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MATCH REPORT: COLNEY HEATH 2-1 HAREFIELD UNITED

MATCH REPORT: COLNEY HEATH 2-1 HAREFIELD UNITED

C W7 Aug 2019 - 09:16
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Our first away game of the season

With the news that Karl Swan needs an operation, Lenny Farhall still injured and Tash Jordan unavailable Hares Manager Jason Shaw brought ZAKARIYA BASEKONDA in for LEE CLARK to partner Richard Pacquette in an otherwise unchanged side from Saturday’s. Basekonda, a Hares youth graduate fresh from scoring a brace in his last outing, a pre-season friendly against Colliers Wood, looked lively in the opening minutes. Colney seemed to be the stronger side though, pressing the Hares and giving no time on the ball.

Shots were rare though and the first chance fell to the visitors on fifteen minutes when Basekonda was fouled and a Sam Shaw free-kick found captain SEAN MANGAN’s head only for the home keeper to flap the ball away for a corner.

After twenty-six minutes United’s right-back STEVEN GREEN was scythed from behind in his own half, a mass confrontation ensued with Heath’s Chris Griffin receiving a yellow card. Ryan Wharton’s well-struck free-kick led to an attack that unfortunately fizzled out. Four minutes later Harefield midfielder PAUL UNDERWOOD conceded a foul on the edge of the box, the free-kick struck the crossbar and keeper Jacob Ballheimer punched away the rebound for a throw-in.

Underwood was the victim of a couple of revenge fouls after that, in the left-back position and again on the centre spot. Wharton attempted to play the ball in from the free-kick but over hit and the ball went out for a goal kick.

On thirty-seven minutes Mangan was judged to have committed a foul on the edge of the away penalty area, the free-kick was drilled into the goalmouth and Heath’s captain Spencer Clarke-Mardell prodded in for the home side to go a goal ahead.

From the restart, the home centre forward fouled Mangan and then Green was fouled ten yards outside the D, Wharton floated the free-kick into Mangan who headed wide. The first half finished with the home side one-nil up.

One minute into the second half a Colney Heath corner from their left was hooked away by Mangan and the Hares attacked on that flank. Underwood was fouled again from behind, Shaw took the free-kick into the area only for Calum Rogers to head straight at the home keeper.

With only one goal in it the home side employed time-wasting tactics, not retrieving the ball when it went out of play and then after being awarded a free kick on the far side of the pitch they brought on a substitute who slowly strolled across the pitch to take it.

Ten minutes into the half Ballheimer was stranded outside his area but a Heath attacker shot wide of the empty goal. Two minutes later manager Jason Shaw substituted Basekonda, replacing him upfront with defender Rowan Larrington. With four defenders and the versatile LEE CLARK on the bench, Shaw’s attacking options were limited.

On sixty-seven minutes Heath had another chance on goal when a fierce shot was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Ballheimer for a corner kick. With eighteen minutes remaining midfielder Underwood was replaced by left-back Elliot Dobbs, manager Shaw instructing Harry McCorkell to move into central midfield. The switch seemed to work with McCorkell spraying the ball around and Dobbs playing more like a winger. Two minutes later Shaw dribbled through the home defence and crossed to Pacquette who shot at the keeper and headed home the rebound. One all and game on.

Colney sped the game up again, seeking the winner and with three minutes remaining the Hares, defenders were caught napping as Heath took a short corner and Danny Fitzgerald scored for the home team putting them one goal ahead.

Colney again employed delaying tactics and Dobbs was fouled and then kicked whilst on the ground. On eighty-nine minutes Shaw threw his last substitute on, replacing Pacquette who seemed to be struggling with a groin niggle with centre half Craig Mathieson. With two defenders up front and Colney Heath stronger throughout the match, the visitors were never going to equalise and the Hares’ valiant forty-one game unbeaten run came to an end. Harefield would’ve been fortunate to hold out for a draw and it was a deserved win for the home side. United now look forward to a home FA Cup tie on Saturday against Lydney Town, hopefully being able to field a stronger side.

Harefield

Ballheimer
McCorkell
Green
Wharton
Rogers
Mangan (c)
S. Shaw
Underwood
Basekonda
Pacquette
Baldwin

Subs
R. Larrington
Dobbs
Mathieson

Unused

Clark
Edwards

Hares travelling supporters man of the match, captain SEAN MANGAN. The referee told the Hares chairman Gary South if all captains were like Sean he would enjoy every game he officiated in.

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