March to the Arch 3: Hertford and Ramblers to meet again on Tuesday.

As you know our March to the Arch feature has entered it’s 3rd year. After Hertford's win in the previous round, against Barkingside, they drew Burnham Ramblers in the preliminary round. Directly from Hertford's website, here is the weekend match report.

Burnham Ramblers 3 Hertford Town 3

Match Report by Dan Sinclair

About 40 people, players included, crammed onto a Galleon Travel ‘Luxury Liner’ bound for sunny Burnham-on-Crouch. Excitement in the air, like the crackle of static when you take off a furry top.

We were greeted with a luscious clubhouse
that backed onto freshly ploughed fields, the smell of the wild and a pinch of sea filled the air.

Hertford, positive after their excellent win against local rivals Broxbourne took to the field with panache. Two changes in the side from Tuesday night, Alex Crowhurst & Micky Nathan coming in for Michael Casey & Jamie Packer respectively.
Leslie Field was bathed in sunlight for kick off, it took a little while for Hertford to adjust, maybe it was the red kit that took a little getting used to.

After 5 minutes Tom Wade had a chance with a soft overhead kick, which bounced in front of the keeper but let’s be fair it was never going to beat him.

It was weirdly quiet around the ground, maybe we expected more noise from the home support but it never came, so the loyal away posse filled in with a cacophony of horns and songs.

There were a few cheers when Burnham managed to break through our defence, one on one with Robbo but he was equal to it and batted it away like he was playing cricket.
The Blues (in Red) pressed Burnham, Chet Johnson had a mazy dribble into the box, the ball popped up into the air, which Chet tried to head across but the keeper calmly plucked it out of the air.

It was 19 minutes in when The Blues took the lead. A free kick, which Burnham cleared to the one and only MICHAEL COOPER who smashed it in from outside the area. The players say he ‘shinned it’ but we don’t care, one nil up and it seems like plain sailing at the yacht club.