| HARPENDEN
III: 1
BISHOPS STORTFORD IV: 2
04.11.06
Harpenden 3s were given something of a
hockey lesson last Saturday. Bishops Stortford were easily the
best opponents Simon Redford's side have faced thus far in their
SW Division 5 odyssey, and they duly left the Brache with three
points. However, Harpenden can take some solace from the fact
that the margin of defeat was narrow, and indeed that there were
chances to salvage a point towards the end of the 70 minutes.
As such they can look forward to a series matches against lesser
teams producing favourable results.
The visitors set the tone early by scoring in
the first minute of the match. Brilliant skill in midfield opened
up the home defence before a beautiful pass set the centre forward
on a 1-1 with Harpenden keeper John Allen. A deft piece of finishing
saw the ball lifted over Allen and into the far corner before
most of the home side players had touched it.
Making their debut appearance in their new kit,
Redford's "whites" set about re-building, and although
they came under pressure at the back, the attacking policy paid
some dividends. James Bird and Ben Thompson were especially notable
in taking the game to the visitors, and were instrumental in gaining
a number of short corners, none of which could be converted.
One advantage offered by the Brache is that it
can take some time for visitors to adjust to the unpredictable
nature of the surface, which is particularly prone to random fluctuations
when the ball is propelled with pace. One such hit in from the
right eluded all sticks as the ball travelled across the D and
found left back Martin Pugh in acres of space just inside the
circle. The experienced full back took his time in placing his
shot, exactly executing his intention as the ball was planted
in the top right hand corner leaving the Stortford keeper with
no chance. It was Pugh's first competitive goal for some 7 years,
and certainly leaves him with a conversion rate that would be
the envy of all but his most defensive minded team mates this
season. There was much good-natured ribbing of the forward line
after the game with colleagues suggesting they need to learn from
Pugh's example. Some of this banter may lose its comedic edge
if the front players don't start putting away some chances soon.
The first half ended 1-1. It was a measure of
how Stortford raised their game in the second period that Harpenden
failed to gain a single short corner in the final 35 minutes.
And yet despite their fluid attacking the opposition couldn't
find a way through. In the main this was due to the immense contribution
of centre back pairing Neil Liles and Andy Lunn, the latter being
particularly impressive in making at least 3 spectacular goal
line clearances during the second half.
The Stortford break through when it came was cruel.
A harsh short corner was awarded after Alex Flitcroft had be wrongly
adjudged to have hit the ball away following a decision going
against the home side. In truth the ball was merely being returned
for the opposition's free hit but nonetheless a penalty corner
was given. Stortford moved the ball well from the injection and
found a way in at the near post, scoring the goal that their dominance
if not Harpenden's defensive robustness merited. The visitors
nearly doubled their advantage straight away from another short
corner when a marginal decision adjudged that a shot had gone
above the boards.
The disallowed “goal” seemed to throw
Stortford somewhat, and for the first time they lost some discipline
and allowed Harpenden back into the game. Twice the Whites narrowly
failed to convert opportunities as the ball went across the face
of the goal. The second chance was from an inch perfect cross
from Oliver Moore, after the youngster had displayed great skill
in rescuing a move that had broken down on the right. Better was
to follow from Ali Holland who took on the opposition defence
in single handed fashion, reaching the by line with an amazing
run before narrowly failing to get a meaningful ball into the
D.
It felt as if Harpenden would get one clear cut
chance to level matters before the whistle, which duly arrived
seconds before the end. The impressive Bird picked the ball up
in midfield and played a ball into the top of the D for Tom Preest
to run onto. The striker evaded the keeper but his reverse stick
flick also eluded the target, ending up in the side netting and
the game was lost.
Once again the forward line had failed to deliver
on the good work of the rest of the side, and the need for goals
could not be starker.
Skipper Redford said after the game,
"
It’s always disappointing to lose, even to a good side like
Stortford, we’ve just got to get some goals from somewhere.
They said my forwards were high class, but that was just a lie,
and they’re certainly not catching any rabbits at the moment."
Match Report by Tom Preest
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