HARPENDEN: 0
WITHAM: 2
04.02.06

Harpenden's game on Saturday was against 2nd placed Witham, at The Brache Ground in Luton, and was probably the most important game of the season for Harpenden to date. Unfortunately, they were not able to take the spoils in what was a closely contested encounter.

The game began nervously with the two midfield units battling to gain control of the game. There was some good work by left back Kevin Moxham and his midfield counterpart Russell Timms, with some dangerous moves up the left wing, however the Harp's early pressure could not be converted to a score. The usually reliable Harpenden penalty corner routine also couldn't break through the Witham defence with some excellent defending from the players on the line. The best chance was a drag flick from Mike Emes which was deflected from a defender's stick-hand, en route to the bottom corner of the goal.

It just didn't seem to be Harpenden's day when right-back, Paul Davison, thought he had scored his first goal in 6 years. Play broke down in the Witham circle, with the ball falling to the defender at the top of the circle. A clinical finish saw the ball nestled in the bottom left corner of the goal. But Davison was denied by the umpire who blew for an earlier infringement. Shortly after, the half time whistle was sounded with the teams reaching stalemate.

The second half started in much the same manner as the first, with Todd Baines carrying out an excellent marking role on the Witham playmaker. As the half went on, the game began to stretch further with more chances being had on both goals. Possibly the best chance for Harpenden to take the lead was had by Danny Burgess. From a dead ball position just outside of the circle wide on the left flank, the ball was rifled across the face of the goal by Emes, only to miss the stick of Burgess by inches, the slightest of touches would certainly have led to a goal.

The game seemed destined to end in a goaless draw, but Harpenden continued to chase the points. In another sortie on the Witham circle, possession was lost, putting the Blues on the back foot. Witham broke quickly down the right wing and won a penalty corner for their efforts. The initial strike from the Witham forward was excellently saved by 'keeper David Jones, but he was unable to do anything about the follow up strike which was swept into the goal for Witham to take the lead.

The Blues did not lay down, and fought hard to get the equaliser. An excellent save from a penalty corner strike by the Witham 'keeper saw the ball fall to Ali 'Jabba' Hutson, whose effort from the rebound could only find the side netting of the goal. As the Blues pushed further forward, the structure of the team became more stretched. With minutes until the final whistle, another mistake in midfield saw the ball given to the Witham centre midfield. A quick ball was played the centre-forward whose deft deflection won the game for Witham, which finished 2-0.

The Harpenden team were clearly disappointed with the final score, having had the lion's share of possession and the opposition converting their only two real opportunities. 'We need to be more clinical in the final third and especially in front of goal. Unfortunately this has lost us the game today,' commented the Harpenden captain, Mike Emes. However, he added that 'the league is still very open,' encouraging his players to come out fighting next week against local rivals, Luton Town. This was proven with top-of-the-table Wapping dropping the points against lowly Harleston. This weekend leaves the top three team separated by only 4 points with 7 games remaining, and both Wapping and Witham still to play each other. Harpenden will look to take advantage of this and other results in the quest for one of the two automatic promotion places to Premier B hockey.

Report by Mike Emes