HARPENDEN II: 3
BROXBOURNE II: 3
05.11.05

When Manchester United did their Lazarus impression on Sunday, it was just 24 hours after HHC 2s had done their own impersonation of the New Testament's second most famous death-defier.

The parallels don't end there. Last week, Harps had been toothless against an ordinary Bishops Stortford and a key player threatened to go public with his trenchant criticisms of the performance. Skipper Steve Piercy quashed the idea - "we keep our problems private at this club" - but had, Fergie-style, demanded a reaction. He got it.

Broxbourne arrived in confident mood, having dismissed the same Stortford side for a cricket score back in October. The first half suggested their confidence was well-placed as they pulled Harps this way and that with clever pass-and-move hockey. As half-time approached they had carved out a comfortable 2-0 lead and things looked bleak for Harps. But gradually, the Blues started to get to grips with the injured Piercy's exciting new Christmas Tree formation and started to create some chances of their own. The Harps line-up had been significantly strengthened by the addition of 1s players Ali Hutson and Mark Wakeling and their pace and aggression, allied to the thoughtful prompting of 2s stalwarts Niall McAllister and Fraser Tant, began to drag Harps back in it. Just before the interval an incisive pass by Hutson into the Broxbourne D was met by a delightful deflection from experienced Ulster goal-machine McAllister which diverted the ball past the despairing keeper. "At 2-1 we were right back in it," commented Piercy, "and it was a crucial time to score".

Having dragged themselves back into the contest, Harps restarted with a spring in their step. It was not to last. Broxbourne had been dragged out of their complacency by Harps' goal and were soon piling on the pressure again. The 2s defence, ably marshalled by centre-back pairing Graham Smith and Neil Liles, repulsed attack after attack. Something had to give, and it did. What no-one expected was that it would be Rob Arnsby's ankle. Having covered acres of ground defending central midfield, the flame-haired pass-and-move maestro got a fearsome whack and hobbled off. With the significantly less mobile Pete Kneale taking his place in the middle, things looked bleaker than ever. Sure enough, Broxbourne duly got their third.

At this point the visitors eased off, confident that the points were in the bag. Big mistake. "We might have been second-best up to that point, but you know that these boys will give everything for the shirt," commented watching club captain Paul Nash. Gradually, the blues began to take the game to the tiring Broxbourne outfit and the chances started to come. McAlister uncharacteristically missed a tap-in at the post but quickly made amends, slotting in a deft pass for Hutson to convert. "Nice of Niall to return the favour," quipped Hutson, who deserved a goal for his craft and workrate throughout. 3-2 was more respectable, but 2s wanted more and continued to chase the equaliser. A great shout for a penalty flick went unanswered by the umpires but, with seconds remaining, a goal-line scramble was finished off by veteran English poacher Fraser Tant. "Even I cannot miss from zero inches," joked Tant in the bar later.

The final whistle sounded moments later and Harps greeted it like a victory as a dispirited Broxbourne side slunked for the dressing rooms. "That was a lot, lot better," said Piercy, "and I hope it is a turning-point in our season. But we've got to do it week-in, week-out, starting next week against Royston."

Guest Reporter: Pete Kneale

Fraser Tant: Late, late, leveller