| ROYSTON
II: 1
HARPENDEN III: 1
27.10.2007
Harpenden 3s maintained their unbeaten start
to the season last Saturday, coming away from their visit to the
barracks at Royston with a 1-1 draw. The point gained saw them
stay top of Division 5 SW. From their current lofty, if rather
unexpected position Pete Evans side might look back on the game’s
outcome as two points dropped, in the longer term it may become
seen as another useful stepping stone towards ensuring against
relegation.
Once again Harpenden
started the stronger of the two sides, playing some excellent
attacking hockey, with Simon Redford being particularly influential
in midfield. Clear cut chances were rare however, and the half
finished 0-0.
Royston posed a greater attacking threat in the second period,
but the visitors still enjoyed the majority of possession, with
Andy Salmon putting in his most impressive performance of the
season so far. Mid way through the half Ali Holland found Tom
Preest on the 25 yard line, Preest’s pass found Andy Barradell.
The striker only had one thing on his mind as he turned and ran
at the defence. Showing great determination and poise, Barradell
rode a number of challenges before taking the ball wide of the
keeper and slotting home.
With a 1-0 lead Harpenden were hopeful of closing down the game.
Unfortunately they couldn’t keep the home side at bay. Royston
pushed hard for a goal and were eventually rewarded from a short
corner. There was still time for the ever impressive Adam Cole
to set up one last chance for Harpenden, the youngster’s
impressive run down the right resulting in setting up a 3 on 2
situation for his front players in the closing seconds. Sadly,
Cole’s colleagues could find neither the run or pass required
and the moment was lost.
The final whistle then signalled a draw, and as Vice Captain Andy
Lunn so very nearly put it, quoting Finnish Death Metal band Children
of Bodum after the game, solace had to be found elsewhere from
the result………………
“Sinking down in the ocean of severe
emotions
Grab a bottle to drink up the pain-relieving potion”
Report by Tom Preest.
Team: Neil Smyth, Adam Cole, Neil Liles, Andy
Lunn, Martin Pugh, James Bird, Pete Evans, Ali Holland, Simon
Redford, Tom Preest, Andy Barradell, Andy Salmon
|
Scorers
1) Alan Barradell
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