HARPENDEN III: 2
CHESHUNT II: 1
01.03.2008

Artist Cornelia Parker’s new film “Chomskian Abstractions” is based around an interview she conducted with the veteran left wing social and philosophical commentator, Noam Chomsky. Chomsky is on fine if predictable form during the piece, disparagingly holding forth on topics ranging from Western military and political interventionist policy in the Middle East and the deliberate destructive targeting of sites with historical and cultural significance, through to being witheringly perceptive on the damning link between the (not so) free market and global warming.

The “abstraction” of the film’s title stems from the fact that the viewer never actually hears the questions being put to the thinker, and thus the observer fills in these gaps through their understanding of the responses Chomsky provides. The query being raised with the umpires at the end of the game between Harpenden 3s and Cheshunt at the Brache last Saturday was presented with much greater clarity if rather less articulation, as debate raged as to whether a strike from a short corner taken after the final whistle was going to hit the backboard before being deflected in off a defender? Answer at the bottom of the page…………….

Returning skipper Pete Evans spent his pre-match team talk reminding his players not to believe their own hype, and to ensure that they continued to perform to the levels that have seen them win five out of their last six games. Sadly such warnings appeared to have fallen on deaf ears, as the threes produced their most lack lustre performance for some time, with only the energy, skill and versatility shown by Andy Lunn really worthy of especial mention. This is not to detract from the performance of the opposition, who defended valiantly through out the game and were always dangerous going forward.

The first half was a strange affair, with Harpenden failing either to settle on or compete for the ball with anything approaching sustained success. The visitors looked the more likely scorers, and eventually broke the deadlock with an excellent strike from a short corner.

The threes did come back into the game, but without a fully functioning radar as it were, Tom Preest epitomising the malaise by completely mis-hitting a shot from the top of the D, luck was with Harpenden on this occasion though as the ball found it’s way to Adam Cole at the far post, the teenager retained his composure to finish neatly and ensure that the sides went into half time at 1-1.

The home side performed better in the second half, and without creating many clear-cut chances did manage to put Cheshunt under pressure. The visitor’s keeper made a number of good saves, and was well supported by his defenders, and with time running out Cheshunt appeared to have secured an away draw.

Harpenden threw men forward in the closing moments, and with Neil Liles making a particular nuisance of himself forced a short corner moments before the final whistle was blown.

All Harpenden’s 10 outfield players lined up around the D, the skipper Evans controlled the injection, and sent in a crisp if indeed slightly elevated strike. A whirl of bodies, sticks and keeper’s padding later and the ball was nestling in the back of the net. Premature and opposing cries of triumph and foul permeated the air, as both sides reacted as they might have been expected to.

The umpires deserve credit for their sensible collaboration and calm deliberation. The decision when it came favoured the home side, providing a further 3 points in their unexpected late promotion bid. This outcome was tough on Cheshunt, whose defensive performance at least merited something from the game.

Harpenden have another home game against Letchworth 4s next week, before entering a difficult finishing straight against Shefford and (Port) Stanely, Bishops Stortford and St. Albans, where they will need to play considerably better than they did last Saturday if they wish to prosper.

Report by Tom Preest.

Team: Neil Smyth, Neil Liles, Geoff Gould, Martin Pugh, David Munton, Andy Lunn, Pete Evans, Simon Evans, Adam Cole, Jon Pagan, Tom Preest, Stuart Berry

Scorers
1) Adam Cole
2) Pete Evans