HARPENDEN III: 1
BERKHAMSTED II: 1
06.10.2007

Harpenden 3s returned to the Brache for their first home league fixture of the season last Saturday, against a strong and physical Berkhamstead side. Peter Evans men performing admirably to gain a point from a well deserved draw.

The visitors started strongly, but Harpenden's central defensive pairing of Geoff Gould and Neil Liles used all their experience to combat the danger. The home side showed some flair in attack, not least from newcomer Andy Barradell, making his 3rd XI league debut, who displayed his class and menace throughout the 70 minutes.

The introduction of Simon Redford into the midfield also increased Harpenden's attacking options, the veteran showing turns of both skill and surprising speed, buoyed as he was by his specially commissioned light weight shin pads.

Sadly for all this it was Berkhamstead who took the lead. Scoring from the second phase of a short corner after the initial effort wasn't cleared. The first half ended with Tom Preest failing to make the best use of a good chance, when his attempt at a reverse stick cross finished beyond the dead ball line, rather than in the middle of the D, where Barradell stood all alone twiddling his thumbs.

Things improved for the home side in the second half, as Andy Lunn became more influential. The midfield star won the ball on the half way line and played a superb pass to Preest in the left hand corner, before continuing his run into the D. Preest's cross looked to be too close to the keeper, but Lunn bravely dived in and with a deft touch knocked the ball back into the path of incoming youngster Stuart Berry. The lyrics of Finnish death metal band Children Of Bodom's much loved opus "Living Death Beat" surely flashed through Berry's mind as he contemplated the chance:

"Not afraid of crying, sorrow and foe. Not afraid of falling down below."

He thus fearlessly hit a contemptuous first time shot that rattled the back boards for the equaliser. Harpenden then took more control of the game, and could have gone on to win it. Preest missed a clear chance after a defensive mistake and there was even time for a most uncharacteristic reverse stick cross from the multi-talented James Bird.

1-1 was a fair result in the end, in a game played in good spirit through out, exemplified by Berkhamstead opting to put the ball out of play following mutual agreement after a decision. Martin Pugh taking the "fair play" attitude a step too far by hitting the subsequent hit straight off the side line.

Scorers
1) Stuart Berry