Joy for England

Five Counties Women's League Premier Division De Montfort University 0 Harpenden 5 HARPENDEN Ladies were five alive on Saturday as they took on Five Counties Women's Premier Division strugglers De Montfort University. The visitors began as they meant to go on with Karen Lincoln scoring in the first minute. Arguably she should have had a hat trick in the first five minutes but it was Debs Lythgoe who struck the second goal. At 2-0 Harps were happy but wanted more goals in the second period and it was to be Julie Rees who showed the initiative with a fine strike from close range from which the home goalkeeper made a good save but injured herself in the process and had to be replaced. Harps continued to dominate play and Louisa England scored the third goal before Bex Concagh got on the score sheet to make it 4-0. The fifth and final goal came when the lively Concagh turned provider and Player of the Match Louisa England slapped home her second of the match. On Sunday Harps crashed out of the Vase when they lost 4-1 at Banbury. The away team went behind early on before Louisa England continued her good scoring form to finish well from a Vicky Borman assist and Harpenden battled hard to stay level. Banbury turned up the pressure before the break though and went in 2-1 ahead. Harps had to press in the second period but conceded two further goals to shatter their Vase bid. Karen Lincoln played a fine match for Harps despite the defeat and they will now look to focus all their efforts on achieving promotion in 2006.