HARPENDEN II: 3
BISHOPS STORTFORD III: 2
26.01.2008

Saturday say Harpenden complete their first double over Bishops Stortford IIIs for many years in a scrappy affair at a bouncy Brache Arena.

The Great Whites switched back to their old Luton stomping ground at Christmas after a sojourn at Woollams Playing Fields, St Albans. Peter Kneale and his team’s first outing ‘back home’ was the victory against Stevenage a fortnight ago, where the heavy rain dampened the pitch and aided their fast-moving passing game. On a dry day this weekend, however, the pitch was at its bouncy worst, and both teams were affected. Often in such cases, a poor surface plays in to the hands of the lesser side, and this seemed to be the case here, with title-challengers Harpenden lowering their game to the standard of their relegation-threatened opponents.

Harpenden started the stronger, with central midfielders Kneale and Ben Turner in particular seeing plenty of the ball. However, the whites’ passing wasn’t up to its usual standard, with individuals holding on for too long – perhaps struggling to cope with the slow surface – and resorting to hopeful rather than purposeful delivery. When they moved it quickly, they were much more threatening, and it was from such a quick move that Ceri Sharma registered his first goal for the 2s to break the deadlock. An interception by Paul Nash released Sharma early, who fired the ball under the on-rushing keeper with a clever reverse-stick strike. “Yeah, I was pleased with that one.” Commented the modest youngster (Sharma, not Nash…) “I didn’t get too many chances in front of goal in the 1s, so it was nice to see the magic’s still there!”

The lead didn’t last long, with Stortford’s untraditionally young side playing with pace and skill, creating plenty of problems for the Harpenden defence. It’s a rarity to see a bona fide bandana in Div 3SW, and perhaps it was shock of this that led to Harps affording the young Stortford striker too much space from a slipped short corner, to bring his side level.

With 5 minutes to go until the break, Harpenden restored their lead, this time Russell Timms capitalising on some confusion in the visitors’ defensive ranks. A clearance was lifted in to the shin of a Harpenden player, and while one umpire awarded ‘feet’ to Stortford, the other correctly awarded ‘lifted ball’ to Harpenden. Harpenden took the free hit quickly and Timms was on hand where it mattered. After a brief committee meeting, the umpires confirmed that the decision had been awarded correctly, and the goal stood.

The second half began as untidily as the first had ended. Kneale had impressed upon his outfit at the break that they needed to score first to give themselves a bit of daylight. However, a breakdown in communication between Fraser Tant and Sam Martyn saw the latter intercept a cross-field pass aimed for Ali Holland, assuming – as is so often the case – that Tant had simply misplaced the pass. Martyn was quickly dispossessed and rightly berated his teammate for not putting a name on the pass, and Harpenden were hit on the break, despite the best efforts of stopper Ben Brind.

At two-all, the game was there for the taking – and fortunately for Harpenden, it was they who took home the spoils. Ever solid in defence, Graham Smith released the guilt-stricken Tant, who used his experience to hold on to the ball while waiting for reinforcements from midfield. Surging forward was Tom Ward, who outstripped his marker, drew the keeper and fed in Niall Blackwell. Blackwell, having a particularly fine game, still had work to do but cleverly spun his man and calmly placed the ball in the bottom corner.

So Harpenden ran out 3-2 winners, once again just about doing enough. Seven of their nine league victories this season have been by one goal, something that skipper Kneale is keen to remedy. “We’ve had far too much ‘squeeky-bum’ time at the end of games this season. If we can be a bit more ruthless in front of goal, and maintain our concentration in defence, we can make things a lot more easy. Still, a win’s a win, and we go in to next week’s 6-pointer with Jimmy Hill and Enfield on the back of three wins on the bounce. Let’s see if we can make that four.”

Match report: Fraser Tant

Scorers
1) Ceri Sharma
2) Russell Timms
3) Niall Blackwell