In game week 3 Hertford Mens 1st XI travelled to Blueharts looking to get their first points of the season after previous losses to Havering & Cambridge South. A much changed side saw Coach Nick Downer & Vice Captain Rob Holman brutally dropped, or busy… it is still unclear, making space for Kitt S to make his debut for the 1st XI.

Both sides began the game well and looked to find that opening goal with chances at both ends being snuffed out by both keepers. It was Blueharts who took the lead from their first short corner of the game thanks for a low driven drag flick. Postman Pete was unlucky not to make a connection on it but nevertheless Hertford knew they had been playing well and did not let it get them down.

Hertford midfield continued to work well together as the half went on with Jamie O’Sullivan picking ball after ball the hosts tried to force through the middle of the pitch. Some say it was his lack of jet lag from his short walk to the pitch which gave him the edge, others rumoured he had been training at Blueharts with a wig on.

Hertford soon found the equaliser thanks to some Messi like shenanigans from Ian Dunnett to skip past 2 players before laying off just before the third to Gary Brown who ‘tap danced’ round the goalkeeper to slot into an empty net. The camera unfortunately did not catch the kiss he blew to Dunnett straight after scoring, what a moment.

As the second half went on, the game began to open up, allowing the youthful Stags side to put the burners on and continue to press the Blueharts defenders. The returning Scott Apps lead the line well, clearly still in tune with his telepathic powers with Gary Brown, continued to cause the hosts problems and soon enough Hertford took the lead.

Scott Apps manoeuvred majestically with the ball to wrong foot the defender and flick the ball onto the defenders shin-pad awarding himself a short corner. Up stepped Apps to flick hard and low to the Goalkeepers left and give the Stags a 2-1 lead.

The final 10 minutes saw plenty of action with Blueharts threatening several times only to find either Oliver de Brick Wall or Thomas Smith (with closed legs this week) in the way. Just to make things a little interesting, debutant Kitt decided to give himself a break by earning a yellow card in the final stages and cheer his team on from the sidelines.

Hertford saw out the game and now have 3 points on the board to kick start their season.

Next up… Brentwood, 14:30 @ Simon Balle.