HARPENDEN: 0
NORWICH CITY: 2
07.10.06

Harpenden men’s first team came in to the game sitting pretty at the top of the league after two comfortable victories however their opposition arrived with a point to prove after an erratic start to their season. Early exchanges went Harpenden’s way, with the Kingston Smith sponsored side controlling possession and winning numerous short-corners.

From the first of these Harps were unlucky not to score when a slick routine was excellently saved by the visiting keeper however he then lay and the ball and a penalty stroke should have been awarded. Undeterred Harpenden continued to push forward winning short corners and creating chances although none were capitalised on. Defensively Harpenden’s defensive unit of Paul Davison and Tom Bunbury held Norwich at bay allowing only one short corner and one angled shot until half-time.

At the interval Harps captain Mike Emes stressed that if whites kept their composure and confidence the goals would come. The second half continued as the first with Harpenden controlling the play and looking for a way through the hard working Norwich defence. Mid way through the half it appeared that a single goal maybe enough and as the whites continued to push for the goal they began to leave more space at the back for the visitors to attack. From one such rare attack a freakish bobble in front of Harp’s keeper Alan Clark led to a rash defenders challenge and Norwich being awarded only their second corner. At the corner the ball was moved swiftly back to the injector and some slack marking left the free man with a simple finish. Worse was to come for Harpenden when only a few minutes later another slip left was miss-hit and fell to a green shirt for a tap in. At 2-0 down Harpenden continued to push forward and win relentless short corners and for the final 15 minutes Norwich were camped in their own half.

Unfortunately Harpenden were unable to find the net and finally lost their first game since February of last season. Skipper Emes commented after the game that “we will play a lot worse than that and win this year, unfortunately we came up against some resolute defending today but we can only blame ourselves that we did n’t turn our possession in to goals”.

Next Saturday Harpenden travel to east London to play Crostyx where the whites will be aiming to get their season back on track.

Match report by Paul Davison