Hatfield went 6-0 up as the Elliott Star defence went walkabout in this rearranged fixture, but the Borehamwood side managed to claw four goals back in the last 15 minutes.

Within five minutes of the start Stu Love was adjudged to have brought down Hatfield's number seven in the penalty area, and Star found themselves 1-0 down after the spot kick.

After Mark Burnstein had replaced injured Luke Reed, Hatfield went 2-0 up when the ball went over the top of a static Star defence and their centre forward made no mistake.

Mason, Star's keeper, then failed to collect a corner and a header went into the net to give Hatfield a three-goal lead. Burnstein picked up an injury and came off for Alan Bennett. Paul Cooper and Adam Bell were giving their all up front for Star, when they got the ball. Cooper had two shots which, on another day, might have gone in.

Early in the second half Hatfield's centre forward, who was having an excellent game, scored after a defensive blunder to put his team 4-0 in front.

Matt Jess replaced Plumb for Star and Hatfield then scored two goals in quick succession. At 6-0 one could only wonder whether the referee would put Star out of their misery and call the game off.

Then it all changed, as the Star players started to rush about in the mud. Matt Jones, who had been a bystander up until then, cut in from the right wing and went past three defenders, before thumping the ball into the back of the net.

Big Phil Reed then got Star's second goal, after the side's first good passing movement. He followed this up by scoring another to make it 6-3, and the home started to show a few signs of nerves.

The final whistle came not a moment too soon for Hatfield, after Jess had lobbed their keeper from 20 yards out to net Star's fourth goal.

It was a sloppy performance by Star, who looked like a team of strangers. Their defence was run ragged throughout the game by an average side who deserved to win on effort alone.

STAR: Mason, Flahive, Love, P Reed, Plumb, L Reed, Taylor, Wicks, Cooper, Bell, Jones. Subs: Burnstein, Jess, Bennett.

*On Saturday Elliott Star will play Greenacres, who are top of the South Midlands First Division, in the semi-final of the Herts Centenary Cup. The match, at Pursley Playing Fields, London Road, Shenley, will kick off at 1.45pm.

Hatfield 6

Elliott Star 4

Herts Premier Division