| HARPENDEN
III: 2
SHEFFORD & SANDY II: 1
23.09.06
Considering the number of new faces from
the promotion winning squad of last season, this was an excellent
team performance from the 3rds in their first league game.
In
a break from tradition, the 3rds were fast out of the blocks with
Lunn, Holland, Pete & Simon Evans running the midfield and
combining well with the hard running Thompson & Flitcroft
upfront. The rearguard of Redford, Gould, Pugh & Liles, with
Allen in goal, were not being troubled. Wave after wave of attack
were rewarded with some near misses and a succession of short
corners but Harpenden could not make the breakthrough.
Frustration
started to creep in and as the crisp short passing was replaced
with a longer ball game, Shefford & Sandy got more into the
match, some particularly sloppy play just before the break allowing
Shefford & Sandy to take the lead after two of their men were
first to a rebound.
Harpenden
raised their game again in the second half, launching attack after
attack with Lunn, Rodman & Moore making good ground down the
right. Again Harpenden won numerous short corners and could have
been awarded a couple of strokes when first Thompson and then
Pete Evans were taken out whilst homing in on goal. Eventually
the pressure told when the Shefford & Sandy defence, having
previously dealt with all our short corner variations, could not
keep out Flitcroft’s bobbler.
Harpenden
kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Thompson finished
yet another powerful run by flicking the ball over the keeper
and high into the net from a tight angle. Harpenden then shut
up shop and Allen’s goal was rarely threatened.
Overall,
a well deserved win with great commitment and desire being shown
by the whole side.
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