Sunday
Tigers
caught napping
Cassiobury Rangers
Jets 2, Harpenden Colts U15 Tigers 2
Playing against a side that they beat 6-0 just
2 weeks ago, league leaders Harpenden Colts U15 Tigers were caught
napping in the first and lst. 3 minutes of the game
to be denied the victory that they deserved after 2 fine strikes by Oliver
Spicer and Steven Easterbrook and an industrious midfield display by
Man of the Match John Barker
The Tigers got caught after just 3 minutes in
an incident that looked suspiciously offside when the Jets forwards were let
loose on a 1 on 1 to go 1-0 ahead. The Tigers then created but did not take a
number of chances with Steven Easterbrook, Oliver Spicer and Marc
Oakley all going close before Oliver Spicer pulled the tigers level
after 28 minutes with a brilliantly taken goal, sweeping the ball home from 25
yards after being fed by Simon Cooper. The Tigers then dominated the
closing stages of the half but spurned chance after chance to go into the break
still level.
The Tigers again dominated after the break with
and were rewarded when a training ground corner kick set piece routine saw Marc
Oakley's corner volleyed in by Steven Easterbrook after 13 minutes.
The Tigers were now roaring and Chris Sheridan, Steven Easterbrook,
Oliver Spicer and Marc Oakley all went close in a match that they
Tigers now never looked like losing despite keeper Charlie Collins
making one outstanding save from a rare Jets second half chance. The Tigers
then seemed to go to sleep 2 minutes from time when they failed to defend a
free kick and the ball somehow found its way into the net on the near post via
the post and keeper to give Cassiobury a point that
they didn't deserve. John Barker was outstanding in the Tigers midfield
well supported by Ben Neale at full back and
an impressive return from injury by defender Colin Arnsby.
Sunday
Tigers
Struggle
Harpenden Colts U15
Tigers 4, Borehamwood Youth Diamonds 1
Playing against a better than expected bottom
club, league leaders Harpenden Colts U15 Tigers produced a host of
chances but they did not put them away and struggled to get going before
winning the match with goals from Marc Oakley, Lee Ganderton, Oliver Spicer and Steven
Easterbrook with Man of the Match defender Simon Cooper setting the
Tigers up with two well fought assists.
The Tigers dominated the early exchanges, which
only saw one shot on goal from Borehamwood, which was
smartly saved by keeper Charlie Collins. The Tigers did however produce
a host of chances with strikers Oliver Spicer and Steven Easterbrook
both going close on a number of occasions before Marc Oakley fired home
inside the near post from a Simon Cooper free kick after 21 minutes.
More chances came for the Tigers who could have been cruising by half time but
they simply did not take them.
The Tigers again dominated after the break with
Steven Easterbrook and Oliver Spicer all going close on numerous
occasions. The Tiger were then given a wake up call after 16 minutes when the
Tigers gave away possession outside the box and Charlie Collins was
forced to make a fingertip save against the bar to keep the Tigers ahead. The
Tigers did not heed the call as they then gave the ball away again just outside
the box a minute later and this time a good finish pulled Borehamwood
back in the game. The Tigers then at last raised their game and laid siege to
the Borehamwood goal with the keeper making some
great saves from Lee Ganderton, Steven
Easterbrook and Oliver Spicer. It then took a surging run from Man
of the Match Simon Cooper to opened the
floodgates when after a winning the ball in midfield he slipped Lee Ganderton in to fire home past the advancing keeper
with 10 minutes left. Captain Chris Sheridan then put Steven
Easterbrook in like fashion 3 minutes later to force the ball home. With
the Tiger now well on top Steven Easterbrook then turned goal provider
by setting up Oliver Spicer to hit home on the turn from 10 yards with
almost the last kick of the game. Midfielder Marc Oakley celebrated his
birthday with a fine midfield performance with full backs Ben Neale and Richard Block also impressing.
Sunday
Tigers
maul Rangers
Harpenden Colts U15
Tigers 6, Cassiobury Rangers Jets 0
In a match against a rated Cassiobury
side, Harpenden Colts U15 Tigers produced a comprehensive workmanlike
performance with 3 goals in each half with stand in striker and Man of the
Match Oliver Spicer hitting a fine hat-trick, well supported by singles
from Marc Oakley and Steven Easterbrook and a 25 yard screamer
from Captain Chris Sheridan completing the mauling.
The Tigers were made to work hard in the early
exchanges but they went ahead when a good run by Ben Neale
saw the ball forced into the box for Oliver Spicer to lob the keeper.
The Tigers still had to work hard and they were then set on their way when a
poor clearance after 21 mins broke loose to Chris
Sheridan who fired home a real screamer into the top corner from 25 yards.
The Tigers then had much of the pay and chances and they then went further
ahead 8 minutes from half time when good work by Lee Ganderton
saw Oliver Spicer slipped into the box to fire home across the advancing
keeper.
The match was then put beyond reach after just
34 seconds in the second half when Marc Oakley was first to a loose ball
and fired home from a tight angle after John Barker's ball into the box
saw Steven Easterbrook's initial shot blocked. Keeper Charlie Collins
was then forced to make his first smart save of the match to deny Cassiobury in a 1 on 1 before the Tigers wept back upfield and were unlucky to see a great first time cross by
Marc Oakley just glance wide after a good attacking header by Oliver
Spicer. The Tigers were now dominating the match and, with 25 minutes left,
Lee Ganderton then slipped man of the Match Oliver
Spicer into the box again to slip the ball over the advancing keeper to
seal his hat trick. Steven Easterbrook then showed magnificent
determination by chasing a lost cause and winning the ball to fire home after
rounding the keeper to make it 6-0. Marc Oakley then could have made it
7 5 minutes from time but he was denied by a brilliant save by the keeper.
Captain Chris Sheridan was outstanding for the Tigers, as was John
Baker in the Tiger midfield and the ever-improving Richard Block at
full back.
Sunday
Tigers
rocked by last kick equaliser
Harpenden Colts U15
Tigers 5, Berkhamsted Raiders 5
After giving away 2 early soft goals, Harpenden
Colts U15 Tigers were made to come from behind twice and looked to have won
the match when Man of the Match Steven Easterbrook completed his hat
trick a minute from time. Raiders however then snatched a last gasp equaliser
with the last kick of the game to give them a point that they didn't deserve. A
penalty by Marc Oakley and a poached goal by Oliver Brierley completed the tally for the Tigers in this 5-5
draw.
Despite being forewarned about the Raiders
route 1 tactics the Tigers went 2-0 down in the first 6 minutes from exactly
that! The Tigers worked hard and pulled a goal back after 15 mins when Steven Easterbrook turned a Marc Oakley
free kick home. The Tiger then saw more of the chances and were unlucky
when Oliver Brierley lobbed the keeper only to
see the goal ruled out and a free kick awarded to the Tigers for an earlier
infringement!
With the Tigers fired up after the break they
saw their dominance pay when Oliver Brierley
was brought down in the box and then Marc Oakley coolly fired home twice
from the spot after his first successful kick was ordered to be retaken. Poor
defending in and around the box twice saw the ball not cleared and Tigers paid
the price with 2 soft goals to send them 4-2 down. Steven Easterbrook
then reduced the deficit with a powerful header after good work and a cross by Oliver
Brierley and then was unlucky to fire a powerful
shot against the post when clear on goal with just 8 minutes left. The Tigers
were now dominating the closing stages and they then got on level terms when Oliver
Brierley swept in a loose ball after a cross by Lee
Ganderton. The Tigers then thought that they had
won the match when, a minute from the end of normal time, Marc Oakley
set up Steven Easterbrook to hit in a screamer from 18 yards. The Tigers
were then robbed of the win that they deserved when in injury time, with the
last kick of the match, Raiders equalised and the raised linesman's flag was
overruled. Unused subs Colin Arnsby, Michael
Butterworth and Thomas Clark all played their part in supporting a
spirited Tiger performance that saw Lee Ganderton
shine on the wing.