STEVENAGE II: 2
HARPENDEN II: 2
20.10.2007

This week the 2's headed off to Stevenage to face the lesser of their two teams in the league this year, with Brindy standing in as skipper for the absent PK. Despite a few other absences and injuries Harps still wielded a strong line-up and went in search of their fourth league victory, having won all their games so far.

The game started with early breakthroughs down the left by Simon Evans and Naill Blackwell. Hard work by Ben Tuner and Alister Holland in the middle pressurised the Stevenage midfield into simple mistakes, Harps looked by far the better team. Then the home team started playing some hockey and the game balanced out a little bringing the Harps defence into action, they kept disciplined and denied Stevenage any real chance on goal. It was a neat combination down the right by Tom Gosling and Paul Nash which broke the deadlock with a pin-point accurate finish into the far corner by the Club Captain. The game was mainly Harpo at this point and the visitors held their breath as a one-on-one from Blackwell, created by Moore, whistled past the far post.

The half ended with a spell of pressure by Stevenage and peculiar allegations by their forwards of foul play by the always gentle Neil Liles, which left perplexed faces all round.

The second half commenced and Harps went straight at it again, creating more chances on the break, using the pace of Nigel Timms and Blackwell, with a few chance going begging. As Stevenage then broke back Harpenden were suddenly on the back foot, undoubtedly hindered by a string of dubious short corners signalled by the home umpire. The pressure showed when Stevo finally slotted away from a corner and the scores were level. Harps went back on the offensive with simple passes around the Stevenage backs by the likes of Holland, Gosling and substitute Dan Michalak.

Unfortunately none of these attempts prevailed, and before long the oppo were awarded another multitude of penalty corners for what appeared to be completely legal flat stick tackles. After several attempts Stevenage slotted another away to make them lead by one.

Determined that they deserved more Harps pushed forwards and made more assaults on the Stevo goal. The will to win shone through as Ollie Moore chipped home a rebound from the sprawling Stevenage keeper and the score was level once more. As the final whistle blew, Harps knew they deserved more but were none the less happy to be taking a point away.

Report by Simon Evans

Scorers
1) Paul Nash
2) Oliver Moore