HARPENDEN: 0
HARLESTON MAGPIES: 3
24.11.2007

Harpenden 1st XI, sponsored by Kingston Smith, entertained the East League Premier Division A leaders, Harleston Magpies. On paper this was to be the toughest game of the season for the newly promoted team. Having weathered a disappointing couple of games Harpenden were boosted by being able to field an ,almost!!, full strength team, with the return of Todd Baines and the resurgence of Russell Timms after a couple of months on the side line.

Harpenden knew that it was time to stand up and be counted and made sure that from the first whistle they defended bravely. The first half was full of heroics from all Harpenden players with particular praise going to the back three of Alan Clark (Clarky), Alistair Arnsby (Asbo) and David Jeffrey (DJ). Harpenden almost took a deserved (!) first half lead when David Burns sprinted onto a pass and neatly took it round the keeper, only to see his goal ward bound shot to be saved off the line. Harpenden regained some of their form that had found them promoted 3 years in a row and went into half time at 0 -0.

Tom Bunbury gave a masterful half time talk to make sure that the home team kept up the momentum into the second half. The second half went much the same way as the first half with the visitors pilling on the pressure only to see the home team ask for more. The home team had their chances and, but for the acrobatics of the visiting keeper, would have taken the lead from a well executed short corner from Mike Emes. As the game wore on Harpenden were pushed more onto the back foot and were kept in the game by man of the match, Alan Clark, their goalkeeper. With 15 minutes to go the Magpies breeched the tough Harpenden defence at a well worked short corner. Harpenden came back strong at the visitors which left their defence slightly exposed which lead to further short corners and from these the Magpies were able to score 2 further deflected goals.

At the end of the game it was a bit of a bitter pill to swallow, losing 3-0 but the team took a lot of positives and are looking forward to their ongoing adventure in Premier A. The only down side of the game was the late loss of their captain, Mike Emes, to a suspected dislocation to his shoulder. This weekend they are hanging up their out door sticks and are participating in the East Indoor Competition which is being held in Cambridge. They are looking to improve on their inaugural outing last year were they finished a credible 5th.

Report by Kevin Moxham

Scorers