End of the SSML season for Harpenden Town and Colney Heath

Dan Palmer had put Harpenden Town ahead against Crawley Green. Picture: PETER SHORT <i>(Image: Peter Short)</i>
Dan Palmer had put Harpenden Town ahead against Crawley Green. Picture: PETER SHORT (Image: Peter Short)
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The end of the Spartan South Midlands League came with a bang for Harpenden Town.

They ended the season with a 4-3 win away to Crawley Green to leave them seventh in the table.

They were 2-0 up inside 10 minutes, Dan Palmer with a clinical finish before Henry Jones won the ball of the keeper with a hard press and walked it into the empty net.

By the time they scored again though, there was only 10 minutes remaining and Crawley Green had levelled.

Evans Peprah got it on his debut and four minutes later Danny Webb scored his almost obligatory goal to make it 4-2.

The home side had the final word but this time Harpenden hung on for the win.

There was no end of season victory for Colney Heath though as they lost 1-0 at Cockfosters.

The home side were already confirmed as being in the play-offs and will now be at home to London Lions in the semi-final, the winners taking on either Tring Athletic or Wormley Rovers for a place in step four.

It was an ex-Harpenden striker who grabbed the winner, Jake Anthony scoring on 68 minutes to end the challenge of a very young Magpies side.

The Magpies had U18 keeper Jacob Lowin making his debut and he impressed with some fine saves, the first of them from George Lutaaya, Ethan Brooks and Anthony.

The Heath defence, led by Jack Wilson, Alex Strazza and Sam Denham, did everything they had to in order to thwart and frustrate Fosters but with a win vital, the home side came out even stronger after the interval.

Malike Nosike had a shot blocked by Lowin before Anthony finally got the better of him, rifling a low shot into the corner.

Lowin pushed another shot over the top, this one from Jandir Da Cruz and while the late introduction of  Jack Johnson and Will Houghton off the bench for Colney brought pleasing cameos, there was to be no way back for them.

In Division One, London Colney could complete a remarkable escape if they beat Long Buckby on Saturday.

That would lift them out of the bottom two after spending most of the season at the foot of the table.

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