Wadham Lodge produced a spirited fightback to deliver a FA Vase Trophy shock as they beat Hertford Town 2-1.

A nine-man Lodge never gave up during the highly contested match and reaped the rewards on the full-time whistle.

Hertford took a first half lead in front of their away following but Wadham were level within a minute as Alex Akimbi latched onto a Sham Darr through ball for the former to finish with great composure.

In the second half, Lodge started with the more confidence and Akimbi was on target again early on and evaded the Hertford rearguard before the slotted home the eventual match winner.

The away side looked to try and get back into the game but their route on approach was sussed out by Lodge’s defence.

However, the bad news sprung up for Wadham as Glody Nsamu and Chris John were sent off late in the game.

Nine minutes of added time was played but the Hertfordshire side could not find a way back in.

Lodge manager Neil Day said: “For a club with no budget and little resources it was a terrific battling performance.

“We’d had Hertford watched and knew exactly what we would have to contend with on and off the pitch.

“Post match they seem to have blamed everything from our gamesmanship, poor refereeing, to playing on a Sunday for the result which we’ ll take as a backhanded compliment as we upset the odds.”

But the same could not be said for fellow Essex Senior League side Waltham Forest as they lost 2-1 to Rothwell Corinthians. Brian Moses scored the only goal for Forest.