Mercian League quarter finals Southgate U16s 3 Harpenden U16s 0 HARPENDEN Hockey Club s U16s boys team finally bowed out of the Mercian League at the quarter finals stage with a 3-0 defeat away to National League club Southgate. However, their performa

Mercian League quarter finals

Southgate U16s 3 Harpenden U16s 0

HARPENDEN Hockey Club's U16s boys' team finally bowed out of the Mercian League at the quarter finals stage with a 3-0 defeat away to National League club Southgate.

However, their performance throughout the season promises a great deal for the prosperity of hockey in Harpenden in the years to come.

This was the first time Harpenden had entered this competition, and victories over Luton, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Bishop's Stortford meant that despite defeats against National League clubs Old Loughtonians and Chelmsford they finished second in the North East group to qualify for the quarter finals.

Harpenden went into the game as the underdogs, but soon showed the home side they were not just there to make up the numbers.

A tight first half saw chances fall to Alex Radgman, Matt Duffy and Matt Beggs and only some fine keeping kept the scores level.

The defence, brilliantly marshalled by Barney Walker, Jonathan Baker and Jonathan Andrews, restricted the home side to just a handful of chances, and with half time fast approaching Harps had their best chance with Jo Gosling shooting just wide from a short corner.

Harps' commitment and hard work frustrated Southgate until 20 minutes from the end when finally the whites' resistance was broken from a short corner.

The midfield trio of David Fernie, Nick Pomfret and Simon Cain never stopped running in pursuit of the equaliser, but gaps started to appear which were exploited and a further two goals followed late on.

Although defeated, Harps came out of the game with a lot of pride, Skipper Jo Gosling summed it up well saying: "We should all be proud of what we have achieved the only games we have lost have been to National League clubs.

"We gave Southgate a really good game and with a number of players still eligible to play next year, role on next season."

Pictured above are: Back Row: Simon Cain, Alex Elliott, Nick Pomfret, Barney Walker, Jonathon Andrew, Sam Baloun, Jonathon Baker, Jo Gosling, Paul Nash (coach).

Front Row: David Fernie, Jack Ashton, Alex Radgman, Matt Duffy, Alex Beggs, Andrew Salveson, Greg Clarke.