HARPENDEN III: 3
WELWYN GC III: 1
19.11.05

As appealing phrases go, “unbeaten in the league” has to rank alongside “Swedish yoga instructor”. Playing a tricky Welwyn side, Harpenden 3s extended their unbeaten run to eight games, and in doing so affirmed themselves as championship contenders.

From the outset Welwyn looked to penetrate the Harpenden defence, having the lion’s share of possession. Les bleues needed to be wary of being quickly deflated after the euphoria of last week’s comprehensive rout of league leaders Broxbourne. However, the redoubtable central defensive duo of Gould and Redford, ably assisted by Bird and Pugh, managed to absorb much of the early pressure. As equally an impressive statistic as the team’s unbeaten record is the defensive record, the best in the league.

Peter Evans uncanny habit of scoring crucial goals to swing the balance of matches showed no sign of abating. Alistair Holland maze-like run to the touchline finished with a pullback to Evans who managed to squeeze the ball past the Welwyn keeper. After a shaky half Harpenden went on to dominate the remainder of the first half.

Harpenden’s second goal was a construction of beauty. Holland surged forward, releasing the ball to Pete Evans at the top of the D who quickly moved the ball onto Ali Keith who in turn found Preest with a plenty of room in front of goal. The move was finished off with a tidy reverse stick flick under the oncoming keeper. Goal number three, Preest’s second, came from a well struck short corner leaving the keeper stuck on the spot to watch the ball resolutely hit the backboard.

Harpenden did not manage to dominate the second half in quite the same fashion but the increasingly frustrated Welwyn midfield never real threatened, their one goal coming from their only shot. In the second half, Ryan “Ginola” Ely came on and his sprite-like presence upfront deserves a special mention. Such a performance is indicative of the strength in depth that 3s squad has this season, and provides the reason why there is no reason that such impressive team performances cannot be repeated.

Report: Ali Keith

Tom Preest: Brace