HARPENDEN II: 3
ROYSTON: 1
28.10.06

The future's bright: the future's white

A late cancellation by Broxbourne meant that the Theatre of Dreams crowd were robbed of their usual 4th team entree on Saturday morning and had to content themselves with the main course only as the stuttering 2nds took on perennially indigestible opponents, Royston. Contests between the two Hertfordshire giants over the past few seasons have been notable for some overcooked challenges with Harps usually finding themselves on the wrong end of a canning. However, with a number of recent absentees returning from injury, holiday and work commitments, hopes were high that the local heroes would regain some momentum and maybe serve up a feast of the attacking hockey that they started their season with.

At long last proudly wearing their new Blanc strip and aware that this was a key game if they were to keep in touch with the Div 3SW leaders, the formerly-Bleu-men were quickly into their stride as Royston began uncharacteristically quietly. Initially Harps found success releasing young discovery Simon Evans on the left wing, with his searing pace and intelligent use of the ball creating havoc in the Royston defence. However, a lot of possession wasn't turned into many clear chances and soon Royston looked sharper and were closing down space with the purpose of a council park keeper. With a bit more composure in the final pass, they could have embarrassed the hosts on more than one occasion mid-way through the half as Ben Brind was called into action repeatedly, providing a sometimes hesitant defence with characteristically forceful cover.

The game descended into a fairly attritional midfield battle as neither team seemed able to keep the ball for more than two or three passes. Fullback Rob Arnsby's sharp interceptions were frequently undermined by his pirouettes, as the Catherine wheel-headed maestro twirled himself back into trouble. However, no sooner had it looked like Harps were losing their way than they started to find space and again looked the more positive of the sides. Nonetheless, the half finished goalless and the teams retreated to their respective goals for water and inspirational words.

Your reporter can only disclose the goings on at the Harps end, where water was consumed liberally and skipper J-P Kneale calmly told his team the points were there for the taking if they were patient and matched their opponents' work rate. He patiently directed his team on the tactics for the second half and unleashed them again.

The words sank in because Harps quickly took the initiative and never let go. Suddenly the team's shape started to hold and as they used the whole of the pitch Royston were being stretched for the first time. Returning ex-first team skipper Paul Wise had been moved to inside right and his customarily elegant stickwork and inelegant language was clearly having an effect on the Royston midfield. One slaloming run won a short corner. The ball was delivered to Arnsby senior and the flambé-topped fullback's powerful flick cannoned off the bar to the feet of Fraser Tant whose follow-up rebounded with a sniper's crack from the far post to safety.

Far from being discouraged by such outrageous bad luck Harps seemed to realise that the breakthrough was at hand. More pressure, another corner and this time a misdirected push out was picked up by veteran anchorman Kevin Moxham whose drive inside the far post was too fast for the Royston postman and the lead was secured.

The mood of the game changed as waves of Blanc attacks pressed Royston back. From a long corner, Weeble-esque front man Paul Nash played a deep pass to fullback GrahamSmith. With the accuracy expected of one of Hertfordshire's leading arrowsmiths, he calmly flighted the ball into the D and the ball was scrambled through the legs of the visitors' keeper to a waiting 14-year-old prospect Tom Ward who slammed home a debut goal for the side in his first start.

Royston's play became more ragged and some fairly heavy challenges went unpunished as the men in black tried to find a way back into the game. However, another Blanc corner, another misdirected push and another Moxham thunderclap and at 3-0 it really was "goodnight Charlie".

Harps eased off and in the final minute Royston had the consolation of a well finished goal, but it took little of the shine off an imposing second half performance that will have made the rest of Div 3SW sit up and take notice.

Skipper Kneale, back from a long scouting trip abroad commented "It's nice to have a 100% record in our new strip! But seriously, I'm really happy with this one. We don't often get much out of Royston and to win with a bit left in the tank will make the beer taste sweet tonight. And young Tom's debut goal was the icing on the cake. It's proof", he continued earnestly, "that this year we have every chance of making a real challenge for the top spot. Not", he quickly added, "that we're counting our chickens, we'll keep taking each game as it comes and at the end of the day, the table won't lie". With games against the top two in Div 3SW in the next three weeks, the proof of this pudding will be in the eating some time in late November.

Match report by Niall McAlister, QC. (Club treasurer to receive sizeable invoice imminently.)

Kevin Moxham: Ace Takes Brache Brace