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Sat 30 Sep 2023
Harpenden
Men's 1's
2
1
T Patel (50')
Harpenden v Havering – 30th September 2023
Jack Barlow3 Oct 2023 - 16:15
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Clash of new teams in the league
Havering travelled to Harpenden looking to build on last week’s 2-0 home victory over Old Loughts and welcomed back captain Liam Appleyard and Adam Lumbers into the squad. Unfortunately, Paul Dover got stuck in traffic the other side of London and didn’t arrive until the second half was underway.
It was a slow start to the match from Havering as Harpenden pressed high and pinned Havering back for large periods of the half. Harpenden hit the bar and brought a close-range reaction save from Andy Gaut which kept the away side in the game. Harpenden came close to taking the lead from a few penalty corners but were met with a determined defensive unit with Harry Andrews, Jack Barlow and Luke Joslin making notable blocks.
The second half started in a similar manner to the first with a Harpenden forward finding space in the D only to shoot just wide of the far post. Havering started to find some rhythm in the game and were able to impose themselves much higher up the pitch and almost took the lead from a penalty corner with Andrews going close. A second corner was blocked by a strong run from the defender but moments later Alastair Lewis played in Mike Hinton on the baselines whose reverse stick cross was expertly deflected in by man of the match Toshan Patel at the near post.
The lead lasted less than a minute as a complete lapse in concentration from the Havering defence allowed several players space to tee up a shot from the top of the circle, a scuffed shot was deflected past Gaut to the far post for a tap in at the second attempt. Lumbers made a block on the line from a Harpenden penalty corner but was unable to repeat the trick with four minutes left to play as the home side made their final corner count to make it 2-1.
There was one final chance for Havering as a bad tackle outside the D on Appleyard was upgraded to a penalty corner on the final whistle. A slick move between Andrews and Dover looked destined to find the back of the net with the keeper stranded but a brave block from the postman denied Havering with the ball hitting his leg. There wasn’t to be a final twist however as a retake on the corner was denied with the shot judged to be dangerous despite being below shin pad height.
Havering will host Potters Bar at Campion next up and will need to bounce back strongly to pick up a much-needed result.
It was a slow start to the match from Havering as Harpenden pressed high and pinned Havering back for large periods of the half. Harpenden hit the bar and brought a close-range reaction save from Andy Gaut which kept the away side in the game. Harpenden came close to taking the lead from a few penalty corners but were met with a determined defensive unit with Harry Andrews, Jack Barlow and Luke Joslin making notable blocks.
The second half started in a similar manner to the first with a Harpenden forward finding space in the D only to shoot just wide of the far post. Havering started to find some rhythm in the game and were able to impose themselves much higher up the pitch and almost took the lead from a penalty corner with Andrews going close. A second corner was blocked by a strong run from the defender but moments later Alastair Lewis played in Mike Hinton on the baselines whose reverse stick cross was expertly deflected in by man of the match Toshan Patel at the near post.
The lead lasted less than a minute as a complete lapse in concentration from the Havering defence allowed several players space to tee up a shot from the top of the circle, a scuffed shot was deflected past Gaut to the far post for a tap in at the second attempt. Lumbers made a block on the line from a Harpenden penalty corner but was unable to repeat the trick with four minutes left to play as the home side made their final corner count to make it 2-1.
There was one final chance for Havering as a bad tackle outside the D on Appleyard was upgraded to a penalty corner on the final whistle. A slick move between Andrews and Dover looked destined to find the back of the net with the keeper stranded but a brave block from the postman denied Havering with the ball hitting his leg. There wasn’t to be a final twist however as a retake on the corner was denied with the shot judged to be dangerous despite being below shin pad height.
Havering will host Potters Bar at Campion next up and will need to bounce back strongly to pick up a much-needed result.
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