The defensive frailties that have haunted Langford all season were cruelly exposed again by a Hertford Town side that are leading the “goals for” column in the League at the present time. If it wasn’t for the return of Dan Goad between the sticks for the first time in twelve months it could have been a considerably worst defeat.

The action started straight from the kick-off with Langford cheaply giving the ball away and the League’s leading goal scorer Ryan Redford hitting the Reds crossbar from all of thirty yards. Unfortunately for Mr Redford his time in this game ran out six minutes later when he and Shayne Willett for the home side were both dismissed with red cards in a controversial incident. With both sides down to ten men it was Lee Roberts who opened the Langford defence to put in a dangerous cross from the right that found “no takers” in the Reds area.

Langford almost took a first half lead when Kevin Kilroy so nearly put into his own goal from a Gareth Grant cross from the left, Barnaby in the visitors goal came to the rescue. Lee Roberts replied for the Blues with a fierce shot that certainly blew the cobwebs away from Dan Goad as he produced an excellent save. Another close save for the visitors as Lee Pateman saw his shot blocked the ball finding Jack Gregson who had no luck with his shot rebounding from the foot of the post before being hacked away. The Blues took the lead in the thirty first minute and it was the unfortunate Dorian Small giving away his second penalty of the week.

After tripping in the area he handled the ball and up stepped Kevin Cooper to fire home the resulting spot kick. The game continued with the visitors taking control and if it wasn’t for Dan Goad pulling off some good save from first Pablo Ardiles and then Kevin Cooper, the visitors may well have established a match winning lead prior to the break.

At the beginning of the second half Mark Barnes, still searching for his first League goal this season was given a great opportunity to break his duck. His one on one with goalkeeper Barnaby resulted in Barnes missing his chance by firing wide. Costly as the visitors soon got back into their stride. A suspicion of offiside as Kevin Cooper went through but Goad denied him with a good save at the second attempt.

There was no trouble for Hertford in taking their chances though as the Langford defence melted away quicker than an ice cream in the summer sun. On fifty six minutes Pablo Ardiles cut in from the left to clip the ball past Goad as he came off his line. Seven minutes later Kevin Cooper claimed his second collecting a good pass from Paul Taylor and stabbing home to Goad’s right. The Reds continued to play attacking football but with seventeen minutes remaining a good move involving Lee Roberts and Kevin Cooper allowed Nicky Marsh to cut in from the right to make it four with his first goal for the Blues. Three minutes later Thomas Mustapha claimed a consolation for the Reds as he struck home a rebound off keeper Barnaby following a Pateman cross. Lee Pateman then saw his header cleared off the line as Langford attempted to reduce the deficit even further. Lee Roberts finally claimed the goal he had threatened all afternoon getting clear of the Langford defence before tricking his way past Goad to fire into an empty net in the eighty ninth minute. There was still time for another Langford chance as Thomas Mustapha found himself one on one with Barnaby. The visitors keeper parrying the first effort before Mustapha missed the rebound.

Not a good afternoon for the Reds who are have now gone eight League games without a win and unless something is done to strengthen the defence it may be a long time before they win again.

One other disappointment for Langford’s hard working committee was the non appearance of any players at the club’s race night to raise funds. You have to question in cases like this whether running a team at this level is all worth the time and effort that a lot of people put in day after day. The club would like to thank Ian Crowe and Phil Childs who did take the trouble to turn up for the event.

Hertford Town; 1. Nick Barnaby, 2. Nicky Marsh, 3. Pablo Ardiles, 4. Kevin Kilroy, 5. Glenn Draper, 6. Paul Taylor, 7. Panayiotis Panayiotou, 8. Tony Neilson, 9. Ryan Redford, 10. Kevin Cooper, 11. Lee Roberts. Subs Used: 12. Ryan Wade (for Neilson, 57), 14. Mark Seller (for Panayiotou, 79), 15. Michael Bakare (for Ardiles, 66)