Jimmy Hill wonder strikes earn Harpenden a draw

Jimmy Hill (9) is congratulated by team mates after levelling the scores at 1-1 with a superb strike (Image: Archant)

Hill drew Harpenden level on 25 minutes with a 40 yard thunderbolt before giving his team the lead just minutes later with an 18-yard strike. But WGC equalised on the hour mark to earn a share of the spoils.

The draw leaves Harpenden in fourth place, seven points off table topping Hoddesdon Town. But Cockfosters and London Lions in second and third respectively have played four and five games less.

Looking to close the gap, an injury hit Harpenden had the first sniff of goal. An early free kick from Adam Smith gave Hill a header on goal that just cleared the crossbar.

But it was WGC who took the lead, Kieran Weekes getting onto the end of a Sandhu Tiberiu free-kick to toe-poke his effort past visiting keeper Matt Lord and into the net.

Harpenden responded with A. Smith, Hill and Billy Smith all forcing saves from Freddie Hester. The pressure finally told when Hill scored his first goal of the game. WGC allowed the talisman too much space as he controlled the ball before hitting a vicious, dipping effort that left Hester with no chance as it flew in.

Before the Citizens could recover, the visitors and Hill had doubled their tally. Adam Smith crossed from the left, Geoff Knight cleared, but only out to Hill, who, from the edge of the box, drove hard and low past Hester.

Harpenden nearly sealed all three points on the stroke of half time but Ed Frost’s head was just too high.

Further chances arrived in the second half with one on ones for Mike Davies and Hill, but midway through the half the equaliser arrived, courtesy of Mark Draper. And it could have been added to if not for Lord tipping a shot over the bar to preserve a draw.