Harpenden hit four in final home game

Harpenden Town celebrated their last home match of the season with a thumping 4-0 win over Arlesey Town Reserves at Rothamsted Park on Tuesday night.

The victory takes them to sixth in the SSMFL Division One with only two away games remaining.

Town went ahead after 15 minutes when Tommy Burns sent a long ball to striker Jamil Harvey and when the keeper hesitated he got a toe on it to tap it into the corner of the net.

Will Bates twice came close before half time trying to lob the Arlesey keeper Josh Mason but both went wide.

Harpenden striker Mark Hitchcock came on shortly after the interval and soon picked up the ball on the edge of the box, beat his marker and slotted the ball past the keeper for Town to go up 2-0.

On 70 minutes Harpenden got a corner and Connor Arnold lofted the ball to the near post where Bates was waiting to head the third goal.

From the restart Bates picked up the ball 30 yards out and his speed beat the defender before he slotted the ball home for 4-0. Bates had a great game and with a bit of luck could have converted one of his lobs past the keeper for a hat trick but the score remained 4-0.

The game was slightly marred when, despite Arlesey’s keeper handling the ball outside the box, Hitchcock found himself sent off for a second yellow for dissent over the incident.

Manager Danny Plumb said: “I am irritated because before the match we had been talking about discipline and yet we suffered another needless sending off. But it was great to end the last home game with a 4-0 victory and our youngsters like Will Bates and Connor Arnold did especially well.”