HARPENDEN II: 0
SHEFFORD & SANDY: 0
08.10.05

A gutsy performance against one of last year's relegated teams saw Harpenden 2s hold on for a draw against Shefford & Sandy on Saturday.

When the goalkeeper is man of the match, it's invariably indicative of a backs-to-the-wall performance, and that was very much the case with Ben Brind excellent behind an under-pressure defence. Shefford's team was an almagation of the second team - who likes the blues narrowly avoided relegation from Div 3 last season, and their 1s, who had indeed come down. On this evidence, there is every chance that they will be there or thereabouts for promotion come April - and this draw will give the blues confidence that they too can compete towards the top of the league.

The blues were pretty much under-pressure from the off, although Brind's marshalled his defence admirably, especially in the face of ten or so short corners. Graham Smith at centre back and sweeper Neil Liles saw as much of the ball as any Harpenden player in the first half, while Harpenden's offensive players were largely spectators, but for one shot from Fraser Tant and the odd display of pace from Nigel Timms. Rob Arnsby, holding the centre of the park, and Paul Wise just in front of him, had little time on the ball, but used it intelligently when they could. But, the game was goalless at half time and the blues were very much in it.

The second half began in much the same vein as the first, but gradually Harpenden took a greater share of possession, and when Harps Paul Wise was sin-binned along with his fellow protagonist for fronting up to each other, the extra space on the park seemed to work to Harpenden's favour, despite their main playmaker watching from behind the goal. Indeed, it was Harpenden who had the best chance of the game, when Nigel Timms' close-range effort was stopped on the line by a defensive knee, with just 10 minutes left. Chris Parsons stood up to be counted but his penalty flick was pushed on the post by the visiting keeper and the deadlocked remained unbroken.

And so it remained at full time - goalless but not without incident. Ultimately, it will be the blues who were happiest with the draw, considering what probably amounted to a 65:35 split of possession in the opposition's favour. "Yeah, I'll take that" said skipper Steve Piercy. "But for Brindy, it could have been a different story, but we've lost that kind of game in the past so I'm pretty pleased with the effort the lads showed."

Ben Brind: None shall pass