The Aaron Bateman Memorial Trophy match produced six goals but more importantly, it was a night to remember young Dunstable Town supporter Aaron Bateman who tragically lost his life in February 2022.
The visitors dominated the first half, raining in shots from all angles and showing why they are in the next league up from Town. The Blues to their credit kept going and were much better in the second half.
Steve O’Reilly is still building his squad and were missing new signings Jamie Ovington and Will Bishop.
Hertford opened the scoring in the 6th minute when a finely curled free kick beat Charlie Smith in the Town goal.
Two minutes later Joe Hankins broke free of the Hertford backline but their on-rushing keeper just got to the ball first and cleared to safety.
The visitors were getting on top again as they had a shot saved by Smith, another one go just wide and then one just over the bar before Ayo Akinbobola ran clear in the 28th minute but his finish was a tame one that was easily saved.
Smith then made a fine save to deny Hertford a goal from another close range free kick but they doubled their lead when a free kick was fiercely fired in, hard and low across the six yard where the unfortunate Luca Lodder diverted into his own net in the 33rd minute.
Hertford were racking up shot after shot as Smith made another save before they produced two more efforts that were off target.
They increased their lead further before the break when a shot from the righthand side of the box beat Smith low down to his left.
The second half produced a much more compact display by Dunstable. They had the ball in the net four minutes after the restart but it was ruled offside.
Five minutes later they had another effort chalked off for the same offence.
A Hertford player then tried a speculative effort from distance but it went just over the bar.
Smith then made a good save soon after to deny a fourth goal.
The game then had a twenty minute spell of midfield dominance with neither side creating much.
In the 72nd minute, Lodder produced a fine low cross in the but there was no one on the end of it to turn the ball home.
Spencer O’Leary then shot narrowly wide from 20 yards before the visitors scored their fourth with a curling shot into the net from 18 yards.
Town didn’t give up and scored two late goals when Josh Gavin pulled one back a minute before the end and then Trialist B capitalised on a mistake at the back right on the full time whistle to make it 4-2.
Hertford were awarded the trophy by Aaron’s dad, Ian Bateman after the game on a night where the significance of the match was more important than the result.
Team: Smith; Kenna; Trialist A; Butt; Onu; Lodder; Hatton; Lauder; Hankins; Akinbobola; Ward.
Subs (all used): Davis; O’Leary, Gavin; Moore; Trialist B; Brown.