Harps win makes Pelicans cross

Harps win makes Pelicans cross

Harpenden 1s 4 v King’s Lynn Pelicans 1s 2

LATE goals from Russell Timms and David Falk secured all three points for Harpenden in an exhilarating contest at Woollams.

Timms’s fine finish after a sweeping move edged Harpenden ahead and Falk’s tap in, two minutes from time settled it.

Harpenden started confidently enough early on, zipping the ball around in the midfield and looking every bit a side that had scored 15 goals in their six league games.

Once again, Dan Burgess provided the main spark on the right flank with a series of teasing crosses and it was one such cross that led to the opening goal, on this occasion Todd Baines being on hand to improvise a neat finish close to goal.

Despite the encouraging start, Harpenden were soon playing second fiddle to a Pelicans side unrecognisable from their lowly league position. Harps skipper Tom Bunbury had recalled Paul Davison to the side, to counter the expected aerial bombardment, however Pelicans simply out played and out passed the Whites before the break.

Eventually Pelicans drew level, when a well disguised shot crept past the desperate figure of Ben Brindle, as the big ‘keeper slipped while re-adjusting his feet. Shortly afterwards Brindle had to stretch every part of his powerful frame to prevent Pelicans taking the lead from another piece of forceful attacking play.

Harpenden seemed to settle after the interval and Tom Ward, so prolific in pre-season, finally opened his league account with a powerful drag flick into the bottom left corner. Harps advantage was short lived as moments later, a superb short corner drew the Linnets level.

At two apiece, both sides went all out for a winner but neither team was able to exert any dominance. Pelicans were just a wing tip away from claiming the lead but could not turn home a dangerous free hit across the goal.

At the other end Harps’ Alex Beggs made a jinking run to open up a gap for Baines. The effervescent midfielder may lack pace but he makes up for it with his guile and cunning, threading a delightful ball through to Russell Timms to nudge home and give Harps the advantage. And it was Baines again, picking the ball up from a Pelicans mistake, who set up Falk, unmarked and in space, for the easiest of tap ins.

Skipper Tom Bunbury reflected after the game, “There’s still a lot of work to do but I’m happy that at least I have a group of players who’ve got a lot of fight, spirit and determination. We’ve now added a bit of quality to the mix too, so it’s all good”.

After an East Indoor League match on Thursday, Harpenden face East Premier B League titans Peterborough away on Saturday.

“At least we go into that with nine points, which is a hell of lot better than six!” said Bunbury.

“It’s always a tough match up there. We’re not playing that badly and we’ll give them a good game.”