(06-Sep-14): vs Haslemere Town Harriers (H) 2-3:

What Might have Been

Alas we are left to rue that most wistful of questions “What if?”
Haslemere v Headley is becoming one of those titanic fixtures like United v Arsenal ( well until relatively recently anyway ) and Eastern Suburbs v Mt Wellington. Always intense and always close, played in a
good spirit and with no little skill.

Saturday’s game was no different.

The Harriers have a habit of warming into a season and with the new look backline it would be understandable if they took a while to find their feet. The first half saw a few teething troubles but against a very talented Haslemere side they more than held their own – especially with a stellar performance at the back from Oscar to make sure that any breaks were smothered at the last. Rowan, the trainer of the week, was playing up front and making a nuisance of himself but it was Jack who provided the HUGE highlight of the first half by playing the poacher in a way Gary Lineker would have been proud of stabbing home a ball that was ricocheting around the goalmouth. Poor Noah had a great strike ruled out for a foul on Max ST which had us all pointing to the dictionary under the letter “A” for advantage ( as in “playing the….”). At the back Ollie and Euan were doing stirling work, helped out by Evan and Dan who were getting used to a newish role but Haslemere managed to squeeze in an equaliser just before half time. What might have been Part 1.

The second half was like a basketball game and there was further great work from Oscar, Ollie especially who was manfully controlling hid defence and tackling anything in a 50m radius, Charlie Beeson who was becoming increasingly dangerous with his forays down the wing, Noah at set pieces, and Max I and Joe buzzing around all over the place like malicious elves. A couple of strikes from Haslemere reminded us how dangerous they were on the break, but the Harriers kept their head and the Twins of Evil combined to score an excellent goal that followed some very good passing.

I think most people watching felt that the teams were so well matched that a draw was probably the fairest result, and a draw it would surely have been had a penalty been awarded when Max ST was scythed down in the box. What Might Have Been Part 2.

The boys should not be downhearted at all as they showed a lot of fighting spirit and looked more cohesive than might be expected given the number of changes to the team since last season.

The Man of the Match was Rowan who showed a tremendous amount of spirit and no little skill and was a revelation at the back.