Stow 1-4 Hertford Town

Stow came back down to earth with a bump, suffering a heavy defeat to Hertford Town. John Mackie and Terry Spillane named an unchanged team from the opening day 3-0 against Welwyn Garden City, but this result suggests there is still work to do for Stow to be competitive at step 4.

After an even opening, Stow found thsemlves a goal down after ten minutes. Kieron Cathline and Adalberto Pinto both went for the same ball in the penalty area, meaning neither really cleared it and David Ogbonna was given the easy opportunity to tap home.

Ben Ward-Cochrane and Panny Boxer both had long-distance efforts for Stow, but neither troubled Ronnie Sandford. Things went from bad to worse for Stow on 16 minutes when the visitors doubled their advantage. After Tommy Fletcher blocked a cross from Ogbonna’s surging run down the left, the rebound fell perfectly for the Hertford winger to lash the ball home into the far corner.

Callum Ibe was introduced ten minutes before half time and immediately changed the dynamic up front, helping the ball to Lucas Schreiber to fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

Stow came out for the second half with plenty of fight, but the game was as good as over five minutes into the half when Jesse Lassen fired in from the penalty spot. Stow had no complaints about the award of the spot-kick, as Ogbonna drew a foul from Samir Bihmoutine just inside the box.

Hertford continued to dominate and had a goal disallowed for offside – their second of the game – before Ben Herd unleashed an unstoppable dipping volley from well outside the penalty area. The goal was somewhat harsh on James Dillon in the Stow goal who had pulled off two superb saves before the ball was cleared to Herd.

Stow kept fighting though, and salvaged a late consolation goal on 90 minutes when Ibe poked the ball home after a big scramble in the Hertford box.