Harefield United bounced back from their league loss to Leighton and progressed to the quarter finals of the League Challenge Trophy with a comfortable victory over Codicote.

Gurkan Gokmen opened Harefield’s account with his effort nestling in the top corner on the stroke of half time, capping off a deserved lead in the opening fourty five minutes.

Soon after the break Aderi Dede put daylight between the sides with a rifled strike after controlling the ball with his chest.

The home side survived a scare that forced Reece Mallett into an eye catching save that could have tipped the balance of the match, but Samuel Shaw’s penalty not long from time put the result out of sight.

A congested fixture list for the Hares meant Jason Shaw had to make four changes since their last outing in Leighton, and looked to have paid off given the result and clean sheet.

The first challenge the sides had to overcome, or the pitch to be specific, was the elements, but the turf held up well for the vast majority of the match.

Early pressure from The Hares saw much action in the first thirty minutes in Codicote’s final third, with their forward line closing down Codicote’s attempts to clear well.

Balls over the top seemed to be Harefield’s predominant tactic in the opening exchanges, which found the gaps behind the defensive line but were unable to capitalise.

A header from Sean Mangan was thought to have trickled over the line but appeals were dismissed, while the Hares came arguably even closer after Gary Edwards struck the woodwork, with Sam Shaw turning provider for both opportunities.

The Division Two side were not all quiet in the first half however, and had the chance to open the scoring after James Todd latched onto an undercooked back pass but struck well wide, and had a penalty claim dismissed soon after.

Just as time was running out for either side to make an impact in the half, Gokmen unleashed a sumptuous shot from 25 yards under heavy duress from the Cod’s defence, escaping the reach of Brad Heaps and putting the North Hertfordshire side’s hope of a third successive clean sheet in the cup up in smoke.

Harefield had to weather an early storm after the interval when James Todd came through clear on goal, forcing Reece Mallett to come off his line and deter the forward, who missed the target from distance.

Had the chance gone in, it would have given a well rested Codicote a fighting chance of progression, having won only once in their last five, and having not played in nearly three weeks.

It took little time for the home side to reply however, as Dede deftly controlled a punt from Ryan Wharton to power home in the box, resuming business against their third successive Division Two opponent in the competition.

Mallett was called into action again to enforce a sublime save, denying Luke White his third of the season after some fantastic interplay of the wing found it’s way to the striker.

To add to a fast-paced start to the half, substitute Calum Rogers could have made an instant impact after his header narrowly missed the far post.

For all Harefield’s attacking coercion, it is worth mentioning some solid defensive displays from the Division Two outfit, particularly of Courage Chavhundura and Brad Heaps, the latter denying Craig Mathieson with fantastic reflexes.

Furthermore, a late challenge on Dede saw Sam Shaw step up to the spot and convert not once, but twice: with a retake ordered after encroachment from both parties, to cap off an influential 90 minutes from the midfielder.

It could have got better for the Hares when Mathieson was denied by the crossbar; but it did get a lot worse for the travelling side when James Tizard was sent off after some stern words with the referee.

Harefield will look to capitalise from their 3rd round progression when they visit Wembley in the Premier Division, while Codicote face Old Bradwell United the next time out.

Harefield United team
Reece Mallett
Harry McCorkell
Steven Green
Ryan Wharton
Gary Edwards
Sean Mangan
Aderi Dede
Gurkan Gokmen
Luke Baldwin
Samuel Shaw
Paul Underwood

Subs:
Richard Pacquette
Calum Rogers (Used)
Lee McManus (Used)
Craig Mathieson (Used)
Jacob Bullheimer

Codicote Team
Brad Heaps
Danny Kingston
Byron Yankey
Prince Appleton
Courage Chavhundura
Louis Wylie
Josh Downes (c)
Alfie Warman
James Todd
Luke White
Kadeem Gutzmore

Subs:
Anton Ashby-Mattis (Used)
Tom Butler
James Tizard (Used)
Jack Hewitt (Used)

Attendance: 40