Late late show for the Blues

Mud-wrestling to victory

Bostik League North Division
Tuesday 13th February 2018
Hertford Town 1(0) Romford 0(0)

Blues manager, Gavin Kelsey, will have been looking for a positive response from his charges following Saturday’s dismal defeat at Soham – and that was precisely what he got!

Ringing the changes to that losing line-up, Gavin welcomed back central defender Jason Beck after a lengthy injury lay-off and gave a full debut to teenager Ollie Stewart at right back. The changes had the desired effect and should really have been rewarded by an emphatic victory against a visiting Romford side, fighting to avoid relegation.

A number of good opportunities were created in a lively first-half display but none were taken and just when it appeared that the Blues would have to settle for a point in a no-score draw, they popped up with a well-crafted winner in the third minute of time-added-on at the end of the game.

The move that brought the decisive goal began deep in the Blues half where Michael Toner played the ball into the feet of Charlie Cole who turned his marker and laid the ball down the left flank for Brett O’Connor to run onto. Brett then drove the ball across the Romford box for Phil Lowen to calmly slot home at the back post. It was an outstanding goal worthy of winning all three points but heart-breaking for the visitors who must have felt they had done enough to take home a much-needed point.

On balance, though, the Blues were full value for their win having wasted at least six good chances in the first half. The closest they came to scoring was midway through the half when Charlie Ruff’s shot at goal was headed off the line by a covering defender after his keeper had blocked Eman Osei’s initial effort. Going in at the break still on level terms, Romford gained in confidence and twice tested Charlie Mann in the Blues goal but, otherwise, it was always the Blues who looked the more likely to score.

The win lifted the Blues back into the top half of the table and went a long way towards securing safety, opening up a 21-point lead over the bottom club, Cheshunt, with 15 games remaining.

Team:, Charlie Mann, Ollie Stewart, Michael Toner, Phil Lowen, Ollie Sharman, Jason Beck, Ricky Light(Matt Thomson 84’), Luke Illsley, Emmanuel Osei(Charlie Cole 65’), Charlie Ruff(George Lutaaya 73’) and Brett O’Connor.

Subs not used: Dan Palmer and Archie Roberts.

Match report by Ray Greenall