HARPENDEN III: 1
SHEFFORD & SANDY II: 2
24.11.2007

Harpenden 3s suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of table topping Shefford and Sandy on a rare outing at the Brache last Saturday. However the home side can take great heart and instruction from the following:

a) Player for player they matched the league leaders in most positions across the field.
b) The conversion and defending of short corners is paramount.
c) As Finnish Death Metal band Children of Bodom put it in their much loved opus “Tie My Rope” not getting any points when you’ve played well can only lead to an experience akin to a

“A roadmap of pain
Oh Yeah! But i like a life full of shame
Tie my rope, one more time!”

Harpenden started the game well and settled quickly, although the quality of the opposition was evident from the outset, particularly in midfield where there were a number of classy performers on show. Shefford opened the scoring following a short corner that Harpenden failed to clear.

The set back galvanised the home side as Pete Evans’ side exerted some perhaps unexpected pressure. Andy Baradell set up an excellent chance following a strong run, which Tom Preest missed. Harpenden then failed to convert a number of short corners, both Preest and James Bird mis- hitting when well placed. The pain of those misses was compounded when Shefford scored from their second short corner with a brilliant straight strike to go 2-0 up.

Still Harpenden pressed, with Adam Cole again playing well in the right half role he’s rapidly making his own. The home side nearly found a breakthrough via one of the longest one twos in hockey history. Preest slipped the back line, and Andy Baradell played a measured ball to the right touch line. Baradell then made an excellent run to the far post, where a first time cross found him in front of goal, sadly the ball was directed wide.

The second half continued much as the first, with both sides contesting every ball. Shefford always looked like they had the capacity to add to their lead, but were also vulnerable at the back. The Harpenden back line held firm and it looked like the game might finish 2-0. However, a late double substitution re-introduced Tom Gosling and Jon Pagan into the fray. The players orchestrated a last attacking surge, which resulted in Cole confidently converting a cross to make it 2-1. A late draw seemed a possibility, and would have happened had another Cole effort not been brilliantly saved.

The final whistle signalled a deserved 2-1 for the visitors, which consolidates their promotion credentials, while demonstrating to Harpenden the improvements they need to make.

Report By Tom Preest

Team: Matt Beggs, Tom Gosling, Neil Liles, Geoff Gould, Martin Pugh, Adam Cole, Peter Evans, Andy Lunn, Jon Pagan, Tom Preest, Andy Barradell, James Bird, Stuart Berry

Scorers
1) Adam Cole