BLUEHARTS IV: 3
HARPENDEN III: 2
03.11.2007

Harpenden 3s were given something of a hockey lesson away at Blueharts, as the visitors lost their unbeaten record. The home side contained a number of talented individuals, but as a team they moved the ball swiftly and effectively, and at times left Pete Evans men chasing shadows.

Blueharts fully deserved their 3-0 lead after 60 minutes, the fact that Harpenden fought back brilliantly in the last 10 minutes and nearly snatched an equaliser at the end should stand them in good stead for the remainder of the season.

The away side actually started quite brightly, but early pressure didn’t result in clear cut chances. Blueharts then took control with a number of sweeping moves, one of which resulted in the opening goal after an excellent individual run. Things should have got much worse for the visitors soon after Blueharts won a penalty flick. However, keeper Matt Beggs pulled off an excellent save to keep Harpenden in the game.

The visitors defence was coming under increasing pressure, but the returning Geoff Gould had an excellent game at the back leading the resistance. Further goals had to come however, and twice Blueharts converted short corners, to take a seemingly impregnable 3-0 lead.

Two tactical changes then transformed the pattern of the match. Adam Cole moved up to right half and Andy Lunn replaced Tom Preest up front. Cole played a brilliant hand, rattling the previously serene Blueharts rearguard. Harpenden won a series of short corners. Andy Barradell and Jon Pagan combined from one of these to set up Lunn for a confident conversion at the far post. Two minutes later Baradell slipped another short corner to James Bird, who finished emphatically to bring the score back to 3-2. Suddenly the chance of an unexpected point presented itself, and Harpenden pushed hard to the end. Bird went close from another short corner, but it was not to be and Blueharts held out for a deserved victory.

Captain Evans was upbeat afterwards, saying that he admired the spirit his team had showed in adversity, and illustrating this by quoting lyrics from the much loved opus “Don’t Stop At The Top” by his favourite Finnish death metal band the Children Of Bodom…….
.

“There's no risk that you're not taking
Not a mountain that's too high
Spread your wings, you're gonna make it
To the best time of your life.”

Report by Tom Preest.

Team: Matt Beggs, Adam Cole, Neil Liles, Geoff Gould, Martin Pugh, Andy Lunn, James Bird, Pete Evans, Stuart Berry, Tom Preest, Andy Barradell, Andy Salmon, Simon Redford, Joe Pagan

Scorers
1) Andy Lunn
2) James Bird