| HARPENDEN
III: 1
BERKHAMSTED II: 0
03.02.07
Harpenden 3s completed their most impressive
win of the season in the sunshine against high flying Berkhamsted
on Saturday, and by doing so can surely look forward to securing
a upper mid table finish over the remaining games of the campaign.
The victory was all the more impressive in that
it came in the absence of many of the stars of recent weeks, Ben
Thompson, Fraser Tant and James Bird were all missing. Their absence
was more than compensated for by the excellence of the returning
Geoff Gould and the continued renaissance of James Rodwell, as
well as by some tactically astute shuffling of his resources from
the skipper Simon Redford.
Adam Cole also stepped up to the plate putting
in a man of the match performance at right back, where he was
both assured in defence and increasingly confident and effective
when joining in the attack. Cole was ably supported by an excellent
contribution from another promising youngster Stuart Berry. Berry
has now played twice for the 3rd XI this season, both times being
involved in excellent and unexpected victories, presumably Redford's
selection policy will reflect this over the coming weeks?
Harpenden settled the more quickly of the two
sides, creating periods of sustained pressure during the opening
exchanges. Pete Evans, possibly liberated by being played at the
top of the midfield diamond was enjoying his most influential
game for a while, and Niall Blackwell was outstanding at centre
forward.
However, clear cut chances were hard to come by,
and the visitors showed some of their undoubted calibre by coming
back into the game strongly. Their main route to goal was through
a strong and mobile centre forward whose threat Neil Liles and
Gould dealt with effectively all afternoon. Indeed, except for
one excellent save from a short corner keeper John Allen actually
had rather a quiet game in goal.
The other stand out performance of the first half
was from the captain Redford, who showed he'd lost none of his
ball playing hockey skills putting in an excellent performance
in central midfield.
For all that the first half was drawing to a close
before the decisive moment arrived. Ben O'Boyle worked the ball
across from the right, where Evans picked it up. He had time to
pick his spot before sending the ball firmly into the bottom corner,
for an excellent goal, which ensured that Harpenden went into
the break 1-0 up.
It was almost as if both teams anticipated the
visitors starting the second half strongly, but in fact it was
Harpenden who made the early running. Berry was becoming increasingly
influential, as was Andy Lunn who appeared to be playing in every
position on the pitch.
To be fair to Lunn this effect was a result of
both his undoubted effervescence and the fact that every time
there was a substitution he was asked to fulfil a new role, the
latter fact standing as testimony to his increased flexibility
and skill levels. Lunn combined well with Blackwell as a twin
striker at the beginning of the 2nd half, with the latter unlucky
to see an effort go wide after a slick inter change of passes
between the two.
Both sides had chances through out the half without
any of them being clear cut. Harpenden's best moves continued
to be built down the right where Cole and O'Boyle both enjoyed
success. A fine run and pull back from the by line from the latter
almost creating a goal.
The fact that the game and the 3 points were eventually
decided by one goal pointed to the close nature of the contest
and indeed the excellent effort that a below full strength home
side had put into winning. However, it was a pity that the win
was not more emphatic, particularly as this may have increased
the already daunting selection dilemmas Redford will undoubtedly
face in the coming weeks.
Match
Report by Tom Preest
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