HARPENDEN III: 3
HERTFORD III: 0
04.02.06

Perhaps the best that can be said of the 3rd XI’s win last Saturday was that they didn’t fall apart. To this end they avoided verbatim plagiarism of Bonnie Tyler on two levels. Despite the convincing looking score-line, Ali Keith’s side turned in another performance worryingly below their best. Although a Hertford side, sitting resolutely at the bottom of the table, were duly obscured, Harpenden were some way off throwing a dominating shadow across proceedings.

The Blues were lack lustre from the off. The surface posed problems for both teams, but this did not explain the dearth of accuracy and crispness in Harpenden’s passing. The complacency of the home side being exemplified early on by Tom Preest, who twice failed to control balls in the D after excellent work by Ryan Ely had set up the chances on both occasions.

After some scares at the other end, Harpenden took the lead on the 15 minute mark. Skipper Ali Keith taking it on himself to demonstrate the art of finishing, clinically dispatching an opportunity after a good break away move. Hertford continued to pose an attacking threat, and the Blues were thankful for the continued good form of John Allen in goal. James Rodwell also had an excellent game at centre back on his return to the side.

Harpenden led 1-0 at the break. The half time team talk concentrated on the need to show an improved performance across all areas of the pitch. Still Harpenden failed to raise their game to the levels of which they’re capable, particularly up front, where a number of chances went begging.

Harpenden were beginning to dominate possession however, as the midfield took control of the game. James Bird was also joining in attacks from full back. On one memorable occasion the “red mist” descended after the Black Country man had been unceremoniously dumped on his knees during an adventurous run over the half way line. Sadly (if rather comically) Bird mistakenly took his retribution out on an entirely innocent member of the opposition. The led to both a quiet word from the umpire and knowing smirks amongst his team-mates.

Levity aside, eventually chances were converted and the game was made safe. Paul Clements found Preest in space on the right of the D, and his cross was well collected by Niall Blackwell, who then fashioned a good finish into the top corner. Alan Clarke, who had proved a handful since his introduction at the break, took over striking duties for the last few short corners and duly put a shot past the otherwise impressive Hertford keeper.

There was just time for Ely to have a monumental first time swing at a difficult chance from the top of the D. The resulting air shot acting as something of a metaphor for a game where the surface masked a lack of substance, the layers being stripped away like an onion to reveal no core. Skipper Keith’s mood after the match was similarly post-modern, as he noted the gap between the overall impact of the further 3 points gained in the promotion push and the lack of authorial intent governing the actual performance. Harpenden will surely slip up soon unless they can find a way to replicate their pre-Christmas form. This challenge will be further tested at Royston next week.

Report by Tom Preest

The mercurial Ryan Ely