royston IiI: 1
HARPENDEN III: 4
11.02.06

Harpenden 3s travelled to Royston on Saturday, without the usual complaints of sore backs and heads that result from the “East Anglian Golf Tour” that regularly precedes this fixture.

The Blues have put plans for their Away Day on hold to the end of the season in 2006. This is not an arrogant proclamation of assumed success, so much as a failure of organisation. However, the fact remains that the 3rd XI are still pushing for promotion, and another 3 points last Saturday did nothing to harm their chances. Given a fair wind during the run in there may be something to celebrate come March 25th, but there are many games to get through before then.

Skipper Ali Keith named a much changed side last weekend, and asked his players to make an effort to shake off the complacency of recent games, where the Blues have achieved good results without performing to their full potential.

The 3s appeared to have taken Keith’s words to heart as they stormed out of the blocks against the struggling hosts. James Bird, who was to prove a menace as an attacking force from full back all afternoon, played a typically robust ball in the top of the D. His pass was picked up by Tom Preest, who in turn found James Evans in space on the left hand edge of the D. The youngster showed considerable skill in steadying himself, and getting away a clean goal bound strike quickly. The Royston keeper could only help the shot into the net, and the Blues were one up. This was 17-year-old Evans’ first goal for the 3s, and was a fitting way to mark what turned out to be his most effective display at this level thus far.

The Blues went 2-0 up inside 10 minutes, as the lack of hangovers proved conducive to attacking hockey. This spirit was epitomised by the skipper Keith, who set Preest free at the top of the D with an excellent pass following a good run through the middle. The striker did just enough to find the corner of the net, and the 3s look set to conduct a rout.

Sadly, the goals warranted by their continued dominance failed to materialise. Harpenden continued to make most of the running, with Niall Blackwell particularly impressive in a new role at right half. Chances came but were thwarted by a mixture of ineptitude from the forwards and some amazing saves and goal line clearances from the Royston rear guard. The Harpenden defence were mainly spectators, and often rightly critical of their colleagues inability to add to the score. However, when asked to defend they were up to the task, Ben Wain putting in another solid goal keeping performance. James Rodwell and Andy Lunn both had good games. Simon Redford’s regular forays up front were an accurate reflection of the shape of the game.

At half time Harpenden felt that a goal early in the second period would kill of the game, and this duly arrived from the stick of Pete Evans. The midfield player joined his son on the score sheet by deftly converting a cross from the right, and the game was safe.

Harpenden’s chances to goals conversion rate remained baffling low, and nowhere was this starker than in regards to short corners, where the away side consistently failed to find a way past a prostrate keeper. Even the “slip left” to Ryan “Ginola” Ely, which had so impressed earlier in the season drew a blank. At one stage the Blues reverted to their very own drag flick “specialist” in an effort to find an aerial route to goal. The resulting 16, being more than enough comment on the subject.

However, the Blues are nothing if not experimental, and finally found a way through with a little practiced routine, code named “Z”. Ely reacted quickest to a short (mis)-hit from the injector, and very sensibly played a good ball wide right and just outside the D. This was picked up by Pete Evans, who hit a fine cross towards the far post. This was calmly and cleverly converted by Blackwell to take Harpenden into a 4-goal lead.

That was the end of the scoring for the 3s, although there was time for the hosts to register a consolation strike from a more orthodox penalty corner. The Blues running out 4-1 winners, and perhaps more importantly putting in a better and indeed more enjoyable overall performance.

Skipper Keith was thus upbeat in his analysis of the game. Paying tribute to the improvement of his side and to the Royston area gene pool, which was as consistent as ever in terms of post-match aesthetic spectacle.

James Evans: Nicely taken first goal for the 3s