HARPENDEN:
3
WAPPING: 2
03.03.2007
Harpenden, sponsored by Kingston Smith,
knew it was going to be a hard match with second in the table
Wapping visiting. Needing to make amends for last weeks loss,
Harpenden had to get there promotion aspirations back on track.
They would have failed but for a dramatic late second-half come-back.
Harpenden started well, with the words of skipper
Mike Emes fresh in their ears. However, Wapping soon were putting
pressure on the Harps defence with there quick, direct style of
play. Forcing a number of short corners which were dealt with
successfully until they finally slotted the ball past the ‘keeper
Alan Clarke from a broken short.
However, Harps didn’t panic and continued
to play there patient game but they couldn’t break down
the organised Wapping defence whilst their forwards were a constant
threat but dealt with well by David Jeffery and Tom Bunbury with
Clarke saving well when called into action. Harps best chance
of the first half came from good work down the right from Todd
Baines and Danny Burgess before a well placed cross was played
to Ali Hutson who got in front of his marker but unfortunately
his shot was well saved by the Wapping ‘keeper.
At half time Wapping deserved their 1-0 lead but
Harps were encouraged to play there game and goals would come.
However, no sooner had the second half began than Wapping had
doubled their lead, with a well placed deflection into the roof
of the net. Whereas, Harpenden were still struggling to create
chances themselves.
With 15 minutes left it looked like Harps were
going to go down for the second week in a row. However, when a
Wapping player was sent to the bin it opened up more space and
breathed new life into the Harps attack. They quickly gained their
first short of the game and following a well worked routine Emes
started the comeback with an accurate drag flick that wrong-footed
the Wapping ‘keeper.
Next a long ball through found Danny B through
1 on 1, although his attempt was blocked the rebound fell to Baines
whose goal-bound shot into the empty net was only stopped by a
Wapping body, and the penalty flick was duly awarded. Up stepped
Emes again, picking his corner and firing past the Wapping ‘keeper.
Harpenden could sense Wapping feeling the pressure and knew the
game was there for the taking. More good work down the right lead
to another corner. Emes drag flicked down the centre and threw
the legs of the opposing ‘keeper to give Harpenden the lead
and completing the late nerve racking come-back.
But the drama was far from over, with just under
5 minutes left, a red mist moment occurred when after Spencer
Mbanga was shown yellow for a few mistimed tackles. The umpire
then upgraded to a red when he took exception to Spencer’s
protests. Paul Wise was then ordered to watch the end from the
sideline after he was adjudged to be wasting time. Being two men
down caused Wapping to attack with everything, and resolute, brave
defending was needed to keep the lead. This was done effectively
using the knowledge of ‘The Brache’ to be able to
clear their lines on more than one occasion, with Wapping only
getting one effort on goal, going narrowly wide.
Harps are high in confidence for next weeks match
against Wisbech, knowing another good performance will be needed
to stay in control of the promotion race.
Match Report by Matthew Beggs
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