Hatfield Town try and mount an attack (Picture by Louisa Emery)

Hatfield Town’s relegation worries increased on Saturday as they were handed a heavy home defeat to Berkhamsted.

Darryn Stewart and Kevin Pearman’s troops went down 5-1 at home to the promotion-chasing fellow Herts outfit.

Berkhamsted went 1-0 up after only five minutes when their new signing from Broxbourne Borough Kerkstun Macpherson scored a fine individual goal.

But the Blueboys equalised on 28 minutes throught the returning Lee Newman, and at the half-time break the scores were level.

But that all changed in the second period, with Hatfield’s cause not helped by both Daryl Smith and Sean Sawyer shown straight red cards.

Lawrence Bunker and Josh Chamberlain made it 3-1 before Town were reduced to ten men, Smith seeing red.

Bunker was then hauled down in the penalty area by Sawyer - the Hatfield defender was given his marching orders and Bunker dusted himself down to net the resultant spot-kick.

The visitors weren’t finished yet, and Aaron Usmani scored their fifth goal to seal an emphatic win at the Gosling Stadium.

Hatfield are still in trouble at the wrong end of the South Midlands League Premier Division, third-bottom with 20 points from 26 games played.

They are four clear of bottom side Hanwell Town, and three ahead of second-bottom Holmer Green.