LETCHWORTH III: 5
HARPENDEN III: 2
10.02.07

Harpenden 3s travelled to Letchworth knowing they would face a stern challenge from one of the better sides in SW Division 5. For 60 minutes Simon Redford's team matched their opponents in every department apart from the mazziest of stick skills. Sadly, hockey contests are completed over 70 minutes and the home side's superiority during the final stages of the game lent the scoreboard a slightly unflattering look by the end.

After being forced to warm up by going for a jog around the local housing estate, Harpenden started the game well. Both sides created chances during the opening exchanges, with the away team making headway down both flanks. Tom Ward playing at left half found a number of good positions in the D, without his side ever being able to fully capitalise on them, although perhaps the most impressive aspect of the first half was James Bird's new found finesse, as he twice picked out team mates with almost delicate reverse stick touches.

Unfortunately, even such unexpected skill didn't lead to a meaningful end product, and Letchworth bolstered by late re-enforcements took the lead following a good move.

Against general expectation Harpenden hit back almost immediately. Andy Lunn forced confusion in the D, and the ball broke to Tom Preest who was able to force a shot into the far corner. Better was to follow for Redford's men as they began to stretch the home defence. Bird combined well with Pete Evans, who then manufactured and dispatched a shooting opportunity for his second goal in as many games. Harpenden finished the half 2-1 up.

Redford's half time team talk centred on the dangers posed by the opposition, particularly the potency of the late arrival from another Letchworth game that had been cancelled, who basically had the skill, pace and predilection to run at and through the vast majority of players at this level of hockey. Anyone pointing out that said player was actually the skipper's in terms of "man to man" marking would have been guilty of gross myopia.

The skipper’s words were indeed prophetic, but not before Harpenden enjoyed an excellent spell at the beginning of the second half, where they could and indeed probably should have made the game safe. Ward was responsible for creating the best chance during this period. The youngster produced an enchanting inside pass through a crowded D, offering Preest a yard of space in front of goal. The veteran striker perhaps surprised by the quality of Ward's play and selflessness, failed to control the ball and the chance was lost. Better was to follow in terms of movement when Ward and Ali Holland combined to set up a good opportunity at the top of the D, on which Lunn failed to capitalise.

Sadly, that was about the end of the visitors as an attacking force. Letchworth took the game by the scruff of the neck towards the end. The equaliser came as the finale to a surging run with a powerful shot from an impossible angle that keeper Matt Beggs could do little about.

The third goal was beautifully finished at the far post following an excellent cross in from the right. With my head spinning at this point I'm not sure I can recall any salient details of the fourth goal, suffice to say it followed on the very shirt-tails of the third.

The final and fifth cut was squeezed in from a angle even more oblique then the second, and then it was time for the final whistle.

A fair outcome if not score line, with Redford's men somewhat if not wholly consoled by the Yorkshire Pudding afterwards.

Match report by Tom Preest

Scorers
1. Tom Preest
2. Pete Evans