LATE PENALTY COSTS US TWO POINTS

For the 3rd season running we opened our League campaign in midweek to make way for the opening round of the FA Cup which is held on the first Saturday in August. Our opponents on Tuesday night were Harpenden Town who coincidently were our final guests at home last season. We won that game 3-2 with goals from Godlove Oppong, Leo Farruch and Giuseppe Delgaudio. Godlove and Leo have moved on (although thankfully Giuseppe is still with us) and they will be missed but we have recruited well over the summer and the early signs are promising.

Harpenden are going through a major change with the installation of a 3G pitch, which is something we are planning do as well, and they will start off the new season playing away until early September. They are always tough opponents and although we finished last season just above them in the table (we were 9th and they were 2 places and 1 point behind us) they have enjoyed the better results against us over the last 6 matches, winning 3, drawing 2 and losing just the 1 mentioned above.

The first quarter of an hour the game was fairly even with the first meaningful action coming when Dave O’Connor’s lovely pass picked out Giuseppe Delgaudio who produced a decent lob which just cleared the bar. Our opponents were dangerous on the break and a fine move down the right set up full back Andrew Simmons who fired a shot just over.

The Hercules brothers were a constant source of danger to the opposition defence with firstly Frankie cleverly finding some space in the area and then striking a fierce shot that was rising and cleared the bar. Not to be outdone Max twice cut in from the left and struck two superb curling shots which were destined for the top corner of the net only to be denied on both occasions by brilliant saves from keeper Alex Desmond.

The Harpenden centre forward Jake Anthony was cleverly played through by a scooped pass from defender Mickey Shuttlewood but his lob cleared the bar. Shortly before half time Harry Jones was picked out at the near post after some neat interplay between Giuseppe and Lee Stobbs but he was unable to get a shot on target. A closely contested first half ended scoreless. HT Score 0-0.

The second half continued to be evenly contested but then Isaiah Hilaire for the visitors broke free down the right towards goal but the angle was tight and his shot hit the side netting. Frankie Hercules produced a fine cross which found Harry Jones but he didn’t get a clean connection with his shot and it was deflected wide. Finally we broke the ice in the 63rd minute following another well taken corner from Lee Stobbs which was miss headed by a defender past his own keeper. Score 1-0.

The visitors came back strongly and turned up the pressure but we defended well and our keeper Eric Negraru was not forced into any serious action. There was a delay after the referee got injured but as were entered the last 10 minutes or so we started to look dangerous again.

The Harpenden keeper again came to the rescue in the 83rd minute superbly tipping over a towering header from new signing Tommy Smith from a another well struck Lee Stobbs cross. From the corner Harry Jones headed the ball against the inside of the post and Dave O’Connor would have snapped up the loose ball had a defender not managed to get a foot to the ball and clear the danger.

Last season saw us concede a lot of late goals which cost us a lot of points and unfortunately it happened again when we gave away a penalty in the 90th minute which Jake Anthony coolly put away to level the scores. Score 1-1.

With a fair bit of added time left the game was still in the balance and a superbly struck long range free kick from Frankie Hercules saw the busy Harpenden keeper tip the ball over the bar. You could sense there would be one more chance of a goal and a golden opportunity came in the 6th minute of added time when Lee Stobbs fine cross picked out new signing Jamie Ovington but his header went wide. There was no more action and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. FT Score 1-1.

It was at times an even game with both sides creating chances and having moments of superiority but its fair to say that overall we created the better and clearer chances.

Not a bad result to open the season with especially against a good team like Harpenden. We had six new players in the side and despite a hectic pre season it will take time for the team to gel.

Next game sees us at home again on Saturday this time in the FA Cup Preliminary Round against Nailsea & Tickenham, kick off 3pm. This should be a great occasion so lets hope we can pack the stadium out.

Team: Eric Negraru, Lee Stobbs, Harrison Cornick, Tommy Smith, Dave O’Connor (87 Jamie Ovington), Frankie Hercules, Luke Peerless (82 Greg Deer), Harry Shepherd, Max Hercules, Giuseppe Delgaudio, Harry Jones. Subs not used: Harrison Mead, Jack Harvey, George Carbery.

Goals:

TA: Own Goal (63)
HT: Jake Anthony Pen (90)

Crowd: 137