WINCHMORE HILL IV: 0
HARPENDEN IV: 7
29.10.05

Travelling away to Winchmore Hill & Enfield on the back of three consecutive defeats, and without leading goal-scorer of the last 3 years, Mike Edmond, onlookers could have been forgiven for concerns about a fourth reverse.

Player/coach Paul Nash’s carefully selected blend of youth and experience, however, had other ideas, as they handed out a seven goal spanking and kept their first clean sheet in the process.

The writing was on the wall early for the hosts, as despite taking the initial push-back, they were quickly mugged in central midfield by the excellent James Evans, who set Richard Harle up to thread an insightful ball to Dan Carter at the top of the ‘D’, which was duly despatched through a crowd of players into the bottom right corner. Never good for a keeper when his first touch is picking it out of the bottom of the net.

WH&E tried to mount a fightback but James Stenson, in his first game back for 9 months, marshalled Adam Cole and Brian Smith superbly at the back, and Ben Wain in goal was rarely threatened – saving well when tested.

Before long the tackling industry of Graham Dean on the right allowed Harle to slide a well-weighted pass in to Carter again, who finished tidily in the bottom left corner past an ineffectual keeper.

Minutes later, good work from Dan Lester on the left wing allowed Carter to turn provider for Dean’s debut goal for the club, slotting home under a flailing keeper who was yet to make a save.

Worse was to come for the oft-stranded one though, as just before half time Carter buried again from the top of the ‘D’ after characteristic hard work and hassling from the ever industrious Dave Wain, although with a fairly chunky deflection off a defenders foot. They all count.

WH&E brought a 2nd XI ringer on to try to sure up the floodgates at half time, but he could only stand and watch as Nashy worked his magic in midfield, doing the majority of the work in a move that saw Dan Michalik calmly bury a flick in the back of the net, with composure that many players higher in the club would covet! Debut goal number 2 of the afternoon, and thoroughly deserved!

Despite and injury to a WH&E junior, and a glaring miss by a home forward with an open goal at his mercy, there was still time for Carter to bury a short corner strike and cap off a remarkable afternoon for the side with a top corner screamer from the edge of the ‘D’ for his fifth.

For the inquisitive, Carter’s new stick is a “TK Nimbus 2000”, retailing in all good sports shops in Diagon Alley. Magic.

7-0 and sweet and sour chicken for tea. What an afternoon!

Carter the Unstoppable Goal Machine