Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division

Saturday 6th October

Hatfield Town             2-3                         Stotfold

Matt Hodges 53p                          Sagwete Nyasha 22

Dean Barker 67                             Lewis Holmes 76

                                                           Sean Herr 80

On a beautiful autumn afternoon, Hatfield and Stotfold took to the pitch knowing that this was a big chance to pick up points as both teams were struggling at the foot of the table.
Hatfield were the first with the chance to open the scoring, as Matt Hodges slid a ball across the edge of the Stotfold area to Dan Pett. His accurate side-footed effort had the Stotfold keeper at full stretch who managed to palm the ball on to the post and away to safety.
Adam Sawyer was also creating chances as he weaved through the Stotfold defence, but nothing was to come of it and it was Stotfold who struck first. The warning signs were there as a couple of dangerous crosses were put in to the Hatfield penalty area. The first was cleared by Dan Hollister, the second beat everybody and was crossed back in to find Sagwete Nyasha free at the far post. He nodded the ball down to the bottom right corner and scored.
Hatfield did not let their heads drop and Chris Webb was able to break in to the Stotfold area before putting in a delightful low cross that nobody was able to get on the end of. Another cross was allowed to bounce in the area, but the shot cleared the far post.
However, Stotfold continued to press and a crisp volley was parried by Scott Montgomery, who was to have a great game, in the Hatfield goal. Soon after, two Stotfold strikers broke through the Hatfield defence, and only a great save from Scott kept the deficit at one goal.
As the second half started Hatfield looked lively, and Daniel Hollister burst in to the Stotfold area only to be felled for a penalty. Matt Hodges stepped up and slotted the ball in the bottom right corner, as the keeper dived left, to level up the scoreline.
Stotfold came back at Hatfield and a deep cross was flicked over the Hatfield goalkeeper but rolled wide of the goal.
Chris Webb was continuing to torment the Stotfold full backs, and managed to win a couple of free-kicks on the edge of the area, only for them to be wasted through poor crosses.
Stotfold again came back as the game opened up. A mistake in the Hatfield defence allowed a one-on-one with Scott as he ran out of the goal to narrow the angle. It worked as he managed to save the shot with his legs. However, soon after Stotfold got even closer as a shot from five yards hit the post. The goal was gaping wide open as another striker miskicked the rebound straight to the stranded Scott.
Hatfield finally managed to take another chance as Chris Webb beat the full back again and shot with his left foot. The shot was parried straight in to the path of Dean Barker and his calm volley flew straight in to the goal to give Hatfield the lead.
The lead was to only last nine minutes as another mistake between the defence and goalkeeper allowed Lewis Holmes to ghost in and lob Scott to level up the scoreline.
Four minutes later another mistake in defence and Sean Herr scored to give Stotfold a late lead that Hatfield never managed to recover from.
After four losses in a row, Hatfield will be hoping the return of David Reid after injury, and the introduction of new signings Rhys Lawrence and Sam Lacey will make a difference to their fortunes.