HARPENDEN: 3
LUTON TOWN: 1
29.10.05


Always tipped as a close and tense encounter, the local derby proved just that when Harpenden hosted Luton at home. The game started with a flurry, both teams trying to establish an early advantage and possession for much of the first half was evenly shared.

As half-time approached, Harpenden started to gain momentum and a great ball through to Nigel Timms resulted in an ungainly challenge from behind that secured the home side a penalty stroke. This represented the first penalty awarded to Harpenden so far this season but with skipper and regular stroke-taker Mike Emes absent, his deputy Paul Davison stepped up and sent his effort yards wide as he looked to score his first goal in four seasons. "Yeah, I have much more looking scoring on a Friday night in Batchwood than at Saturday afternoon at the Brache!" mused Davison. Despite this missed opportunity, in the dying minutes before the break Harpenden converted a neat short corner thanks to a clean strike from David Jeffrey, 1-0 the score at the break.

The start of the second half proved fortuitous for Harpenden with good linking field play from the right that allowed Paul Wise room to manoeuvre to cross and see the ball netted by Aussie star Lance Boyd-Clark for a 2-0 lead. "Mate, Wisey's done some bonzer yakker down the right wing-a-ding and sent over a ripper of a cross. Look, yours truly would have been a fair dinkum galah to look that gift brumby in the mush." commented the amiable midfield dynamo.

The pace of the game then steadied with both teams missing further chances. Luton continued to attack and were rewarded 15 minutes before time with a well worked short corner that found the backboard. The last few minutes saw both sides scramble on tired legs, but with minutes to go more useful linking play from the right of midfield game Nigel Timms the chance to add to the score, which he did. The final score 3-1 in Harpenden’s favour in a good-spirited yet hard fought contest, and sent Harpenden to the top of the league.

Lance Boyd-Clark: bagged the crucial second goal