| HARPENDEN
III: 2
STEVENAGE III: 0
20.10.2007
Harpenden 3s completed their most comfortable
win of the season last Saturday beating Stevenage 3s 2-0 at home,
and yet conversely put in their most unconvincing performance
of the league campaign so far. "Winning ugly" may have
become part of sports accepted parlance of late, especially as
applied to any egg chasing contest, but even though they currently
sit on top of the division, the 3s know they will have to play
better than this to successfully meet the challenges ahead.
Harpenden dominated the opening
exchanges, threatening to slice through their opponents defence,
just like the silent scythe of Bodom. However, all too often the
final ball went astray or the chances that were created, notably
by good work down the flanks from James Bird and Andy Salmon and
the energy of Jon Pagan through the middle, went begging.
In the end it took the calm head of full back Martin Pugh to add
a little artistry to the industry, advancing forward he played
a beautifully measured ball into the Stevenage D. Striker Tom
Preest was able to take a touch to create an angle, before putting
the ball in the corner for the opening goal.
The 1-0 score line accurately reflected the balance of play in
the opening half, where Andy Lunn and Simon Redford had both been
particularly impressive in dealing with any attacking threat from
the visitors.
Stevenage changed their personnel around in the second period,
and posed more questions going forward. The fact that the threes
managed only their second clean sheet of the season owed much
to Adam Cole, who had another impressive game at right back, and
keeper Neil Smyth, who showed admirable sure footedness on those
occasions where he was called into action.
At the other end it was a case of more chances missed from the
Harpenden front line, who really needed to produce a goal to kill
off the game. The home side were awarded a short corner with 10
minutes to go. Andy Baradell's excellent strike beat the keeper
and was stopped illegally on the line. Captain Evans stood up
to confidently convert the flick, and the points were safe.
Report by Tom Preest
Team: Neil Smyth, Adam Cole, Simon Redford, Andy
Lunn, Martin Pugh, James Bird, Pete Evans, Jon Pagan, Andy Salmon,
Tom Preest, Andy Barradell
|
Scorers
1) Tom Preest
2) Pete Evans
|
