Town beat the elements and Lions at Rothamsted Park

Harpenden Town fought the elements as much as the opposition as they pulled off a 1-0 victory over London Lions in freezing gale force winds in Rothamsted Park on Tuesday night.

Players found long balls going well beyond their target or swerve unpredictably so it was surprising that Town had the best of the game in the first half playing into the wind when youngster Jake Collins scored the game’s only goal.

Manager Danny Plumb said:”I thought we over-achieved in the first half against the wind and a clean sheet was very important for us.

“The story of this match was the weather but it was important to bounce back after our defeat against Welwyn. Now we want to build on this result and have a strong run to the end of the season.”

Harpenden started strongly and Jimmy Warner hit the side netting from a corner after seven minutes.

After 25 minutes Collins picked up the ball on the right and hit a superb volley into the far corner of the net for the lead. He was unlucky to have a second goal disallowed shortly after for offside in a goalmouth scramble.

Ten minutes into the second half David Keenleyside picked the ball off the toes of Warner only to fire it straight at the keeper from the edge of the box.

Town’s keeper Jake McLean tipped a free kick over the bar which was curling into the corner and two minutes later pushed another stong Lions shot wide in a period of sustained pressure on Harpenden.

Three minutes from time Harpenden skipper Jack Cartwright hit a looping header on target from a free kick only for Lions keeper Mark Brahms to tip the ball over the bar and both goalies deserve credit for their performances in crazy weather.

Harpenden rolled out a deserved 1-0 winners but the evening was topped off with Harpenden Town Reserves thrashing Hoddesden Town Reserves away by 8-0 with five goals from Will Bates and a hat trick from Ibbs Gariba.