WEST HAMPSTEAD II: 2
HARPENDEN II: 2
12.9.04

Harpenden Hockey Club 2's travelled to West Hampstead in the second of their three pre-season friendly matches. On a slow pitch which resembled the Sahara Desert more than an astro turf, the Mighty Blues more than held their own against a strong and well disciplined West Hampstead side.

The first started as a battle of attrition as both teams defences blunted any attacking sorties that came their way. The Harpenden defence of Muddy Waters, Graeme Smith, Neil Liles and David Munton were well organised and their tackling and ball distribution was imprseeive in the face of a fast and fluid West Hampstead midfield and attack. With defences holding the upper hand it was always going to be closely fought encounter. About three quarters of the first half had gone when David Munton drove a hard ball into Chris Parsons in the middle of the West Hampstead half. Parsons allowed the ball to run off the face of his stick, which totally wrongfooted the opposition defence and allowed Fraser Tant to run onto the ball and calmly slot the ball past a static keeper. This goal had the effect of galvanising both sides to strive for another breakthrough before the half-time whistle and Harpenden came closest with both Nigel Timms and David Munton going close, but just missing the target, before the break.

The Captain’s talk at half-time focused on the need to keep both shape and possession and, for a time, Harpenden responded admirably to these Churchill-esque words by keeping West Hampstead subdued for the start of the second half. However the rearguard action couldn't hold West Hampstead forever and the equaliser came via a deflected shot after 15 minutes of the half, which left John Allen in the Harpenden goal wrongfooted and with no chance of recovering in time to deny the goal. Harpenden continued with their counter-attacking style and it brought dividends for them shortly after the equaliser. A slick move up the pitch allowed Tant in again and he scored at the second attempt from an acute angle, with Timms also in a good position to clean up any rebounds. After the goal Timms was heard to call his captain a "Greedy B@*tard" - but no matter for Les Bleus had edged ahead again.

Unfortunately this goal had the effect of giving West Hampstead the incentive their game required and a white and black tidal wave crashed again and again against a blue wall. Eventually, something had to give and, after a short-corner goal was disallowed for striking above the backboard, West Hampstead penetrated the Blues defence. A hard ball was drilled (at waist height) across the area and was turned in from a few yards out. That was the end of the scoring but not the incidents. Firstly Liles was involved in an altercation with the West Hampstead left winger in both tempers and sticks were raised. Then the match was brought to its conclusion with Timms being brought down after easily going past his man to have a clear run on goal.

The Harpenden 2's saga continues next week at the Brache when we entertain St.Albans 4's in a local derby match. After a loss and a draw, the 2s will be hoping for a victory on which to enter the new season. Certainly, on the evidence of the 2-2 draw against West Hampstead, there is every chance that they can achieve this goal.

Report by Chris Parsons

Neil Liles: Eats defenders for breakfast