HARPENDEN IV : 3
WINCHMORE & ENFIELD: 2
17.02.07

Harpenden 4th XI became the first of the men’s sides to ensure promotion this season with a gritty win at the Field of Dreams, but had to come from two goals down to do so.

For a team whose trademark over the last season and a half has been killing games off with early goals, the first twenty minutes of this crucial top-of-the-table 6-point clash saw Harpenden play some of the most lack-lustre and uninspired hockey of the season. Perhaps unaccustomed to the early 11am start, or perhaps missing father-son combo Elder and Straw, who were “in Lanzaroti or somewhere”, the home side, clad in their early season “lucky orange shirts”, only sprung into life after the visitors had gone 2-0 up.

The first Winchmore goal, was reminiscent of the previous season’s lapses, as a well-rehearsed short corner was slipped out to the top left of the Harps D, and a finely hit strike beat Pebbles at the near post to open the scoring.

The back line of Rambler, The Rock, The Beast and Homes seemed out of sorts in the early stages, and the lead was soon extended, and deservedly so, when the ball was buried after a goal-mouth scramble.

This was the first time this season that the 4ths had been more than one goal behind, and as if to accentuate this, Winchmore players were already celebrating the fact that they had not relinquished a two goal advantage all season.

Fortress Brache, however, has only seen us drop two points all season, and the orange shirts were spurred into action, as if the early set-backs had merely been a ruse to draw the expectant crowd into the game, and the watching First XI were soon treated to some more characteristic 4th XI play, as first Roadrunner burst down the right flank, cutting in and slipping an inch-perfect ball onto the end of the Silver Fox’s stick, who slammed home from close range.

The rally seemed to stun the away side, as within a minute skipper The Provider beat two men, burst into the ‘D’ and slipped a disguised ball onto Goals’ stick, who feinted and then buried again from close range for his 15th of the season. Both men justifying their nick-names.

The bulk of the credit for this resurgence can be attributed to the midfield, who battled their way into the game – The Priest being somewhat omnipresent in the middle of the park, Rocket, and his replacement the ubiquitous Bloodbin, hassling and harrying, not allowing the white and green shirts to break back into our half.

Half time came, and after some wise words from Yoda, young Dan Michalik came on at left half, with Bloodbin moving to the forward line.

The second half was a tighter affair, with both sides struggling to exert themselves, and both defences and keepers credited with last gasp tackles, saves and stops, and Winchmore showed why they were meriting second place in the table.

The 4ths, however, have developed a belligerent expectation to win, and with about ten minutes to go, a Silver Fox short corner strike was parried in the direction of Bloodbin, who threw himself at the ball, buried it high over the prostrate keeper and put the home side into a 3-2 lead for the first time in the match.

The action was not to finish there, however, and both sides could have added to their tallies, first Pebbles pulling off a world-class glove save when seemingly beaten on the floor, and then Dan M slightly mistiming a difficult finish after expertly losing his marker, and seeing the ball unfortunately bounce onto his foot.

The final whistle soon blew on a well-contested game, with the result guaranteeing promotion and leaving only 3 points required from the final 4 games to clinch the league title.

Thanks to everyone involved with the 4ths, to players, parents, partners, offspring, umpires, and especially Yoda for being our mentor and spiritual leader, let’s finish the season off in style and make it one to remember!

Action Pictures