Harpenden Hockey Club men’s 1sts moved three points closer to survival in after a tense 3-2 win over fellow strugglers Potters Bar.

Harps are top of the drop zone in East League Division 2S, on level points with Bar, with six games to play. They will need to tap into the resolve that saw them past Bar for the rest of the season, starting on Saturday against Hertford, if they are to stay up.

Goalkeeper Bob Voyce looked to have kept Bar’s first attack at bay but, following his brilliant save, the ball fell to the striker and he opened the scoring. Harps responded with an Andrew Salvesen solo goal to go in level at half-time. Dispossessing a defender in the corner, Salvesen weaved his way to the topof the D and unleashed a reverse stick shot that rattled the backboard.

Momentum was in Harps’ favour and they took advantage of it to go ahead. After a series of unsuccessful short corner routines, they finally converted one as Dave Falk scored from close range. The lead was short-lived, though, as Bar marched down the other end and levelled.

Harps’ resolve came to the fore in the closing stages as they scored the goal that could well spark a survival charge, Reece Baker-Kiff with the final touch following a short corner. It was then the defenders’ chance to shine and they held firm, albeit only just, to secure three points.