Magpies defeated in opener
Harleston Magpies Men’s first team got their East League Premier campaign off to a losing start on Saturday, going down 2-0 at home to Wapping.
Magpies actually started the game on their front foot with some great attacking hockey and hard-nosed defending.
However, despite putting Wapping under some pressure early on, Magpies found it difficult to convert in the final third due to a composed and talented Wapping backline.
And the visitors were the first to draw blood in the 12th minute when, against the run of play, a Harleston turnover inside the attacking 25 – in combination with a viciously executed counter-attack – saw Wapping find the back of the net, following an initial save by goalkeeper Jon Livings.
After the match, Harleston’s Canadian midfielder Elliott Marsh said of that moment: “Despite a strong, confident start to the game, you could really feel the wind get sucked out of the boys’ sails following that goal.”
The next 10 minutes saw Wapping put Magpies under significant pressure.
Wapping’s combination of two talented centre-backs wreaked havoc on an unstructured and undisciplined Magpies’ press, while the home team struggled to link passes together against an organised Wapping press, leading to a flurry of turnovers.
During this period, Magpies were heavily reliant on the showcased tackling abilities of their veteran backline, comprising Tom Sumner, Leigh Sitch, Andrew Bedwell, Will Tew and Ollie Whiteman.
To add insult to injury, a series of errors inside their own 25 saw a bobbling ball make its way across the goalmouth, where a Wapping forward duly converted.
In response Magpies earned six corners towards the end of the first half, all of which yielded nothing.
Early in the second half, the adjustments made at half-time appeared to pay dividends as a spell of pressure inside the Wapping 25, and some skilful baseline attack, saw a ball sneak across the Wapping goalmouth, but just out of the reach of forward James Gray.
Unfortunately, Magpies were unable to generate much more in the way of chances in the second half despite the efforts of the formidable midfield line-up of Ben Gowing, Pete Bale and captain Tom Ridley, who had some great moments of interplay.
However, unable to link up with the forwards, these flashes of brilliance were often left wanting.
Wapping’s calm and collected style of play after the restart only added to Magpies’ frustration, which was only relieved with the final whistle.
Tomorrow Harleston will look to bounce back and get their first win at West Herts (3pm).