Report

The scoreline implies something of a trouncing for Amersham Town. But it was far from that and, although fourth placed Harpenden were the better side, the young and improving Amersham team gave an excellent account of themselves.

Harpenden almost took the lead in the third minute.  Ed Frost beat three defenders but Amersham keeper Perry Cheadle dived bravely at his feet to smother the ball. On seventeen minutes both teams had a let off. From wide on the left Harpenden’s Jimmy Hill curled in a lovely shot which crashed back off the inside of the post. Amersham went straight to the other end and Karol Derewenko released Shane Eedop whose first time shot beat Haddenham keeper Matthew Lord but hit the bar and rebounded out.

Harpenden’s goal came three minutes before half time. The Amersham defence had the opportunity to clear but tried to play the ball out and were robbed, The pass found Harpenden’s Jack Downs who had time and space to knock the ball past Cheadle.

Harpenden then went further ahead ten minutes after half time. Following a quick break from midfield an accurate through ball found Hill who shot confidently past Cheadle. Amersham, however, responded immediately. Two minutes later a long ball down the right channel reached Derewenko, who spotted Lord off his line and lobbed the ball into the net.

Amersham nearly equalised on sixty minutes. Scott Chapman beat three defenders and Lord could only parry his shot. Ryan Forbes was first to the ball but knocked it over the bar. Harpenden extended their lead on seventy minutes. A ball from the left found Downs who expertly cut across his defender and shot home. They then made the game safe with two minutes to go when the ball bobbled off the pitch past Cheadle and  Mark Hitchcock was on hand to hit the ball into the empty net.

Amersham Town: Cheadle, Beavan, Aldridge, Toone, O’Connor, Eedop, Seymour, Chapman, Clarke, Derewenko, Forbes. Subs: Morten, Hockley, Thompson, Baptine..