brightly and Lee Roberts stole round the back of the home defence before crossing to the far post, where Phil Goss got his head to the ball, only to see keeper Smithers hold on to the ball gratefully. The game was barely five minutes old before Pablo Ardiles had to be replaced by Louis Lancaster, when he appeared to catch his studs in the grass and was unable to continue. On seven minutes Lee Roberts moved inside and was able to fire in an 18 yard shot which Smithers also saved comfortably. The Saints won a couple of corners as they began to test the latest Hertford central partnership (this one being the eighth different pairing in 18 league games). Tony Neilson fired across the face of the goal with the nearest to a chance which the home side had fashioned so far, then Hertford won a corner, as Phil Goss became the second Hertford player to have to leave the field injured, with a calf strain. Ross Collins replaced the right winger. Neither side was able to dominate the game, and the nearest to a goal came when Tony Neilson forced a save from Lee Robinson, who tipped the ex Hertford man's shot on to the bar and behind for a corner. Then, on 40 minutes, when it was beginning to look like no-one would break the deadlock, Hertford did, from the penalty spot. Kevin Cooper and John Barker tussled in the box, with both players looking like offenders, and the referee pointed to the spot, apparently for hand ball by Barker. KEVIN COOPER stepped up to plant his spot kick past Kris Smithers, for his 195th career goal for The Blues. The "200" tee-shirt is on order!
In the final seconds of the first half, Ryan Redford was booked for a foul.

Half Time: St Margaretsbury 0 Hertford Town 1

It only took St Margaretsbury five minutes to level the scores, and it was another penalty. Tony Neilson was tripped as he ran into the box, and JOHN BARKER slotted home coolly past Lee Robinson. Try as both sides might, another goal was beyond either of them. With the temperature now below zero and frost on the pitch, there was certainly some edge to the game. St Margaretsbury's best player on the night, Andy Birnie, was booked for a foul on Ryan Redford on 67 minutes, right on the edge of the box. The referee infuriated the couple of dozen Hertford fans behind the goal by taking the ball back five or six yards for no apparent reason before Ryan Wade took the kick and forced Smithers to turn the ball round the post for a corner. Kevin Cooper was guilty of a glaring miss in front of goal, but it was perhaps for the best, as the assistant referee flagged to indicate that the ball had gone behind as Dave Hunt crossed - again not the way that the fans behind the goal saw it. As both sides looked for the winner, Lee Roberts nearly caught Kris Smithers out, the home keeper having to catch Roberts' lob high over his head whilst stepping behind the line. Smithers clearly kept the ball out, but it was a close thing. Then, on 90 minutes Tony Neilson nearly got the winner when his shot crashed against the crossbar.


Full Time: St Margaretsbury 1 Hertford Town 1

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