Since we lost 2-1 at Haringey Borough on 1st November last year we have steadily improved our results losing just 2 of our subsequent 10 League games and they were narrow single goal defeats against promotion chasing Kings Langley and Risborough Rangers. During this time we were stuck in 9th place but following this fine victory we have finally moved up in the table but admittedly only one place to 8th but it’s a start.

We are only 2 points adrift of Risborough who occupy the final Play Off place but we have played more games than all our rivals so we need to keep this good form going if we want to catch up those teams above us.

Our guests showed us great hospitality when we visited Coles Park (which is about a mile away from the Spurs Stadium) last year and they are determined to climb back up the Football Pyramid. They came into the game on a decent run of form losing just one of their previous 6 League games and they were the 3rd highest scorers in the Premier Division (after Winslow and Kings Langley) and they had the 2nd best defensive record (after Cockfosters) so they were going to present a formidable challenge.

We got off to a fast start with Dylan Fitzpatrick intercepting a pass in the 6th minute then sending Max Hercules away down the left with a fine pass. Max is in such great form that you could feel the excitement build up among our supporters when he cut inside the defender but his shot went just wide of the far post.

Max was in action again 4 minutes later when Harry Beaumont’s clever pass sent him away down the inside left channel and his dangerous cross to the far post picked out Dylan Whitelock who was just unable to get a good connection with his effort just going wide.

It was a good start against a talented side and both sides should be congratulated on playing some lovely football despite the difficult playing surface. On the quarter hour mark the visitor’s big midfielder Coby Roe found himself in a good position on the edge of our area after a good build up down the left but whilst his shot was powerful it whizzed over the bar.

Soon afterwards Blake Argent produced a lovely cross to the far post to pick out an unmarked Harry Jones, who again worked his socks for the team, and whilst his shot was on target he was denied a goal by super close range save by Keeper Ashlee Jones.

A fine move down the right by our opponents in the 18th minute resulted in a dangerous cross being whipped into our area which Josh Ameganvi managed to save but the ball fell to Jakai Bascoe-Fisher who was denied a good goal scoring chance by a horrible bobble.

A minute later we took the lead with Skipper Jack Harvey playing a vital role when he superbly blocked a potentially dangerous shot then reacted quickly to stab the ball forward to Max Hercules who sent Harry Jones through on goal. Jonesy kept his cool by rounding the keeper and squeezing ball home from a tight angle. It was a fitting reward for player who is at home in defence or attack and it gave us a crucial lead. Score 1-0.

Boro enjoyed a lot of possession but the nearest they same to a goal was in the 40th minute when a free kick from their keeper was knocked across our area but there was no one on there to take advantage of the opportunity.

A minute later we struck again to extend our lead and it came as no surprise as to who the scorer would be but the opportunity was created by another fine pass from Harry Beaumont who found a marauding Max Hercules who raced past the defender then fired his shot into the far corner for his 10th goal of the season. Score 2-0.

So after a terrific first half we went into the break with a commanding lead. HT Score 2-0.

After an entertaining first half it was perhaps no surprise that the second period would be less exciting, with Boro enjoying a lot of possession but getting little joy from our outstanding defence who restricted them to few good scoring opportunities.

There was little to write about until 79th minute when from Max Hercules free kick James Kimber managed to knock the ball across goal to a waiting Harry Shepherd who from close range was denied by the combined efforts of a defender and the keeper. Shep who had literally been on the pitch for a minute would later find his scoring boots.

With normal time up and us heading towards our 13th clean sheet of the season there was a sudden twist when a hopeful punt forward was not dealt with and Alex Nicolaides was able to tap the ball into am empty net and potentially give our opponents hope of getting an unlikely draw. Score 2-1.

But Harry Shepherd with the help of Max came to the rescue 2 minutes later when the latter hoisted the ball forward and Shep chested the ball down and rifled a left foot shot past the keeper. It was the assured finish of a first-rate finisher and ensured that we would claim all three points. FT Score 3-1.

This was a super win against a very good side who have an excellent scoring record this season but we looked solid in defence and apart from the late goal that we conceded we restricted Boro to few real scoring opportunities.

The Man of the Match Award went to Jack Harvey who was in the thick of the action and led by example.

This coming Saturday sees Harpenden Town at The Michael Anthony Stadium for a Premier Division game. This will be another tough encounter and we need to quietly continue to pick up points and hopefully catch up with the teams in the Play Off places above so come along and support the lads

TEAM,
TA: Josh Ameganvi, Mason Clarke, Liam Mann (James Kimber 72), Dave O’Connor, Dylan Fitzpatrick, Max Hercules, Jack Harvey (Capt), Harry Beaumont (Greg Deer 81), Blake Argent (Luke Peerless 81), Harry Jones (Harry Shepherd , Dylan Whitelock (Bailey Osborne 85).

Scorers

TA: Harry Jones (19), Max Hercules (41), Harry Shepherd (90+2)

HB: Alex Nicolaides (90)

Crowd: 205

Man of the Match: Jack Harvey