LATE HARPENDEN GOAL SECURES HERTS DERBY DRAW

HARPENDEN TOWN 3 CRAWLEY GREEN 3
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS PREMIER @ ROTHAMSTED PARK
26 JANUARY 2019 --- 3PM

HARPENDEN TOWN ON THE ATTACK VERSUS CRAWLEY GREEN

Archie McClelland fired home a clinical finish on ninety minutes to secure Harpenden Town a much needed point in their battle to keep away from the danger zone of The Premier League to secure a 3-3 draw against local rivals Crawley Green.  It left the visitors bemused after they had led 3-1 at the break only to be pulled back through a hotly disputed penalty and then the late strike.
With visa checked and passport ready the whippet and flat cap were firmly stowed away as the north went saarf again.  The trips south are normally only twice a year due to cost implications and after last weekend on a weather search finding Crawley Green on 3g and nearby Harpenden both at home in a league that I had not watched a game in before the interest levels were raised a notch.  Travel arrangements didn't fall into place last week but when this weeks fixtures placed both last weeks teams up against one another in a derby, separated by around 5 miles of Hertfordshire territory, it moved to the top of the list.  Thanks to good communication from the Chairman at Harpenden who was kind enough to text me back mid morning to say there were no problems departure was made at base station around 1140 with a change at Leicester the final switch would be made at Luton Airport Parkway.  Picking up a twelve car driver only, madness, Thameslink service the five minutes journey to Harpenden was soon completed.

CHURCH GREEN AND HARPENDEN

Harpenden is known locally as 'the village' and with a wide selection of independent shops supplemented with a Waitrose, the sign that any area has made it, the whole feel of the centre is backed up with village greens of Church and Leyton categories.  The town is only disturbed by the busy A1081 which from the south comes through Harpenden Common something you cannot accuse the area of being.  With a reputation as a wealthy commuter belt the average house price is well over £865,000 with last year one property selling for over £4.5 million a fee you could buy the whole of a former mining village back home, should you desire.  With the town council seats well into the teens all but two are occupied by Conservatives, the others are Independents, and I guess you have a feel for Harpenden.

STAR OF THE SHOW GROUND WISE

Having arrived just over an hour before kick off and had a mad dash around the shopping area a ready planned amble to the ground which is only 5 minutes from the railway station took in the
exquisite local bistros and wine bars all doing a good trade but arrival at the football ground was soon achieved via Hey Lane and along a walkway between the lawn tennis club and swimming baths.  The ground is on the edge of Rothamsted Park and with its recently new changing rooms and community bar/snack bar area just situated on the edge of the ground the overwhelming feel is of trees and bushes lining the boundary of the ground.

EARLY HARPENDEN TOWN PRESSURE

A quick tour of the facilities revealed a fully paving stoned perimeter all railed off, the corner entry was met immediately by a stand made up purely of scaffolding and a corrugated tin roof and further along the star of the ground is the centenary stand at Harpenden Town made up of benched seating,  the dug outs sit directly opposite.  The ground thankfully for a change is four sided with the
floodlights in each corner of the ground although the ones nearest the business end are conveniently mounted on a telecoms mast, where the foliage is thin certain areas are boundary reinforced by Herras fencing.
Back for a tea and purchase of the programme there was a time to obtain the teams and meet, plus thank, Mr Chairman for his assistance.

OPENING GOAL CELEBRATIONS FOR THE HARPIES

Harpenden are one of the longer serving clubs founded in 1891 and now in their second season in The South Midlands Premier League in the first year they finished in a healthy second pace but this season the battle is to keep away from the relegation zone.  Crawley Green from the south suburbs of Luton are sat in seventh place and are now playing out of their new facilities at The Brache the 4g training ground of Luton Town.
With the business end completed of paid admission the ground witnessed the floodlights on again before the start of proceedings however this was the best light experienced for quite a few weeks.
Harpenden were in joyous territory as early as 13 minutes Archie McClelland put back in from a cleared attack and Callum Yeates was on hand to sweep the ball home.

CAUITOUS CRAWLEY GREEN DUG OUT WATCHES ON

The visitors showed the warning signs when Sam McClelland struck the bar from just inside the penalty box and then despondency for Harpenden as Crawley Green hit two goals in minute.  Aaron Morgan crossed and Jack Keating fired home on 33 minutes and then immediately the lead was doubled when Phil Draycott converted at the back post and the game had been turned on its head.
Crawley Green had now built up a head of steam going down the slope and three minutes before the break looked to have secured a comfortable two goal cushion when Tyler Ingham saw his cross goal shot fly in courtesy of the far post.

SAM MCLELLAND [SEATED] STRIKES THE BAR FOR THE CLARETS

The second period would need a cracking effort from The Harpies but it really didn't look to be coming with the visitors comfortably repelling any attack that was until 62 minutes when referee Trinder spotted a push by a visiting defender in the box and awarded what seemed a harsh spot kick, McClelland [A] hit a poor kick which Josh Mollison pushed away however it rebounded into the takers path who politely slotted the ball home to make it 2-3.  Home number one Carl Tasker then kept Harpenden in the game with excellent saves from Draycott and Jake Alderson his opposite number also pulled off an excellent save from a Dan Stewart 20 yard drive.
As the darkness closed in the drizzle was about to turn into a downpour and with the crowd tricking away to the exit the grandstand finish and finale played out Stewart fed McClelland [A] who on the left hand side of the box from the tightest of angles got the ball under control and fired past the visiting keeper for a wonderful finish that sealed a point in a exciting encounter, for the neutral at least!

FIRST HALF CRAWLEY GREEN CELEBRATION

The visitors were left to bemoan the referees performance but I guess they had their chances but were also grateful to that quick fire first half double and I suppose honours even was a fair outcome in the end.
With a fifty minute wait for a connecting service to Luton Parkway there was time to sample a well recommended chippy, Godfrey's, in the town.  The establishment offers eat in or take away and was very busy but somewhat chaotic on its ordering procedure after a wait of twenty minutes I was served a fair quality fish but with a portion of chips that left a lot to be desired, I guess its still a meal best served 'ooop north'.
Having arrived back at Harpenden station quite damp now on a very inclement evening the train was of course fifteen minutes late but still allowed enough time for the connection at Luton Parkway and an hour after boarding a very sprightly change at Leicester saw arrival back at base station just shy of 8.30pm from an interesting day taking in a new town, new team and new league.