WEST HERTS I: 5
HARPENDEN I: 1
17.09.05

Saturday 17th September brought round the first league match for the Premier Division of the Ladies 5 Counties League.

Not having the amount of pre season practice as normal Harpenden set out to make good use of their new recruits, Emer Lynam, Karen Lincoln, Emily and Fran Hesling. The squad was depleted slightly with Karen Slough and Natalia Boniface still taking vacation.

A strong team talk by Captain Sue Dear and the injured Jac Smith should have seen Harpenden starting bright eyed and bushy tailed. However after an early bought of pressure by premiership returnees West Herts, Harpenden looked flustered.
Constant pressure on Harpenden’s back four (Claire G, Sue D, Claire D & Vicky B) lead to inevitable mistakes and a short corner was soon given away. Vicky B ran out well to pressurise and W.H shot wide!

Harps midfield struggled to keep hold of the ball and West Herts kept the pressure up. Some mix ups between the defenders on more than one occasion sore two people going to the ball leaving an attacker open, the ball was crossed and an easy slap home was made leaving keeper Babs Clark no chance.

A second goal came shortly after for West Herts in much the same way and it was clear some changes needed to be made!

Georgia a young player coming up the ranks was brought on to replace Claire D who later on got moved into midfield to channel her fitness and infusiasm into regaining possession. This didn’t seem to stop the ball rolling and West Herts still had all the game, using there wide players to stretch Harps. This time a short corner was skilfully won and executed in fine fashion!

3-0 down Harp’s was looking defeated, Heads were down and Harp’s found themselves listening for the half time whistle. It came and Harps regrouped after some wise words from Jac Smith.

The second half started and before Harpenden had woken up West Herts had attacked using virtually every player on the pitch and slammed home a fourth. New goal keeper Emily (Who replaced Bab’s at halftime) was left with no chance.

Now 4-0 down you would think it was all over, but Harps seem to come alive, Karen Lincoln leading the comeback. Some good runs were also made by Jules Rees up the left wing. None really penetrating. Debs came closest to scoring so far with a neat ball feed in by Carly Watson but unable to capitalise after strong pressure from Herts defence!

Constant battles went on in the midfield, Karen regaining pressure after much determination, Karen beat two players and squared the ball to Jules who was on the centre spot of the half way line, Jules used her trade mark back slap and set Emer on her way, the diagonal run was good enough to catch West Herts of guard and Emer only had 25yards and the keeper to beat, the keeper stood up and came out, but Emer has a cool head and slotted the ball round the keeper, a moment of panic was had by most of Harp’s as they watched on to see if the ball pace was great enough to take it across the line, thankfully Emer scored in her first League match for Harp’s.
Harp’s battled hard but West Herts were the better team on the day and after some good saves by Emily they managed to slip a fifth past her.

Back to the drawing board for Harpenden, Where some hard training sessions are in store to teach the squad how to play as a team. Harpenden 1’s take on last years strugglers next week Letchworth 2’s where they hope to rectify a bad loss by gaining maximum points.

Team: Babs C (GK), Emily (GK), Claire G, Sue D, Vicky B, Claire D, Georgia, Fran H, Emer L, Jules R, Karen L, Carly W, Debs L, Vicky Q.

Goal Scorer: Emer Lynam

Written By: Claire Gardner

Sue Dear, what can the matter be?
5-1, that's what.