Herts Senior League Reserve Cup Quarter Final Harpenden Rovers Reserves 2 Park Street Reserves 1 (AET) Harpenden Rovers Reserves battled to win a highly charged derby against Park Street Reserves to get in to the semi finals of the Reserve Cup. Harpenden,

Herts Senior League Reserve Cup Quarter Final

Harpenden Rovers Reserves 2 Park Street Reserves 1 (AET)

Harpenden Rovers Reserves battled to win a highly charged derby against Park Street Reserves to get in to the semi finals of the Reserve Cup.

Harpenden, who are in a division below Park Street, started very brightly forcing four corners within the first 10 minutes, with the lively Rowe and Wayne Carberry leading the line.

Rovers' early pressure was rewarded when a cross from Carberry was headed on by Price for veteran Andy Lee to turn and score in to the bottom right hand corner from 12 yards.

This goal spurred Park Street in to life, and the Rovers defence was finally breached after 40 minutes. A cross in to the Rovers box was not dealt with by goalkeeper Ted Mather and the Park Street attacker was on hand to tap the ball in from a yard to send the teams into the interval level.

The second half saw Rovers become more competitive with Lee, Price, Saddi and Peacock hassle and tackle the opposition midfield. The second half was evenly matched with both goalkeepers being called on to make good saves.

As the game entered extra time, Rovers started to apply more pressure to the visitors' defence with several free kick opportunities creating half chances.

With only six minutes remaining of extra time a ball was headed on by the lively Lee who was now playing up front, for Carberry to burst through the static Park Street defence to drill the ball in to the bottom left hand corner from 20 yards. Park Street now had to take their chances but Rovers defended resiliently for the last six minutes, which included an excellent save from Mather.

Harpenden Rovers Reserve Team Manager Mark Nicholls was quick to praise the character of his "veteran" team, but in particular the character of their young goal keeper Mather who played extremely well making half a dozen superb saves after conceding the first goal.

Team: Mather, Hansard, Nicholls, Palmer, Pegram, Carberry, Lee, Price, Peacock, Saadi, Rowe subs Downes, McCarthy, Culank, Turner.

Rovers First Team travelled to bottom of the league Bedwell and were comfortably winning 3-1, when the game was abandoned at half time after someone broke into Bedwell's dressing room and stole all their valuables. Rovers goals had come from Matt Chugg, and a brace from Dan Norris, with all three goals created by the outstanding Chris Jenkinson.

l Rovers Third Team missed a chance to consolidate top spot with a narrow 3-2 defeat against Hadley B. Rovers goals came from another brace from Chris Coleman.

Rovers Vets also lost to undefeated Fanfold 3-0, but manager Tim Parfitt was encouraged with the performance and on another day, if Rovers had taken their chances could have run out winners.