Han River Harriers vs. English Spectrum FC
15th November 2003

Randal Smith & Sean Freer

This was a game that very nearly didn’t happen. The Harriers arrived at English Spectrum’s kindergarten field (with crossbars at almost head level) only to discover that it was not available. < Note to everyone: never, never assume that a field in Seoul will be available even if you’ve seen it available for the past ten years. The day you want it is the day you’ll find two Korean company teams in bibs playing an all-day pick-up game >. Thankfully, some of the Harriers were aware of another field close by to which everyone relocated. Even then it took ages before everyone got sorted out and on the field. Ryan was still off searching for his cleats after the first kickoff.

Before the game a number of Harrier players were nervous about the upcoming match. The Harriers were missing some key players who were not able to play on a Saturday; moreover, everyone was well aware that last week Spectrum beat Daejeon who in turn had surprised St. Patrick’s with a tie. Perhaps a few new players had been added to Spectrum’s lineup.

The Harrier’s eleven man (no subs) out-fit defended Spectrum’s pressure well and turned the ball over into some dangerous counter attacks, Evan, Sean, Dave and Brian each having a couple of shots on net before Evan opened the account with low curving shot from outside the penalty area.

The Harriers then doubled their lead when Evan gathered a poor clearance, moved in for the kill, and drilled the ball home before the keeper knew what was going on.

The best goal of the game coincided with the long overdue arrival of Ryan. Calmly collecting a pin point long ball from his telepathic brother Sean on the wing, he took two touches just inside the box then delicately tapped the ball over the keeper coming out off his line. Sadly, a few moments later Ryan marred his heroic entrance into the game after he assumed a call had been made and picked the ball up with his hands at the corner of Spectrum’s box.

A fourth goal, scored by Brian capped a great first half for the Harriers. A free kick had been awarded for a hand ball. Following a brief discussion between Brian and David it was finally decided that Brian would be doing the honors. The shot was a bullet that curved through the wall and at the last moment dipped under the crossbar into the corner. The keeper didn’t have a chance.

The second half will be remembered for the Harrier’s solid defensive play and, yes, Dave's penalty.

It is fair to say the Harriers were out played in midfield in the second half especially on the left side where David was suffering with a pulled groin muscle. Lawrence, Hassan, Art and Randal did an excellent job keeping Spectrum’s quick and tricky strike force at bay. There seems to be a surfeit of talented strikers on the Spectrum team which made them particularly dangerous in attack. However, this same strength proved a vulnerability whenever the Harriers counterattacked as several Spectrum midfielders, perhaps fancying themselves strikers, were caught too deep in the Harrier's half. Once Spectrum gets their positioning sorted out they will be very dangerous indeed.

Admirably English Spectrum fought hard to score a goal even when they knew a victory was highly unlikely. Had Kevin not been so sure handed Spectrum may well have achieved their aim but as it was Kevin kept a clean sheet and made some nice saves in both halves even blocking some high swinging corners.

The only Harrier highlight of the second half was Dave's bullet header off a corner that found the back of the net. Inexplicably advantage wasn't played and instead a penalty was awarded, the ref having spotted some pushing in the area. After cooly placing the ball on the spot, Dave walked back, eyed the back of the net, calmly stepped up to the spot... and.... well the less said, the better.

Final score 4-0, and three well deserved points in the bag.