Ladies 1 vs Hertford 1

A very wet and windy setting yesterday for what we knew was going to be a tough match

The day didn’t get off to the best start with Coach Bob breaking down in Stevenage , meaning Captain Durbs had to execute a rescue. We weren’t left completely unsupervised though , as ViceCapt Bry stepped up to lead us through some short corner practice and our thorough warm up. 

The team talk was a bit different, huddled round a phone speaker whilst Coach Bob and Captain Durbs battled with the wind by shouting into the hands free but we knew what we had to do. 

Delighted to say we had quite the cheerleading squad yesterday, with people travelling far and wide (as far as our Tangerine rivals) to support our valiant team to what we hoped would be a much needed victory. 

The game got underway, expertly directed by the Brothers Timms. The first twenty minutes of the first half, we were all over them. A press that couldn’t be broken, passages of play that dazzled their midfield and a defence that deterred any of their attempts to penetrate our goal. The hard work paid off and we broke the score line first with a well worked goal, efficiently put away by …… in the 19th minute. (Our management team are still recovering from a night out in Popworld in Milton Keynes, and haven’t yet posted who scored in Teamo. I watched way too much hockey yesterday and can’t remember. Must do better. Whoever it was, you’re awesome 💙) 

Harps 1 - 0 Hertford 

The Hertford supporters had seemed to have woken up on the wrong side of bed and amped up the heckling. They gave our wingers a heavy distraction and the Brothers Timms a bit of grief , with Hertford seeming to use that to their advantage and ramp up the aggression. 

Great utilisation of their central overload player who must have had an invisibility cloak tucked in her skort as she seemed to just appear , completely unmarked to collect the ball and drive it forward. The continual pressure eventually broke down the back line and they levelled up the scoreboard. 

Harps 1 - 1 Hertford 

We wanted to see out the half level pegging, we were tired and needed our fizzy haribo for sustenance but with a scrappy follow up to a short corner, Hertford took the lead just before half time. Urgh. 

Harps 1 - 2 Hertford

Coach Bob survived his ordeal and was able to deliver our half time chat in person. He was super excited about how we’d played in the first half. Lots of promise, great performances and proof that when we put our minds to it we are contenders in this league. We’ve come back from goals down before, we needed to channel our inner warriors and press on. We all agreed.

Back we go.

The second half felt a little different, we were still working hard for eachother but the Hertford management team had given them a bit of a telling off. They hadn’t made themselves look good in this match and it was time for them to kick into 3rd gear. And that they did. To their credit, their passing accuracy and pace was great, they worked the ball up the pitch very well and gave us some trouble. BUT a lapse in their concentration and some of our best play saw us bring the score level again🥅, courtesy of (our eventual MOM) Nat in the 44th minute. 

Harps 2 - 2 Hertford 

We. Were. Elated. We can do this! 

As time ticked down, the pressure built and our desire to win was obvious. Lots of calling, lots of running and a lot of physicality. (A courtesy sorry to Fairweather Brother Timms for my rather heavy handed tackle in our own 23 which probably should have been a green but he very kindly downgraded to a stern look and a pushing down of palms. “Calm it down Kels”. Got ya. No more.) 

As the game wore on, Hertford started to really show their strengths and whilst we did everything we could, we couldn’t stop a rather scrappy and completely out of the blue little lob of our super agile Kim.Gutted doesn’t even cover it.

We fought on, trying everything we could to equal things up again, but even with the mighty support of El Presidente Fraser and lots of encouragement from the sideline , we just fell slightly short.

Full time : Harps 2 - 3 Hertford 

There were hugs for eachother at the end and lots of sad faces. Our strength is building but yet to be rewarded. It’s just unfair now. On we go to next week vs Stortford in our penultimate game before Crimbo.

Since writing this report I have found out that our first goal scorer was Merel. 🥅A great performance by her yesterday (I do remember that) and so a very well earned point on her own personal scoreboard. Nice one Merel! 

🏅Player of the match- Nat

🐸Dunce of the Day- Coach Bob, probably time you got a new car. 

🎤El Presidente Quote: “I thought the team were really unfortunate not to take something from the game. They were excellent and on another day they could have come away with a point if not more. That said, Kim made some outstanding saves without which perhaps the visitors would have been a few goals clear. Finally, massive kudos to the teenagers who put in a real shift in pretty miserable conditions. They were really impressive”

💙Special thanks- to all those who stood in rain and freezing cold to cheer us on. Whilst we didn’t win it really did give us the lift we needed for us to put in what may have been our best performance this season. Much HHC love to you all.