Harps beaten

Hockey: Harpenden put out a strong 1st XI to tackle Cambridge this weekend and had every reason to believe they would get a much needed win. The early exchanges saw the home side make good use of the ball with Todd Baines dominating the centre of midfiel

Hockey: Harpenden put out a strong 1st XI to tackle Cambridge this weekend and had every reason to believe they would get a much needed win.

The early exchanges saw the home side make good use of the ball with Todd Baines dominating the centre of midfield.

It was clear very early that Cambridge did pose a threat on the break however and it was a goal by their forward, Richard Lloyd, which broke the deadlock against the run of play.

Harpenden, however, remained composed and created chances.

David Thomas rolled back the years to forge a path down the left wing and crossed only inches out of the reach of a lunging Dan Burgess.

The Harpenden goal eventually arrived from David Falk, who slotted a rebound from a short corner.

The second period was equally one-sided in terms of possession with the pressure building on Cambridge throughout.

Alistair Hutson came close before succumbing to a recurring hamstring injury. Paul Davison also fired inches wide in a rare foray into the opposition D.

The chances kept coming and the breakthrough eventually came with just five minutes to go when captain Tom Bunbury cleared up the mess of another short corner to slot the ball home and put Harpenden in what was looking like an unassailable lead.

After much deliberation, the umpires consulted and saw fit to disallow the goal which unsurprisingly, was unpopular with the crowd. To rub salt into the wounds, seconds later Cambridge launched an aerial over the head of centre half Andy Canings and the ever-alert Lloyd slotted past 'keeper Ben Brind to give the visitors and unlikely victory.

Other results: Bedford Town 0 St Albans Men 2; Cambridge City Ladies 2 St Albans Ladies 4