| Harpenden III: 1
Winchmore H. & Enf. III: 2
18.02.06
Keeper
Beggs For Support
Young keeper Matt Beggs was the undoubted
star for Harpenden 3s on Saturday. Sadly, this tells the hardened
follower of the fortunes of Ali Keith's side all they need to
know about the pattern of the game. Since Christmas the Blues
have consistently walked a tight rope against sides whose league
position suggests they should dominate. The 3s finally fell off
last weekend, against a well-drilled and committed Winchmore Hill
side. A similar fate has now probably been dealt to any hopes
of promotion from SW division 6.
It's true that Harpenden were missing some key
players, but this was really no excuse for failing to defeat a
side they had beaten 6-1 away in October. Indeed the side on Saturday
appeared to be one of the strongest named for the Blues in recent
weeks, and perhaps an air of over confidence was responsible for
a lack lustre start? From the beginning passes were mis-directed
or easily picked off by the hard working opposition midfield.
When the ball did reach a blue shirt it was invariably mis-controlled
or lost due to over elaboration.
Winchmore Hill took full advantage of the home
side's short comings, launching a series of direct attacks using
the pace of their centre forward. One typical break brought Beggs
into the action for the first time. Faced with a 1 on 1 the young
keeper went to ground and found the ball knocked past him. Beggs
had little option but to ensure that the player did not go the
same way as the ball, and a penalty flick was rightly awarded.
Beggs made spectacular amends moments later by moving quickly
to his left to deflect a well directed flick.
The Blues could not grasp the life line thrown
to them by the keeper, and continued to play some extremely disjointed
hockey. No where was this more apparent than in short corners,
which broke down due to a myriad of mistakes, including the ball
hitting the feet of the receiver Tom Preest and players encroaching
into the D before the ball was played in. Eventually something
had to give and the visitors struck, managing to force in a rebound
after Beggs had made an excellent save from a short corner.
Losing 1-0 at half time the Blues came out strongly
in the second period, but still lacked any real cohesion. However,
James Bird was beginning to find his range with crosses from the
right. One of these caused trouble in the D and was deflected
on by Keith. The ball fell to Ryan Ely who showed great composure
in finding the bottom corner with a crisply taken shot. The young
striker had played well all game, and the goal was a just reward
for a good performance.
The Blues may have been fortunate to find themselves
at 1-1, but then really should have taken the opportunity this
presented to make the game safe. Unfathomably it was the opposition
who raised their game a level and once again took control, winning
a series of short corners over a 10 minute period of sustained
pressure. Bird showed defensive skills to match those of his earlier
attacking ones by dispossessing the visitor's skillful receiver
on 3 consecutive occasions. However on the 4th the big defender
was well beaten by a smooth dummy, the resultant shot was buried
against the back board, and the Blues were behind again.
There was time for the home side to mount some
final attacks. From one of these Ely propelled the ball towards
the goal from the top of the D. Under pressure from Andy Lunn
the Winchmore Hill keeper could only direct the ball into the
path of Keith, who gratefully put the ball in the net. Although
the umpire initially awarded the goal, it was correctly ruled
out for obstruction after consultation with his colleague. At
the last the Blues gained a short corner as time was blown. Even
11 against 4 proved an inverse mis-match, as the ball bobbled
over Preest's stick and was propelled to safety having been played
back into the D.
The Blues were both down beat and aghast after
the final whistle. This may have been ungracious and unfair to
the visitors, who had played with both superior skill and hunger
through out. Skipper Keith rightly picked out Beggs for praise,
while conceding that the young keeper's performance and commitment
levels were not replicated by enough of the senior players on
the field. Harpenden travel to the league leaders Broxbourne next
Saturday, with the side short of confidence and depleted by poor
availability. As such the defeat against Winchmore Hill is doubly
punitive and has perhaps ended a season, which showed so much
promise.
Report by Tom Preest
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