HARPENDEN III: 1
BERKHAMSTED II: 2
14.10.06

All the 3s matches so far this season in the higher division following promotion had been decided by a single goal and this proved no different.

The first half saw us dominate, using the full width of the pitch with Moore and Bird on the right and Simon Evans and Pugh on the left finding plenty of space. We kept the majority of possession but could not penetrate the Berko defence. Berko were only threatening on the counter with good work from Gould, Lunn and Beggs kept their chances to a minimum. After more pressure, Flitcroft showed why he is top scorer for the 3s so far this year with a deft touch to take Holland’s free hit from the edge of the D past the Berko keeper. Berko immediately raised the tempo and equalised with their next attack, the goal again coming from a free hit just outside the D as they reacted fastest to bury the loose ball inside the near post. Having scored, Berko then sat back to again soak up more Harpenden pressure.

The second half was a similar story, with lots of possession but no final killer pass. As the light faded and the floodlights failed to come on soon enough, another quick breakaway resulted in the Berko centre-forward, with no support, still managing to turn and fire in past the unsighted Beggs. Despite some surging runs from O’Boyle and Holland, plenty of effort from the whole team and with more short corners coming to nothing, Harpenden were unable to get back into the match.

Ultimately this was a disappointing afternoon for the 3s who controlled long periods of the game but were unable to convert that possession into 3 points.

Scorers
1. Alex Flitcroft