St Albans Exiles: 4
Harpenden II: 2
27 March 2004

So, Harpenden IIs season ended with more a whimper than a bang, the team continuing to be the Friend of the Condemned by losing 4-2 to relegated St Albans Exiles.

The blues were missing a number of regular players, including Neil Lunn, Ben Thompson, Niall McAlister and Tom Vickerton, and consequently the side bore little resemblance to that which so comprehensively outplayed the Exiles earlier in the season. However, commented vice-captain Neil Liles "Availability notwithstanding, we let ourselves down badly today. They're bottom of the reason for one reason and one reason alone - they're rubbish - but today we managed to make them look good."

The game started with Harps in the ascendancy, and it was somewhat against the run of play that the Exiles took the lead after 15 minutes. The blues responded quickly, with Dave Munton, from a short corner, and Nigel Timms from a well-worked move involving Niall Blackwell and Dan Barber, putting Harpenden 2-1 up. However, an equaliser after some sloppy blues' defending sent the teams to the break at two goals apiece.

From here, Harpenden should have gone on to claim victory and, with little protection from some horrendous Exiles challenges, they may well have done so. At one stage, the umpire awarded the entire Exiles side a green card, where perhaps a stronger caution for one or more of the key protagonists might have been more appropriate. Regardless of this, the blues can really only look to their own performances for a reason for defeat.

Harpenden's defence came under considerable pressure in the second half, and their opposition were rightly awarded a penalty corner when Andy Lunn, ever-present this season, stopped on the line with his foot after possession was conceded cheaply. Ben Brind could do nothing to keep out the resulting flick, and as Harps laid siege to draw level, a breakaway goal gave the Exiles a 4-2 win.

"Yeah, disappointing today, very much so," said skipper Fraser Tant. "We were running on empty after a long hard season, missing some key players and not helped by some very forgiving umpiring in the face of some clumsy, if not deliberately dangerous, tackling. But credit where it's due, they won on merit, wanted it more than we did, and good luck to them in Div 4 next season. At least we won't be seeing them there!"

Munts: Bagged from a short