| HARPENDEN
III: 1
LETCHWORTH III: 0
21.10.06
No need to change the opening sentence
this week - 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.
On paper, this was due to be the toughest match
of the season to date but fired up by Neil Liles, the 3s came
out fighting and perhaps, for the first time this season, kept
going for the whole 70 minutes earning a well deserved victory.
The first half was fairly even with Alex Flitcroft,
Oliver Moore and Ben Thompson causing problems for the Letchworth
defence without any clear cut openings being created. Letchworth
had periods of pressure but despite losing Geoff Gould to injury
early on, the re-organised defence of skipper Redford, Liles,
Andy Lunn and Martin Pugh held firm with goalkeeper Jonny Allen
only having a couple of short corners to deal with.
The second half was a different story completely.
The continued workrate of the whole side never allowed Letchworth
to settle. Letchworth clearly felt this should have been a comfortable
3 pointer and as their frustration grew, Harpenden took control.
With Ali Holland and Pete Evans driving from the middle, Oliver
Moore showing composure and great promise and James Bird raiding
down the right, Harpenden starting finding space and creating
chances. Letchworth were struggling to get out of their half,
their best opportunity coming after Martin Pugh was taken out
by Andy Lunn just as he was about to clear the danger. The breakthrough
that the approach play deserved eventually came, once again, from
Alex Flitcroft on the slip at a short corner.
Once ahead, the blues showed a determination lacking
in previous weeks (ie managing not to concede in the following
few minutes) keeping control and the ball for long periods such
that Jonny Allen had an even quieter second half. The woodwork
was rattled a couple of times by Tom Priest and Ali Holland, a
few wrong options were taken and with some desperate defending,
somehow Letchworth kept the ball out.
Whilst a little disappointing not to convert the
possession and pressure into more goals, something to be worked
on in coming weeks, this was an excellent team performance which,
if repeated, bodes well for the rest of the season.
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