| Harpenden: 3
Chess Valley: 2
03.05.2005
Harpenden went into the weekend feeling
very positive from last weekend’s results. The start of
the game showed that, Harpenden took control from the off.
Some fluent passing between Concagh, Quinn, Rees
and England helped Harpenden to progress forward. England shares
the same team as a lot of the opposition for the county side,
and was keen to show her talent and the team's!
It was England who crossed the ball from the right
to put Lincoln in for her first chance of the game, as always
Lincoln worked the keeper but was unable to get Harp’s off
the mark.
Harpenden set up the press a little slow and Chess
valley found the gaps to make a quick break, Dear made light work
of the speedy winger and regained Harp’s the possession.
This time the ball was switched round to the left and Rees drove
the ball to the back line, Rees pulled the ball back this time
Lythgoe was on the end of the ball and again worked the keeper
who was having a superb match!
Harpenden had most the pressure and became frustrated
as the goals wouldn’t come. Heads sunk slightly and the
press was not set up early enough, this gave Chess Valley a break,
again Dear tackled but could only find the side line deep into
Harpenden’s half. The set up was quicker and as the ball
was taken it was lifted, Harpenden then fell guilty of not playing
the whistle as every player on the pitch stopped expecting a free
hit apart from the unmarked attacker that Gardner should have
been marking, Chess Valley had an open goal to slot the ball home!
Harp’s fort back and were quickly back into
the Chess Valley half, Lincoln showed good skill to win a short
corner.
Lythgoe pulled out, Gardner shot and won a second
short as it hit a defenders foot. This was to be something of
a fashion as subsequent shots from Lincoln, Quinn, Gardner, Lythgoe
and England were all taken one after the other, but after 10 Short
corners in a row, Harpenden worked the keeper but couldn’t
find the net!
Once again Harp’s felt hard done by and
the half time whistle came at an important moment.
Jac Smith helped raise Harp’s spirits and
Harpenden came out in much the same way as the first half.
It didn’t take long for Chess Valley to
get the second goal as Rosemary was rooted from a strong strike.
Harp’s were now down two goals but were
by no means out!
Naden and Slough made some important defensive
tackles and built a platform for Harp’s to mount their attack.
Naden feed the ball through to Rees after making an important
tackle. Rees again drove the ball down the line; a cross between
the keepers legs found Lythgoe on the end of the ball and a simple
tap in was had to put Harp’s back into the game!
The second goal came in much the same way as the
first this time debutant Toni attacked down the right wing, the
ball was feed to goal scorer Lythgoe, Lythgoe turned provider
for Rees who had previously set Lythgoe up, as the ball fizzed
across the goal mouth Rees coolly slotted the ball in!
Harpenden were ecstatic as they thoroughly deserved
to be back on level terms.
A dramatic ending was to come, Lincoln fled forward
using a 1, 2 with Lythgoe found herself in on goal, a shot was
blocked by a defender on the line, Harpenden thought they deserved
a flick but a short corner was better than nothing.
The final whistle blew as just after the short
was awarded and Harp’s knew this was their only chance to
take all four points!
Gardner stepped up and had a strike, again defender
blocked with her foot, after a little decision making another
short was pulled out by Lythgoe, Gardner stopped sore their was
time for the strike and unleashed a mean shot that hammered into
the goalies left hand corner!
The final whistle blew immediately and Harpenden
had won by the skin of their teeth!!!! Skipper was delighted as
she hop skipped and jumped for joy!
Jac Smith commented “You left it late
but when it came it was worth it”
Harpenden finish the first half of the season
on 30 points and take on West Herts next week in their last fixture
before the Christmas break. Harpenden are looking for revenge
on West Herts as they meet them at home in Hatfield 11:30.
Team: Rosemary (GK) Sue Dear (C), Claire Gardner,
Georgia Naden, Karen Slough, Jules Rees, Louisa England, Vicky
Quinn, Becky Concagh, Toni, Karen Lincoln & Debs Lythgoe.
Goal Scorers: Jules Rees, Debs Lythgoe & Claire
Gardner.
Man of the match: Georgia Naden
Written by: Claire Gardner
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