RICKMANSWORTH III: 1
HARPENDEN IV: 3
03.11.2007

Having not scored in their last two outings, captain Graham Dean asked the Harpenden side to take a look back to last seasons efforts and try and recapture the fighting spirit of the trophy winning campaign.

His first move was to reunite the centre back stalwarts of Simon Bates and Ian Beggs, who were to live up to expectations with some fine Trojan defending. The partnerships confidence grew as they new they had a great keeper behind them in Neil Smyth, who’s second half tip over the bar helped the Harpenden side to this gallant victory. Smyth was asked how he managed it after the game, he simply looked, shrugged his shoulders and uttered, “Anything for the team lads”. This was the spirit Dean had been requesting before the game and it shone throughout with gutsy performances from Ali Barrett at left back and Taza at right back.

The midfield general, Neil Berry, commanded his area well and kept the opposition at bay, whilst still finding time to make the game look easy. His performance was capped with a fine goal. A great hit in to the D from Beggs left defenders scrambling and the ball bounced kindly for Berry from a foot. No signal from the umpires and Berry tucked it away with his usual no mercy smash.

Harpenden’s second of the game, and only 20 minutes in, saw the ever improving Dan Michalik hammer home from a short corner, but the men in white were not finished there as the game went on, the stronger they looked and the fighting spirit Dean had asked for almost spilled over as he was confronted with a menacing Rickmansworth player.

Dean had the last laugh though as he went on to score in the second half. The always impressive Malcolm Jones shot at goal but as it only bobbled towards the opposition keeper the captain pounced and steered it home.

Richard Harle came on in the second half to trouble the opposition with some mazy runs down the left and fed Mike Edmunds with a few chances, but it was Edmunds who became the provider for the day. After the game Edmunds mentioned how he felt it unfair that he was always the top scorer and he needed to let others have a go. Such is the team spirit amongst this very together squad.

A consolation goal in the last few seconds for the Rickmansworth team was the reward for some determined runs from their kept at bay attack but it should have been four for Harpenden as youngster Alex Beggs scored in the second half with a well worked set piece but this was disallowed by the umpires for a reverse stick call.
Man of the match would have to be Steve Holmes who worked tirelessly down the right hand side and never gave away possession. His constant driving at the opposition meant they always had they’re work cut out with him and this meant everyone else had an easier time.

Man of the match – Steve Holmes

Team – Neil Smyth, Ali Barrett, Ian Beggs, Simon Bates, Neil Berry, Graham Dean (c), Dan Michalik, Mike Edmund, Malcolm Jones, Alex Beggs, Richard Harle, Steve Holmes, Taza MohammedBhai

Match Report by Simon Bates

Scorers
1) Neil Berry
2) Dan Michalik
3) Graham Dean