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Match Reports Men's 3rd Team 2007–08 17/11/2007 What looked like being a tough fixture was won by a marked improvement in Harlow's midfield and set piece play. The opening 3 away goals all came from copybook penalty corner routines, Steve Maxfield with two, Bob Gotobed helping himself to the other. Brentwood then started to exert some pressure and this was rewarded with a goal of their own from a resulting corner after good work by the opponents quality player. The home side still hadn't cottoned on to Harlow's motives and yet again Maxfield added to the total before half time from another well worked move involving Gotobed. Dean Grace, Ben Light and James Paice dominated the midfield area, Cyrus Mace played the best game of his season at right back, and Kim, despite being given a rough ride by the versatile right winger came out with credit. Two further goals were added after the break this time from open play. First Rhys Mace, who performed better than at any time all year, slotted in on his reverse, then Light rounded off the scoring with a trademark neat touch. Four wins, two reverses sees the side in fourth place, but just a point or two from 2nd. 10/11/2007 A disappointing defeat for the home side. 0-2 down at half time and by the final whistle only Ben Light's 7th goal of the campaign to show for all their efforts and attempts on goal. 03/11/2007 The result was never in doubt after swift double from Paice and Maxfield opened the proceedings. A further goal from Maxfield midway through the half was followed by some home pressure on Harlow's youthful defence, eventually this was breached, but Birthday Boy Rhys Mace added to the tally and meant that the half time scoreline showed 4 to the visitors with 1 against. Two well constructed penalty corners and a goal from Craig Cholerton, plus a further effort from Maxfield sandwiched Thurrock's only other real effort on goal. 8-2 and the boys look set for a season at the right end of the table. 27/10/2007 Fielding a side of Old and young Old Loughts approached the game with a win win mentality. The home sides star player lacked a number on his back, but showed skill and a deft touch as he weaved his way goal bound. Many times was his effort repelled by the Harlow sides rearguard, but a fortunate effort meant that the boys in green & gold had to recover from a 1-0 defeceit. Ben Light added to has already impressive tally after a swifty taken free hit from James Paice found Light in acres of space to fire home. A change in the ranks of the opposition meant a new found adversary, he of a good stature and not someone you may expect to come up against at this level, however Harlow showed all of their good skill to overcome such opposition. 2-1 was the final score as Steve Maxfield helped himself to a delightful through ball from Rhys Mace. 20/10/2007 3-0 down inside the first 15 minutes against a side that went through the last season undefeated, was there any way back for Boughtwood's team? There certainly was. Harlow started poorly, defending deep inside their own territory, being over run in the midfield, and missing the level headed Dean Grace at right back. Both Andrew Boughtwood and Cyrus Mace did very well in holding their own against seasoned players in his vacated position. The tide slowly began to turn as the first half drew to a close. Maxfield cut the arrears with a hard earned run after being released by Light from outside the 23m line. A change of formation at the turn around brought Bob Gotobed off the left wing to bolster a tiring midfield. This paid dividends and freed up space for James Paice to advance. The deficiet was reduced further as Maxfield converted a penalty corner, and who would have believed it, an equaliser just two minutes later. Paice and Torvell cutting holes in the away sides rearguard. Unfortunately a miraculous victory was not to be had as Maxfield had a goal chalked off. Moments later Wapping regained their lead and added a further late effort. 13/10/2007 Finally league hockey for Neil Boughtwood's young and old army. After weeks of meaningful, but point lacking friendlies the season begun against the Old Enemy. A drab first half was the honours even with just the one chance for either side going uncoverted by the misfiring Maxfield. Gotobed, wounded, after a diving attempt to put the ball forward, was the only other moment of note as the sides turned around. Harlow eventually took the lead, the Gotobed and Maxfield combination saw the latter beat a flatfooted 'keeper at his near post. The upper hand was short lived as the home team found some purpose, and a few umpiring anomalies going their way. At 2-1 down Ben Light came into his own. Firstly a swift breakaway started in defence by James Paice, found Light in space to carry the ball towards goal. He beat one, then two defenders before cooling slotting under the advancing goalkeeper. Two minutes remained on the watch when Maxfield, Light and an unmarked Rhys Mace were able to ensure a victorious start to the campaign, Mace finishing from a foot out. 22/09/2007 The side welcomed back from inforced exile the talents of Liam Hynes, and from injury, James Paice. Neil Boughtwood however was absent and in his place Rhys Mace performed to the script by leading a victorious team. The opposition, made up of part first teamers, part seconds, with a sprinkling of recent National League talent were showing no signs of their obvious talent by going a goal behind again to a well worked penalty corner move. Plashet will be perhaps a test harder than many other team the side face all season and it was they who balanced the scoresheet with a scrappy equaliser. Rhys Mace and Maxfield again however combined soon after to sieze the initative, this time from open play and Mace's newly found vision. The sides turned around at half-time and it wasn't long before 2 became 3. Maxfield completed his hat-trick following a well weighted through ball from Light. A late scare, with 10 minutes to go saw the away side claw back a goal, but Harlow held on, and in fact could have been further ahead. A 'goal' being chalked off for skipper Mace. Gotobed, fulfilling the role of utility player slotted in at sweeper and was a key to the victory, as was the imposing frame of Rob the 'keeper who repelled more shots than Jessie James could ever muster. Boughtwood, Cyrus Mace and Kim showed how much they have developed as players. 15/09/2007 Lacking from their ranks the influential James Paice, Bob Gotobed stepped up to play at centre half with gusto. The game was always close with Harlow never being behind. Early pressure paid off and Steve Maxfield beat the 'keeper from a penalty corner to put the away side 1 up following the efforts of Ben Light. Despite an equaliser early in the second half against the run of play Harlow again took the lead from a well constructed, if not fortunate corner move, only for Welwyn to convert with an audacious lob from the byline in time added on. Again new 'keeper Rob performed like a jack in a box between the posts and 'Essex boy' Mike Adams did as much as he could in front of him. Grace, Mace and Dunn, with ring about them of the legal profession were honest throughout. 08/09/2007 Post Dowling, the 3's skippered by Neil Boughtwood look forward to a season of promise from the ever growing talents of Adams, Grace, Mace, Dunn, Junior Boughtwood and the like. Early pressure caused havoc within the ranks of Chelmsford, and after two rapid fire goals Harlow was always in the driving seat. Maxfield rounded off his hat-trick after sterling work from the ‘evergreen' Hayward. Despite conceding a fortunate goal, Harlow continued to press forward and the half-time score line of 5-1 indulged the Captain to approach the further 35 minutes blooding newly uncovered talents. Maxfield for his fifth, Maces - Cyrus and Rhys and Gotobed added to Light's earlier effort. Man of the match was awarded to Rob, a seasoned vet playing in his first fixture for the club. He parried and cleared a number of half chances between to posts ensuring a winning start for the Noel Edmonds lookalike and his side. A special mention, James Paice was creative and destructive throughout. Next week sees the side tackle Welwyn Garden City. |