HARPENDEN: 1
IPSWICH II: 8
20.10.2007

Harpenden entertained Ipswich second eleven on Saturday and were taught a harsh lesson by their visitors from Suffolk when they were blown away by a clinical second half performance in their NE14Hockey Premier A East Hockey league clash. In the half Ipswich struck eight times without reply.

The game started very differently in the first half. Harpenden did spend much of the time defending but they also presented a serious attacking threat. It was in fact the home team that took the lead. After some strong play down the right, Mike Emes fired in a powerful pass into the shooting circle, Todd Baines peeling away from his marker was able to skilfully deflect the ball into the goal from the narrowest of angles.

Ipswich responded well to this set back, at first their attacking threat was repelled by some solid defending with Ally Arnsby as he has all season looking impressive. The Ipswich threat grew and an equaliser was prevented by initially the cross bar and moments later by a fine save from Alan Clarke.

Harpenden then created the next chance, a good ball into the shooting circle found Ali Hutson closely marked. Both attacker and defender went to ball, the ball looped up into the air over the stranded Ipswich keeper and into the back of the net. Hutson wheeled away to celebrate only to look back in frustration to see the goal had been disallowed.

Soon after the half time whistle was blown and although the score line of one zero flattered Harpenden it could have been even better.

The second half started disastrously for Harps and continued more or less in the same manner. Within 5 minutes of the restart Ipswich had scored three goals, two from powerfully struck penalty corners. Harpenden’s basic skills deserted them and Ipswich made the most of the numerous gifts of possession to rattle in goal after goal.

Harpenden will know that they will need to perform significantly better next week when they travel to local rivals St Albans.

Report by David Jeffrey

Scorers
1) Todd Baines