| RICKMANSWORTH
I : 2
HARPENDEN I: 1
2.10.04
Week two saw Harpenden up against Rickmansworth,
a side who also won their opening league game.
Rickmansworth started by playing the better hockey and penned
Harpenden in their own half. Despite being put under lots of pressure
it was Harpenden that came closest to scoring early on, Todd Baines
narrowly putting his deflection over the bar from a Russell Timms
pass.
Ricky took the lead in the first half, following a goal-mouth
scramble. Harpenden had the chance to clear, but gave away possession
in the D, and were punished when the Rickmansworth midfielder
blasted his shot into the top corner.
Harpenden were again able to produce some good chances. Russell
Timms got himself one on one with keeper, after one of his many
fine runs into the Rickmansworth semi circle, but unfortunately
put the ball wide. Harpenden won several short corners but failed
to convert, and also missed a golden opportunity when Todd Baines
was caught by surprise as a Niall Blackwell shot came his way.
Harpenden knew they had a job to do in the second half, but the
legs soon grew tired as the frantic pace of an end to end match
took its toll on the 11 man squad. Harpenden managed to create
more chances but also looked vulnerable on the break, as the game
became even more stretched. Graham Smith did his best to keep
the Blues in the game with many fine tackles, but eventually Rickmansworth
were able to get a second.
Harpenden pulled one back from a short corner when the loose
ball came to Matt Horn and they then went on to chase a point.
The Blues kept taking the game to Rickmansworth but were unable
to draw level. Niall Blackwell was just inches away from deflecting
a Russell Timms ball into the back of the net.
When the final whistle blew for full time Harpenden knew that
although they did not play their best hockey they could have got
something from this game. With the number of short corners squandered
and chances missed they will feel disappointed but it was just
not their day.
There were however many positives, Graham Smith put in some fine
tackles when he was left one on one at the back and Russell Timms
and Todd Baines always looked dangerous when running at the Rickmansworth
defence. Niall Blackwell always lost his man and was the start
of many of the Harpenden attacks and Mark Wakeling settled well
in his first league appearance for the Blues.
Report
by Matty Horn
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