HARPENDEN III: 1
LETCHWORTH IV: 3
08.03.2008

Gregory J. Markopoulos was a key figure in the “New American Cinema” movement, adopting experimental techniques to give new expression to age-old tales. Nowhere is this clearer than in his 1967 film “The Illiac Passion”. The piece is a based on a reading of the ancient Greek text “Prometheus Bound” by Aeschylus, but integrates a wide number of parallel myths within the narrative.

Thus one of the more compelling scenes sees Andy Warhol playing the character Poseidon riding a static exercise bike, unable to reach his intended destination despite making the effort to propel himself there. This is set up in direct contrast to the daring and vigorous Prometheian swoop that brought light and warmth into the world. The director appears to be making the point that in Warhol’s case the wheels have literally “come off” his attempt to transport himself, much the same can be said of Harpenden 3s last Saturday, who came horribly unstuck against Letchworth 4s in experiencing a well deserved defeat.

Harpenden went into the game on the back of an excellent run of 6 wins in 7 games. However late winners in their previous two matches had meant their form rather flattered to deceive and in the received manner of more orthodox Greek tragedy the six points had somewhat masked an impending threat of implosion. There was no hiding place on Saturday, as the skilful visitors fully exposed the limitations of the home side, providing a rather sombre perspective on what had previously been sanguine hopes of promotion.

Harpenden were the better side for the first five minutes, and should have made more of two early opportunities, perhaps the eventual outcome would have been different if they had, but this is debatable given Letchworth’s later dominance. The visitors then took the game to Pete Evan’s side, moving the ball skilfully and at pace. They gained the lead when a beautiful run from the left wing created an early chance, which was deftly finished with a reverse flick.

Harpenden did force an equaliser from a short corner, after Dave Munton followed up a saved strike to emphatically bury the rebound. Simon Evans was the best Harpenden player on view; making a number of effective runs down the left had side without receiving enough support from his colleagues.

The threes might have actually taken the lead in slightly bizarre and indeed undeserved circumstances just before half time. James Bird made a surging run through the midfield, advancing towards the D the full back crossed the yellow line before “unleashing” what was surely a mis-directed pass towards the goal. The world appeared to slow down as the keeper lifted his foot to allow the ball over the line and into the net. Any celebrations were cut short both by a howl of defensive protest and the collaborative umpiring judgement that Bird had struck the ball outside the D.

The half time team talk acknowledged that the home side were lucky to be drawing, and without ever playing as well as they can Harpenden did create a number of chances in the second half. The forward line did not do enough with these, asking the Letchworth keeper to make just two notable saves. Sadly both teams were creating a number of chances at the other end, and it was only a matter of time before the visitors forwards converted.

That they did so twice without reply in the last 20 minutes gave the eventual 3-1 score line a somewhat lopsided look, even if this accurately reflected the overall outcome. As Evans commented after the game,

“We really didn’t fire on all cylinders today”

A job for Prometheus indeed.

Report By Tom Preest

Team: Neil Smyth, Martin Pugh, James Bird, Geoff Gould, Dave Munton, Andy Lunn, Adam Cole, Pete Evans, Joe Pagon, Tom Preest, Andy Barradell, Stuart Berry, Simon Evans

Scorers
1) Dave Munton