WE COME AWAY EMPTY HANDED FROM ROTHMSTEAD PARK

There was a palpable sense of bewilderment and disappointment at the end of this game amongst our supporters after our players put in a tremendous performance yet still came away with nothing to show for it. We created enough chances to have been out of sight by half time but a disastrous 7-minute spell at the tail end of the game saw us concede 3 goals and end up point less for the second game running.

As a result of this defeat we dropped down 2 places to 11th in the table whilst our hosts went in the other direction to 4th. But we can take a lot of positives from this game because we played some terrific football, especially in the first half, and would have had a healthy lead but for the heroics from the opposition keeper Connor Freeman who pulled off a series of superb saves to keep his team in the game.

The first half saw us play some of the best football of the season so far against a strong Harpenden side that beat Cockfosters 3-0 away at the weekend. The 3 G pitch certainly suited our passing game as we created chance after chance only to be rebuffed by Connor Freeman. Max and Frankie Hercules, Dylan Fitzpatrick and Harry Jones were all denied by the keeper and Harry Shepherd fired over when sent through on goal. It was a highly satisfying first half but there was a concern that we may have missed our opportunity after we went in 0-0 at half time.

Early in the second half Max Hercules struck a fierce long range shot which Freeman superbly tipped round the post. From the resulting corner taken by Frankie Hercules we at last found the back of the net with a bullet header from James Kimber. Score 0-1. Two minutes later in the 58th minute Max played a lovely one-two with Harry Shepherd and was then pulled down by the keeper for a penalty. Frankie Hercules stepped up to the spot but smashed the ball against the crossbar and there must have been a feeling amongst our supporters that this was not going to be our day.

Our hosts were clearly lifted by this let off and they pushed forward but we defended well until the 85th minute when young Freddie Burroughs was forced into serious action for the first time by tipping a well struck free kick past the post. However, any reprieve was short lived as Henry Jones scored from the resulting corner to level the scores. Score 1-1. Five minutes later the game was turned on its head when Harpenden’s leading scorer Jones scored again from another set pierce this time a free kick to give his side the lead for the first time in the game. Score 2-1.

To add insult to our situation Dave Keenleyside added a fluke goal in time added on when he blocked a clearance which bounced back into the net to give the final score line a surreal look. FT Score 3-1.

We may have lost this game but we can take heart from the performance for most of the game but we need to be better at putting our chances away, something our hosts did superbly. Hopefully new centre forward Dylan Whitelock who has made sensational start with us with be fit again soon. We may have slipped in the League but we are only 3 points off the Play-Offs and there is a long way to go so we need to see this as just a blip.

We go again on Saturday when we visit Baldock Town for a League game so let’s get behind the boys and get back on the winner trail.

TEAM
TA: Freddie Borough, James Kimber, Greg Deer, Mason Clarke, Frankie Hercules (Frankie Hercules 86), Jack Harvey (Capt), Dylan Fitzpatrick (Ed Daffern 70), Harry Shepherd (Finn Rolfe 77), Harry Beaumont, Max Hecules, Harry Jones (Bailey Osborne 84). Sub Not Used: Josh Chamberlain.

Scorers:

HT: Henry Jones (85, 90), Dave Keenleyside (92)

TA: James Kimber (56)

Crowd: 135