HARPENDEN: 1
VAUXHALL CHILTERN: 2
04.03.06

The game started with Harpenden aware their future was in their own hands, win the remaining games and they would be promoted. But with Chiltern close on Harpendens heels the win was not going to be a walk in the park.

Harpenden started the game brightly and dominated the game play, with the four midfielders linking well with Lincoln and Lythgoe. Harpenden set the squeeze quickly and effiently, and even the hard hitting Chiltern defence could not find a way through.
Quinn and Lynam worked effortlessly in the central midefiled stopping any progress made through the middle, Rees was a threat on every occasion, and used her whippet like speed up the line creating all sorts of problems for the Chiltern defence!

Rees went a long way to winning several short corners for Harpenden and on the fourth short the opener was had, after a couple of good shots and saves it was a deflected shot that found Gardner, with no time to swing she fired the ball back into the mixer hoping that one of her players would help it on, No one got a touch not even the Chiltern defence and the ball found its way into the corner of the goal. Harpenden were deservedly 1 up.

Harpenden didn’t settle for one and drove forward, Dear starting the attack from defence interlinking with England and a fine shot by Lythgoe sore the ball hit the post for Chiltern to clear. Minutes later Lincoln had her turn at hitting the post and Harps were feeling very unlucky not to be at 3-0 up.

The domination showed for 30 minutes of the first half never letting Chiltern in, no short corners had been conceded, Naden, Slough, Gardner and Dear mopped up any lose balls and made some superb tackles.

But a mistake by Gardner gave away the first short corner of the game for Chiltern, the ball fizzed through a lot of players and un sighted Gardner did not cover her feet. This was to be the equaliser for Chiltern as Naden ran 1, making an excellent block from a fierce shot, Gardner stepped out to support her, but the ball spun away from Naden and Chiltern picked up the lose ball, passing to the now open player, Slough shut down but a deflection gave keeper Clark no chance as the ball nestled into the roof of the net!

1-1.

Worse was yet to come, not quite settling down Harpenden let Chiltern attack again, a superb tackle was made on the edge of the area, but unfortunately the Chiltern Umpire didn’t see it as every person on and off the pitch and awarded a short corner. For the second time in quick succession Chiltern capitalised on their chance and took the game to 2-1.

The second half came and Harps really worked hard to get into the game, but several decisions seemed to go against them including being denied a clear cut penalty stroke as a defender stopped the ball on the line with her body!

Harpenden felt increasingly frustrated and more decisions went against them. There was really no excuse for Harpenden to lose their concentration and question every decision, but as Harpenden faught harder and got more tired their mouths got louder. Eventually an injury lead to Jac Smith calming the situation and Harpenden got back on top of their game, some flowing passes and driven shots were repeatedly stopped by an inform Chiltern defence.

The equaliser eluded Harpenden and they have to regroup to try and keep promotion hopes alive next week against Bedford.

Team: Babs Clark (GK), Sue Dear (C), Claire Gardner, Karen Slough, Georgia Naden, Julie Rees, Vicky Quinn, Emer Lynam, Louisa England, Becky Concagh, Debs Lythgoe, Karen Lincoln.

Goal Scorers: Claire Gardner

Man of the Match: Sue Dear (As ever leading by example)

Sue Dear: Skipper lead by example, to no avail