HARPENDEN II: 2
WINCHMORE HILL: 2
4.12.04


Harpenden shared the points with Winchmore Hill & Enfield on Saturday, but will be hugely disappointed not to win a game they dominated and in which they led twice

Victory would have seen the blues leapfrog their opponents and for that matter Letchworth too, and this seemed very much on the cards during the first half an hour. Stalwart defender Dave Munton was again played in the unfamiliar and pivotal position of Centre Midfield, and did so with aplomb, always available, quick to distribute, solid in the tackle and offering the blues the ‘dish’ option. Wingmen Niall Blackwell and Rob Arnsby saw plenty of the ball, working well with their respective backs Dave Waters and Steve Piercy, while Niall McAlister was pulling the creative strings behind the strikers. A well worked foray between Waters and Blackwell down the right saw the ball pulled back to Fraser Tant at the top of the D, and the skipper made no mistake to give the blues the lead. His side were playing some excellent hockey, arguably the best they’ve played all season, as they pushed forward in the pursuit of a second goal. McAlister went close from a penalty corner and Dan Barber – in his first league start of an injury-ravaged season – narrowly missing out as the break approached but it was the visitors to the Brache who scored next, converting a shortcorner awarded as an upgrade when the blues complained about a decision that went against them. The blues should learn from this, as it gave Winchmore Hill a lifeline from one of their few attacks of the half.

Harpenden could, and should, have seen off the visitors in a second half they dominated. With a rearguard of Neil Liles, Andy Lunn and Ben Brind solid on the few occasions they were called upon, and with the blues constantly driving at the Winchmore D, it was no surprise when they retook the lead. Niall McAlister continued his recent good run of goals by slotting home from a slick penalty corner, and a win seemed inevitable. But, despite their pressure and a host of chances, the blues couldn’t extend their lead. Barber had a goal disallowed when the umpire gave a penalty corner for an earlier infringement; Tant could and maybe should have scored when put through one-on-one with ten to go, and his deflected short corner effort just inched past the post shortly after. Then, the sucker punch… a rare break in to the Harpenden D saw the blues’ marking go a little awry, and a Winchmore Hill striker nipped in to level for the second time. In the closing seconds, Tant had another snapshot saved by the keeper that on another day might have gone in, and Toby Pickard nearly finished a fine move, but when the final whistle was blown it was Winchmore Hill, rather than Harpenden, who were the happier with the point.

“Yeah, it’s certainly two points lost rather than one point gained” said vice-captain Neil Liles. “Brindy’s barely touched it all game, and we’ve spent the lion’s share of the game in their half. The bottom line is that Winchmore Hill scored two goals from just two chances, while we scored two from a hatful, and fair play to them But, we played some great hockey and it bodes well for the second half of the season.”

Munts: Strong performance in centre midfield