Hertford returned to their more normal line-up for this league clash against near neighbours St Margaretsbury, but with Kevin Kilroy serving a three match ban, manager Dave Greenwood selected himself as replacement.
Team: 1. Mark Virgo, 2 Nicky Marsh, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Dave Greenwood, 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Paul Taylor, 7. Panayiotis Panayiotou, 8. Phil Goss, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper. 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 14. Ryan Wade (for Panayiotou, 81, 16. Michael Bakare (for Roberts, 89), 17. Tony Neilson (for Taylor, 76).

It was something of a minor miracle that the game took place at all after the wet weather of late, but with a good deal of help from Dave Greenwood and Kevin Cooper, the pitch was made passable for the game. The effort was rewarded with the Premier Division's biggest attendance of the season so far and three well earned points.
It was always going to be difficult against the local rivals, managed by former Blues Reserves boss Paul Gurney, but on this soft, sticky pitch it was difficult to move the ball around. On 2 minutes, Phil Goss won the ball in his own half and played a precise long pass to Kevin Cooper, but the striker pulled his shot across goal and past the far post. St Margaretsbury took the game to Hertford for a while, without seriously threatening the home goal, then, on 11 minutes, the visiting goalkeeper, Kris Smithers, grabbed the ball on the ground when Lee Roberts crossed, with Hertford forwards swarming around him. A minute later Kevin Cooper fired over the bar from a Ryan Redford pass. Dave Greenwood saw his header from a corner caught by Smithers before Kevin Cooper did find the net, but only after play had been halted for offside. It was beginning to look like no-one would be able to score. Ryan Redford got three opportunities to put the ball away as he moved in on goal, but St Margaretsbury defenders blocked his shots each time. There was a little "needle" creeping into the game as the visitors contented themselves with containing the Blues. Ex Blue John Barker scythed down Ryan Redford tight on the edge of the penalty area and was booked for the offence. Nothing came of the close range free kick, however. Kane Lovett became the second visiting player booked when he chopped down Nicky Marsh with two minutes of added time played. On 45+ 4 minutes, Panayiotis Panayiotou had a shot on the run which Smithers pushed away brilliantly. It seemed that the extraordinary amount of added time was because of the four or five occasions when St Margaretsbury players had gone down injured during the half, only to recover when treated. It was ironic therefore, that it was the visitors who won a free kick in a dangerous area with eight minutes of added time gone. Fortunately for the Blues, the kick was deflected for a corner.

Half Time: Hertford Town 0 St Margaretsbury 0

The visitors began the second half with a lot more ambition than they had shown in the first period, and on 48 minutes, should have taken the lead when Ben Herod broke clear, only to see his shot strike the foot of the far post and be cleared for a corner. Had that shot gone in, it might have proved very difficult for Hertford to go on and win the game. Mark Virgo needed treatment after he was caught by Graeme Dearie as he saved at the striker's feet. and on 55 minutes, Dearie nearly prodded home as the home defence were all at sea. The ball was punted up field for Kevin Cooper to chase, but 'keeper Smithers raced out of his goal and kicked the ball away from Cooper. Mark Virgo saved a St Margaretsbury free kick and then Dave Greenwood was booked for a very heavy tackle on Graeme Dearie. With two thirds of the game gone, it looked increasingly like Hertford would have to settle for a draw, as they just could not make their superiority pay on the tricky surface. However, the deadly duo changed all that when Ryan Redford won the ball in the box and squared to KEVIN COOPER, who gleefully lashed home from close range, on 68 minutes. A minute later it was nearly two as a great Lee Roberts run down the wing led to him crossing to Ryan Redford but his shot was deflected for a corner. Never an over friendly encounter, more needle was creeping into the game, and Steve Barker was booked for pushing Phil Goss over. Hertford's second came on 75 minutes, when a fine solo run into the box by RYAN REDFORD saw the top scorer notch his 40th of the season, and 50th career goal for Hertford, when he unleashed an unstoppable shot which made sure that the mud would not rob him this time.
Hertford sent on TONY NEILSON for Paul Taylor, and, incredibly, the midfielder scored with his very first touch, when he swept home a Lee Roberts centre on 76 minutes. The move was repeated two minutes later, but this time Neilson put his shot just wide. Ryan Wade came on for Paniotis Panayiotou on 81 minutes, as the Blues used their substitutes wisely in the tiring conditions. Wade wasted no time in tryimg to increase the lead when he fired in a rasping 30 yard shot which had the crowd gasping as Smithers could only push it up in the air. Michael Bakare came on on 89 minutes for Lee Roberts, who received a standing ovation, but the youngster got more than ten minutes on the pitch, as the referee added to his 8 minutes overtime in the first period by playing a full 10 over in the second. Bakare excited the crowd in those final minutes with his swift raiding down the left wing, on one occasion playing in Kevin Cooper only for John Barker to clear off the line. In the end, St Margaretsbury were well beaten, and Hertford's appreciative crowd stayed to applaud their tired heroes off the pitch.

Final score: Hertford Town 3 St Margaretsbury 0