Mens O45 vs Bedford O45 (2nd Round)

There was heartache and relief IN equal measure for Harpenden's more mature players on Sunday, as they went out of the men’s over 45 cup on penalties.  

The heartache was because for the 70 minutes of the game, Harps were largely in control. Goalkeeper Bob Voyce touched the ball four times, while the Lilywhites dominated possession and had many more chances. Sadly, they were unable to capitalise on this, meaning a dreaded penalty shootout that went the wrong way. However, the relief is that is it spares them the possibility of long awayday against some massive Superclub miles away, so basically it was a win-win.

After plenty of will-they, wont-they in the morning, the game eventually began an hour late, to let the snow melt and give the vintage players long to ease their creaking limbs into action. Harps began brightly, the midfield of the Dutch Master Adriaan, Skills, skipper FT and JB grasping control of the ball, retaining it nicely and starting to work their magic. Up front Flimmsy, Holmesy, Nicky Mac, Marky No-Nickname and The KC Formerly Known As QC were constant threats and soon the hosts were under pressure. 15 minutes in, Harps enforced the first shot corner and a slick routine saw Mark break the deadlock for his fifth goal of the short campaign.

It seemed at the time and even more so subsequently that Harps needed a second goal to consolidate their position. That it continued to elude them was through a combination of profligate finishing and - in their defence (literally and figuratively) - some resolute defending from Bedford.

As it turned out the second goal of the game was an equaliser for the hosts. A rare loose pass from the Harpenden midfield was pounced upon by their top quality striker, and despite being largely untroubled for 25 mins, the stalwart defence of Nashy, Munts, Rusty, Taza and Ali found their clean sheet bonuses written off.

Level at the break, Harps were confident that the game was there for the taking, and they seemed to have secured what would have been the winner when the skipper intercepted at the back, drove forward and released Nicky Mac on the flank. His fine cross resulted in a goalmouth melee between Holmesy and the keeper, with the floppy-haired Tractor Boy coming out on top and feeding in Mark, who slammed it home. The goal was given, with neither umpire seeing any transgression - although having been assured by a Bedford defender that the ball had hit Steve's body, they decided that they had indeed seen a foul so disallowed the goal. Fair enough.

So, with a couple of late chances for either team going begging, it came to penalties. For a bunch of middle aged men normally so vocal, it was intriguing to note that at this point, all eye contact ceased and half the team sloped away furtively. So, kudos to those who stepped up. It panned out as follows:

1. Bedford miss! Whoop Bob, great save
2. Harpenden score! Whoop Mark, for roofing it
3. Bedford score: Whoop
4. Harpenden score! Just, Rusty's 'flick' (and I use that term in the loosest possible sense) trickling towards the keeper, somehow going under his foot and stopping somewhere between the goalline and the backboard. They all count though, so well done Rusty
5. Bedfore score: 2-all
6. Harps miss (sad face): Skills fails to spot that the keeper had move to lean on his right post, leaving half of the goal vacant, and put it straight at him
7. Bedford score: Roofed. 3:2
8. Harps miss! (doubly sad face) FT does what they always say not to do, which is to change your mind just before taking the pen, changing from bottom left to top righ and splitting the difference perfectly, putting it right at the keeper's stomach. Although - check out the VAR below; on review, turns out it was tucked nicely into the bottom corner.
9. Beds score: Bugger. 4:2 and game over (although no doubt JB would have buried his and it would be been 4:3)

So, game over and the O45s move into the plate. Well done to everyone who cleared their diaries to play. Allez Les Blancs. Oh, and special mention to NickyMac, who left his stick behind, so FT picked it up and took it home. And also left his kit bag behind, which he had to go and pick up the following night. And crashed his own car into his own house returning from the match. Quality.