HARPENDEN IV: 3
BROXBOURNE VII: 0
28.10.06

With Broxbourne running scared after hearing the new names of the Harpenden 4th eleven, 3 more points were added to the season total. Who could blame the second placed team with names on the team sheet such as, Beasty, The Rock, The Provider, Goals, not to mention the more daunting Nat-King, and Straw.

Harpenden Awarded all 3 points.

With team spirit at an all time high amongst the fours this season, senior pro and manager Paul Nash decided to make the best of a bad situation and called for an inter squad game. So, with “Back to School” politics, two captains were selected and the squad lined up as if they were about to be shot. Elder and The Priest flipped and Elder started the team selection process.

All was quiet as the tension grew, everyone asking the same question, mumbling to each other, "who's going to be picked last". Their answer stood before them after the selections were over and the giant king of hockey pulled on the orange shirt for Elder’s team, yes they had saved the best til last, Beasty.

The whites started well but ironically it was the Beast who had the better of every attack they made and from one attack he calmly picked off the striker before playing a superbly timed through ball to send Rocket Ryan on his way for the first of many goals.

The lucky orange shirts fought hard for the next ten minutes and were duly awarded with a second goal, this time Nat-King showing the senior pro his heels and running on to score in an open net. Harpenden 4's have proved this year defensively they are the best in the league, but not on this day, with the defenders off the leash they were able to show the usual strikers how its done properly and Nat-King the pick of the bunch scoring a hat-trick. Straw, Beast and a second from Rocket providing the orange shirts captain with 6 goals for the mornings play.

However with the defenders attacking so much they did leak goals and with a Straw own goal for the whites and 3 more coming from rambling "I only score in friendlies" Harle, young Greg Springett and Asbo, having a warm-up before his real game. 6-4 the final score.

Man of the match Beast was interviewed after the game and said "A game played in a great atmosphere, with Nashy rotating his squad every week I’m sure he'll now realise the 4th team squad have goal scorers all over the pitch. It was great to see some old faces back in action with Gavin Bray and season ticket holders given a run out too".

Move of the match involved The Provider and Beast breaking into a dance in the middle of the game with what can only be described as a cross between Russian dancing and the can-can.

Goal of the game was an easy selection with Beasty running through the defence and followed up with a 30 yard sprint to slot home. (Many may tell you he missed an open goal earlier, however these have been investigated and proved to be only rumours)

Manager and Senior Pro Nash was caught up with after the game and commented "(puff, pant, good to get, (puff, pant) a run out in the fours (puff, pant) didn't realise (puff, pant) how good they were (puff, pant) until playing with them (puff, pant)". The senior Pro did however provide some great entertainment later in the afternoon when thumping the visiting Royston boys in the second team game which most of the fours stayed to watch.

Thanks to all who stayed for the inter squad friendly, a good run out and great fun was had by all proving again I'm sure as to why the results are going as well as they are. Next week sees an away trip to Royston where the guards will be watching the undefeated Harpenden 4's from the surrounding walls. Rumour has it Nashy has invested in some Kevlar armour, but with the new white shirts a little on the skin-tight side, the lucky Orange shirts may continue their run in the side.