HARPENDEN III : 2
LUTON TOWN III: 2
13.01.07

Harpenden 3s started their post Christmas league campaign a week earlier than the club's other sides. A freak thunderstorm in November had forced the cancellation of this fixture in the regular season, hence the use of a slip date here.

Simon Redford's men probably thought they'd had preparation enough following their excellent victory in a friendly against a strong Milton Keynes XI in the pouring rain the previous Saturday. Perhaps a hint of complacency also crept into the home side’s demeanour, given that the visitors were rooted firmly to the bottom of the league.

However, Luton had certainly not come to be makeweights in the contest, and the 5pm start time may have levelled the playing field rather more than the surface itself.

The local derby started in typically bruising fashion, which set the tone for the following 70 minutes. Harpenden did manage to play some good hockey, their best moments often involving Ben Thompson and Oliver Moore up front. Teenager Moore capped his most impressive display for the club so far with a superb goal after 20 minutes. Picking the ball up inside the D the striker made room for himself with some exquisite skill before finishing emphatically into the far corner.

Harpenden really should have gone on to make the game safe, but Luton showed great spirit and forced an equaliser just before half time following a period of intense pressure.

Redford's team talk galvanised his troops who sprang out of the blocks at the beginning of the second half. A sweeping four man passing move found newly introduced Tom Ward in space at the top of the D, Ward's perceptive and measured first time pass inside the last defender presented veteran striker Tom Preest with a clear chance to open his league goal scoring account for the 2006/'07 season. His team mates held their breath more in hope than expectation, but Preest just managed to squeeze the ball inside the near post and Harpenden were ahead again.

It is to their great credit that Luton kept striving to get back on level terms, producing some excellent hockey in the process. One attack saw Harpenden fail to clear the ball away from goal, the visitor’s winger gleefully dispatching the unexpected chance into the net.

There was still time for Harpenden to go on and win the game, Thompson looking like the most likely scorer, but the final pass often went astray. This led to a slightly frustrating draw, and a feeling in the home dressing room that two points had been dropped.

Match Report by Tom Preest

Scorers
1) Oliver Moore
2) Tom Preest