REDBRIDGE & ILFORD: 6
HARPENDEN: 5
24.02.2007

Harpenden sponsored by Kingston Smith travelled to Essex-based Redbridge & Ilford last weekend in search of another victory to cement their position towards the top of the table and promotion to East Premier hockey next season. Expectation was high given the fixture in the first half of the season with Harps running out 6-0 winners that day. However, the Kingston Smith side were not to have everything their own way.

The game started brightly for Harps with an early lead being taken in the first minute for the second week in a row. After a penetrative run and cross by winger Danny Burgess, the ball was half cleared by the defence but Stuart Johnstone was able to pounce and turn in the rebound. At this point Harps should have looked to build on the advantage, but for some unexplained reasons instead they sat back and looked tentative.

Redbridge looked to exploit this with what was effective route-one hockey, with balls played to the pivotable, if slightly immobile centre forward. It was an unusual error in the Harps defence which led to the equaliser. In innocuous ball from the opposition left wing managed to find its way into the circle, and poor marked allowed the right forward to nip in front of Alan Clark and poke the ball away to make it 1-1. Harps were rocked by this, not expecting quite such a spirited response, and Redbridge capitalised scoring two more goals in quick succession with 1-dimensional, if effective hockey making it 3-1.

Harps looked to pull themselves out of the mire, and had most of the possession for the rest of the half. Russell Timms and Stuart Johnstone both had chances to drag the advantage back, but chances went begging. A drag flicked penalty corner from Mike Emes made the score 3-2, with Lance Boyd-Clark narrowly missing out on another smart corner routine just before the break.

After a stern talking to at half time from the Captain Emes, the 2nd half started much like the 1st, with Harpenden seizing the early advantage and scoring an equaliser in the first few minutes, this time the goal coming from Todd Baines drag flicking the ball into the left side of the goal.. But once again, Harp’s didn’t capitalise on this and let the game slip. Redbridge managed to score a quick couple of goals following counter attacks and the somewhat fortunate resultant penalty corners. The white’s defence was shoddy, allowing rebounds to be poked away by the opposition forwards.

Harps again reacted, dominating the game from here. Chance after chance went begging with a lack of composure in the final quarter, and Emes was left wondering whether it would be there day. Finally their persistence paid off when Lance Boyd Clark smartly converted a penalty corner to make the score 5-4. More smart play from Kavanagh led to another chance moments later when his aerial to the back of the circle found Spencer Mabanga in space. He converted on the volley but for his goal to be disallowed by the umpires for playing the ball to high. Harps were incensed with the decision as the ball had been struck legally below the shoulder with no Redbridge defenders even close to Mabanga, but unfortunately the umpire’s word is final.

Redbridge again capitalised on the lack of concentration following the disallowed goal scoring from another broken down penalty corner which was surely the winner to take it to 6-4. But Harps battled on, and had chances to level and win the game. A second goal by Johnstone 5 minutes from time set up an interesting finally, but Redbridge were in the end victorious 6-5 winners.

Harpenden will rue their missed chances in attack, and look to work on their defensive play at training after a poor performance from all areas of the pitch. This poor result by Harps opens the league table right up with the top-4 teams all playing each other in coming weeks. Respect must go to the battling Redbridge & Ilford side for such a spirited performance.

Baines calm finish

Scorers
1) Stuart Johnstone
2) Michael Emes
3) Todd Baines
4) Lance Boyd-Clark
5) Stuart Johnstone

Mens 1st - League Goal Scorers