Mens 1s vs St Albans M1

Harleston Magpies Mens 1st team travelled to St Albans, looking to build upon an excellent start to the season. Without several players due to school commitments, wedding dress fittings and a mystery illness the call went out to veteran galacticos Bedwell and Hipwell and there was a recall pf Mark Flatman after performing excellently away at Norwich City.

Setting off at the crack of dawn to ensure a parking space, the Pies arrived in plenty of time for coach Peterson to lay out his plan. The message was clear to the first team regulars, you have the opportunity to play with Magpies Royalty: enjoy it!

Magpies started the game at a blistering pace with Centre half Donsworth, channelling the excitement of playing beside Bedwell, dissecting the Alban's press with a passing master class. It wasn't long before the pressure told and after Myles King rocketed a drag flick into the body of a defender on the line he was able to calmly step up and convert the resulting penalty flick. Magpies continued to play well and won several more corners. Peterson was vocal on the sideline calling the plays but Oakley Elsom, decided to take charge and make the calls on the pitch. Knowing him for the level headed tactician that he is, Oakley's calls stood and somehow magpies were unable to build on their lead. Magpies did not let this frustrate them and led by captain Ridley's surging runs through midfield it was not long before the ball fell to Ali Haslam in the D. With a roar of "Git in t' net bay gum" he unleased a thunderbolt, leaving the keeper stranded and doubling magpies lead.

The half time team talk called for magpies composure on the ball but sadly this was not carried into the start of the half. Alban's played with far more composure and commitment than they had shown in the first half and soon the Pies were on the back foot. Bedwell, so usually light on his feet, struggled to clear a loose ball into the D and somehow ended up lying on top of it. He thought his redemption was immediate after picking the resulting drag flick on the line but some scrappy clearance play meant that Alban's were able to bundle the ball into the net. With only a goal lead Magpies were beginning to look nervous. Fortunately Peterson still had an ace up his sleeve. On ran midfield general Simon Hipwell. He immediately made an impact, breaking up play in midfield with a series of important, and always legal, tackles. The momentum shifted again and magpies began to wrestle control back. It wasn't long before Skinner received the ball on the edge of the D surrounded by defenders. He desperately wanted to turn back out of trouble but was given no option but to dribble through several players before dumping the ball to Ridley for a tap in. At 3-1 to magpies it felt like the job was done but Alban's had other ideas. Despite some excellent goal keeping from Leek, 2 goals in the last few minutes of the game brought the score level with both teams sharing the points. A bitter pill to swallow for Magpies who probably should have put the game to bed in the first half but they were left with the consoling knowledge that if they had been any shorter on available players, Leigh Sitch was next on the emergency call up list and then a point would have been all but impossible.