LETCHWORTH IV: 0
HARPENDEN III: 4
17.11.2007

Harpenden 3s got back to winning ways at Letchworth on Saturday, despite the inhospitable conditions offered by the late evening push back.

Skipper Pete Evans got his side fired up during the now traditional warm up routine through the surrounding suburban sprawl, and the 3s took this attitude out on to the pitch from the off. The visitors settled quickly and once again their main attacking threat came down the right hand side, with James Bird and Adam Cole combining well. One of Bird’s more tempered crosses found Tom Preest unmarked in the D, the striker managed to guide the ball in at the near post to open the scoring.

Harpenden went two goals ahead just before the break. Andy Barradell played Preest in with a beautiful reverse stick pass, his striking partner wasted the initial chance but the ball broke to Jon Pagan, who recycled the attack and again played Preest in on goal. This time the veteran striker made no mistake and the threes were 2-0 up at half time.

The second period saw Harpenden play some of their best hockey of the season so far. There were impressive performances across the pitch, notably from Geoff Gould at centre back and young Stuart Berry in midfield, the latter over coming the effects of a heavy cold (not sure this should really be troubling such a committed child of Bodum………………………..).

Harpenden scored two further goals, both of which deserve their placed in the “Tales of the Unexpected” files, alongside Ali Holland and Ryan “Ginola” Ely’s strikes against Ricky in 2005. The 3rd goal was perhaps the best this correspondent has ever seen while participating in a Harpenden shirt.

Neil Liles, who was superb throughout picked the ball up in his own half and drove at the retreating Letchworth defence. His intelligent ball found Evans in space who spread the ball to the right wing. The skipper than advanced into the D to meet the resulting cross, flinging himself full length to make a diving contact sending the ball into the roof of the net.

The final goal also came from a move down the right, a cross finding Andy Lunn on the left hand edge of the D. Lunn calmly controlled the ball, drew the keeper towards him then sent an impressive and accurate flick into the top right hand corner, a part of the goal not often troubled in the 3rd XI fixtures……………

The 4-0 score line should give the threes heart for their tough fixture against table topping Shefford this coming Saturday.

Report By Tom Preest

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

Scorers
1) Tom Preest
2) Tom Preest
3) Pete Evans
4) Andy Lunn