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RICKMANSWORTH IV: 2
HARPENDEN IV: 2
14.10.06
This seasons Harpenden squad were asked
to stand up and be counted this week as Rickmansworth fielded
a very physical team and there tactics were clear from the off.
Bully Harpenden at any given chance. Dave "Blood Bin"
Wain summed up the manner of the match before the game had started
with blood already pouring from wounds on his hands.
Harpenden
dominated for the first 25 minutes but the break through goal
just never appeared. With the strike force of Mike "Goals"
Edmund and Dan "The Provider" Carter doing all but putting
it in the back of the net. The first 25 minutes were a nervous
one for the Ricky keeper but he was equal to all that was hit
at him. At him, apart from one disallowed effort, being the operative
term. The
midfield were relentless and every time Rickmansworth seemed to
clear their lines they would look up to find one of the usual
suspects, Graham "Roadrunner" Dean, Neil "Elder"
Berry, Jon "The Priest" Pagan, and Dave "Blood
Bin" Wain bearing back down on them.
Rickmansworth,
to their credit, rode out this period of domination and then completely
against the run of play broke up the other end and a brief lapse
of concentration saw them slot home the opener. Disgusted by the
profligacy in front of goal and the lack of cohesion at the back,
Big Rob Sub Manager tore his season ticket up and threw it in
the dug-out.
The
strong defensive unit of Matt "The Pebble" Beggs, Stuart
"Straw" Berry, Adam "Nat-King" Cole, Brian
"Grey Squirrel" Smith and the ever solid Ian "The
Rock" Beggs had been hurt by this goal and rallied the troops.
Only the third goal to have been conceded this campaign by the
Harpenden 4ths but the reaction was positive.
1-0
down at half time and "The Provider" was not happy with
the score line. His blast at half time and the ringing of some
changes meant the team came out battling and again dominated for
a long period of play. Simon "The Beast" Bates, Richard
"The Rambler" Harle, and Ryan "Rocket" Ely
all played their part in this period of play and it wasn't long
before Harpenden were back on equal terms.
"Elder"
Berry slotted the first home with a neat flick after a saved short
corner strike from "The Provider". It didn't stop here.
"Goals" Edmond not content with now being one goal behind
for the season popped up five minutes later to give Harpenden
a well earnt lead with a fantastic first time strike from a "Rocket"
cross.
A
moment of controversy was to deny Harps a 4th straight win and
pull Rickmansworth level. With the ball bobbling around the keeper
elbows were thrown and legs were hacked, but the ball popped out
to a Rickmansworth striker to slot home and the equaliser had
come 5 minutes from time.
Harpenden's
analysis of the game continued long into the evening on saturday
and the goals became more and more extravagant. Many of the squad
realising their unbeaten run was still intact and top of the league
table after 4 games was not a bad place to be, and that the only
down side of the day was waiting an hour for main courses in the
curry house. Mind you it gave the 4ths number one fan a chance
to sellotape his season ticket back together...
The
"lucky orange shirts" are still on the road with the
fourth team who are at home at 5pm this week and face Letchworth.
Revenge for a late equaliser will be greatly appreciated with
a giant win this weekend.
Match report by Simon Bates, with the help of Microsoft spell-check
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