HARPENDEN I: 3
HARLESTON MAGPIES II: 0
01.10.05


Saturday saw a triumphant return to Division 1 for Harpenden with a 3-0 demolishion of Harleston Magpies.

The team, sponsored by Kingston Smith, produced a performance that showed the rest of the league that promotion last season was no fluke and that asperations are even higher this season. A tough pre-season schedule produced some promising results with 2 victories, one draw and the only loss coming against Prem B opposition.

This was always going to be a tough match however, as Harleston had been relegated just the previous season and were no doubt considering themselves contenders for Div 1 promotion. Harps however came out with a bang and controlled the game from the off. The passing was slick and the movement up front soon created gaps that the blues could exploit. Skipper Mike Emes came close with 2 short corner efforts that were saved in the first 20 mins. The deadlock was eventually broken by the ever-present Russell Timms who found himself in the right position to subtely deflect a hard stuck ball past the Magpies goal keeper.

The rest of the half saw a great battle with the game still undoubtedly in the balance. The tricky magpies center forward was handled brilliantly by Dave Jefferies and Tom Bunbury at the back and the opposition rarely looked like getting through the tight defence. Harpenden went close again at just before the break but could not secure the second until after half-time.

When it came it was the resurgent Ali Hutson who nailed the ball in the bottom left hand corner for a 2-0 lead. From here on in the game was never in doubt. Harpenden looked menacing with every attack, using their speed on the break to great effect. Harleston however reverted to the long ball which was easy pickings for the blues defence. The third goal came from a slick short corner routene, with Ali Hutson deflecting the ball past the keeper to round off a man of the match performance.

This was a fantastic team effort with every man putting in a great performance which will not doubt, have to be replicated against a very tricky Wapping side next week.

Ali Hutson: The toast of Harpenden