A second-half collapse saw a youthful Hatfield Town team crash 6-0 at home to London Colney last night (Tuesday) at The Gosling Stadium.

Herts Advertiser: Match action from Hatfield's home defeat to London ColneyMatch action from Hatfield's home defeat to London Colney (Image: Archant)

Hatfield were very much in the game at the interval with the score 1-0 in favour of the visitors Colney.

But the hosts conceded a second at the worst possible time - right at the beginning of the second half, their shape went out the window, and London Colney took full advantage to run out easy winners.

While the first half was dominated by the visitors, bottom-of-the-table Hatfield were working hard, fighting for every ball, and had a fair amount of pace and trickery going forward with Chey Samuel Cotton and Jeancy Molenge looking dangerous.

But London Colney took an 11th minute lead as Martin Collins cut through the home defence all too easily, and lobbed over an advancing Danny Curbello in the Hatfield goal.

While Hatfield were looking to pass the ball around, too many times the ball was given away leading to Colney attacks, with Spencer Clarke-Mardell, Collins and Trevor Stevens all squandering chances.

Hatfield’s best chance came 10 minutes before half-time when a long ball from George Florence wasn’t dealt with by the Colney backline.

Cotton picked the pocket of the centre-halves, broke towards goal, and then with the keeper rushing towards him, wastefully blasted the ball well over the bar.

The best chance of the half for the away side to extend their lead came courtesy of substitute Ben Hammond, on for the injured Clarke-Mardlell, was picked out by Trevor Stevens, and all alone in the box, he inexplicably drilled wide.

Hatfield went into the half-time break with everything to play for, but two minutes into the second period, the game took a turn for the worse.

On-loan Stevenage FC academy player Jim Hartley swung a ball into the box and Cain Davey was in the right place to sweep home.

Hatfield heads visibly dropped, the formation seemed to break apart, and this was reflected as the visitors scored a further four goals.

Substitute Hammond, who despite coming off the bench was a contender for man of the match, headed home number three with all the time in the world in the Hatfield box in the 61st minute.

Four minutes later Hammond turned provider as he slipped a neat ball through to Collins to drill home his second of the game.

Hartley rounded off an impressive game, and perhaps one to watch for Stevenage in the future, when he half-volleyed an effort at the back post on 73 minutes.

And the rout was complete 15 minutes from time when Kevin Dennis was caught on the ball five yards from his own goal and Davey had the simplest of finishes to take the score to 6-0.

Hatfield will have to regroup for Saturday when they take on second-bottom London Lions, desperate to end a run of 32 SSML Premier Division games. without a victory.