HARPENDEN III: 1
WINCHMORE HILL
29.01.05

Greece is the word. Although there are as many olive-skinned Mediterranean types in the threes as there are Olivia Newton-John-alikes, on closer inspection the similarities are striking. The blue shirts. The success wrought out of teamwork. A European Cup success. And against Winchmore Hill and Enfield 3s there was even a boring 1-0 victory.

Whilst there may not be anyone in the threes bearing a passing resemblance to Newton-John, the opposition in Division 6SW has thrown up a number of Ronnie Corbett doppelgangers. Normally an automaton like presence in midfield, it is almost as if this utility player is stocked by the Hockey Shop to help out ailing lower division sides. On each occasion however, the might of les supers bleues has been more than a match for this product.

The pitch at Fortress Brache was slick after sustained rainfall, and the opposition even misguidedly speculated that they were playing on a water-based surface. Harpenden took good advantage of the playing conditions and moved the ball around well in the opening period of play earning a number of short-corners, and to the defences consternation failed to convert any of these chances.

The breakthrough came after a succession of pinball like exchanges found Tom Preest with some space in the D. His well-struck shot elicited a scuffed save from the keeper allowing Malcolm Jones to tap the ball home.

At half time Harpenden were waylaid by thoughts of the size the margin of victory. Winchmore Hill and Enfield came out in the second half determined not to capitulate easily and whilst not testing keeper, Jon Allen, on any occasion Harpenden played a lot of the game in their own half.

Skipper Keith would like to think that by this point his players were already contemplating next weeks six-pointer against Bishops Stortford. Or maybe even the clash against Hertford 3s in a fortnight’s time, which if Dan Brown is to believed, will be played against members of the mediaeval secret society, the Knight’s Templar. Either way, Harpenden scraped through what should have been an emphatic victory.

Report by Ali Keith, who must have taken something very odd before writing it.

Yet again, Big Malc was the difference