A tricky away day this afternoon, made more difficult by a lengthening injury list that saw 7 players unavailable to manager Ben Williams. Forced into changes from Wednesday evening’s draw at Biggleswade, after injuries to Ollie Hogg and Dave O’Connor, saw Jake Bewley line up alongside Jack Wood at centre back, with Pierce McNamara replacing Hogg.

The Ducks, playing on the newly laid artificial pitch at Hertingfordbury Park, warmed to their task and started well, passing the ball around, although it has to be said, not penetrating and causing too much concern for the home defence.

It was the hosts who had the most clear-cut chances, with a poor clearance falling to Brandy Makuendi, but his shot from the edge of the penalty area was dragged wide of Archie Davis’ goal.

On 17 minutes, a free kick 35 yards out was delivered by Ben Herd to Makuendi; he squared the ball into the 6-yard box where Charlie Payne arrived, but shot straight at Davis who parried the ball and was grateful to see it smuggled away to safety. Five minutes later Max Hudson and Obinna Ogbonna combined well down the left, before the former drove a ball into the 6-yard box, where Jake Bewley was well positioned to clear for a corner.

The hosts took the lead through Makuendi five minutes later; a cross from the right was headed down by Ogbonna to the feet of the midfielder, who fired past Davis from 12 yards. 1-0 Hertford

In truth, the half was developing into a game of defence against attack as the Ducks struggled after a promising start to create chances. That changed with five minutes left before half time. A Bewley corner was clipped in towards the near post where it was half cleared by Bobby Bolden. The ball fell to Ayodeji Owoeye, who beat 2 defenders and fired towards goal, where Luke Mewitt could only parry as far as Gavin James, whose shot was cleared by home skipper Chris Gosling, but the asst referee was in a great position to see that it had crossed the line before he did so. 1-1

An early substitution in the second half saw new signing Jaedon Phillips replace Owoeye, playing right of the front 3. He was into the action quickly and combined with Pierce McNamara before firing in a shot from 25 yards which cleared the crossbar.

The hosts had a great chance to retake the lead in the 62nd minute; a ball through the centre by Herd saw Vladut Sighiartau through on goal; choosing to try to chip Davis, he got it all wrong and the keeper able to catch the ball above his head.

In a much improved second half performance, the Ducks were giving as good as they got, with McNamara sending a fine deep cross to Hercules, whose volley from 18 yards was adjudged to have been tipped just over the bar by Mewitt for a corner. Hercules came close again 6 minutes later, after James and Phillips had combined well to send a cross into the penalty area, the winger got to the ball just ahead of Bolden, but the defender did well to block his goal bound shot.

Despite their much better showing, it was the Ducks who went home disappointed, a cross from Hudson on the left was headed clear by Jack Wood, but only as far as Payne, whose shot from 25 yards nestled in the left hander corner of Davis’ net. 2-1 Hertford

With games coming thick and fast, the priority for Ben Williams will be to get players fit and available for the important league matches that are on the horizon before the new year, with the next 6 league matches all against teams in the promotion/play off picture, a spell which could define how successful the season will be. Before then, a Berks and Bucks cup match against Long Crendon on Wednesday evening, to be played at Thame FC.