HARPENDEN II: 1
SOUTHGATE ADELAIDE: 1
19.02.05

Whether Harpenden will consider this a point one or two points lost remains a moot point, but the blues will at least be pleased to have stopped the rot after consecutive defeats.

And, after a woeful performance last week at Royston, Fraser Tant's men put in a much better performance and will approach the remaining four games confident they'll secure enough points to remain in Division 3 next season. The only frustration was that they did not claim the victory they deserved. "Dat's roit. Oi Tort we ded enoff t'git ahl tree pints" commented veteran Irish midfield maestro Niall McAlister. "Quoit annestly, we wurr de butter soid troo-ite."

A chance in personnel saw Dave Munton drop in to right back, with Rob Arnsby continuing his fine recent run of form in the deep-seated centre midfield role. Arnsby mopped up in a manner reminiscent of the late, great Bernie Major, in a position that the blues have struggled to fill since Major left the club the season before last. This gave McAlister the license to create just behind the front two, and he was at the heart of much of the blues' best work in the first half. On 20 minutes, Dan Pickard was fouled just outside the D, and a cleverly worked free hit between Pickard and Tant fed in McAlister down the flank, and his cross was put away by Neil Lunn at the back post. One nil to the blues.

The blues deserved to lead at half time, but it took a tremendous save from the spot by stand-in stopper Johnny Allen to keep them ahead. A seemingly innocuous challenge in the Harpenden D had escaped the umpire nearest to it, but from across the pitch an infrindgement was spotted and a flick awarded. However, Allen's excellent save with the left hand ensure a 1-0 scoreline at half time.

Southgate Adelaide's game was very much based on route one, with their admittedly excellent sweeper relentless unleashing Wimbledon Crazy Gang long balls that bypassed the midfield and turned defence in to attack. Fifteen minutes in to the second half, one of these clearances led to a short corner, which was firmly despatched past Allen to pull the sides level.

The blues had the better of the remaining twenty minutes, with Tant squandering a good chance after great work from Steve Piercy, but despite having the lion's share of possession, Harpenden could not restore their lead. Most disappointingly, they failed to win a single short corner throughout the match, and this is something they will need to remedy in the remaining matches of the season - starting next week at Letchworth.

Niall McAlister. Pulling the strings in midfield