Tuesday 04 November 2008
 
St Margaretsbury Res 1 v 2 Harpenden Town Res
                                                    Chris Gregory
                                          Stuart Crabtree
 
Kevin Christou gladly welcomed back 5 reserve team players following Saturday's disappointing derby defeat to London Colney.  Rob Gilham, Oli Dawson, Stu Crabtree, Brad Marney and Tom Coates returned from work commitments and injuries to boost the squad, along with first team players Iaian Turkentine, Chris Gregory and Joe Burgess, all looking to get a good run to improve fitness levels.
 
St Margaretsbury started the game the brighter, passing the ball around very impressively in the first 10 minutes, without creating any clear cut chances.
 
Town gradually found their feet and created the first 2 openings of the game, firstly with a Chris Gregory strike that beat the keeper, hit the inside of the post and somehow bounced clear, and secondly when a goal mouth scramble resulted in a scuffed shot and eventually St Margaretsbury cleared their lines.
 
Soon after and Town got the goal they deserved through a set-piece.  A great ball in from Ian Shaw saw Turkentine head across goal only for Marney to smash the ball against the post when well placed and the rebound hit Gregory and ended up in the bottom corner.  0-1 Town
 
This buoyed Town, and as they continued to pass the ball well, a good move involving Mark Scott and Jamie Ryan resulted in Chris Gregory finding space and lobbing the keeper from 25 yards out only to see his left foot shot hit the bar and go over.
 
Town then saw off some St Margaretsbury pressure to go in 1 up at the break.
 
Again St Margaretsbury started the half the better, with more possession they kept the ball well and 15 minutes into the half a mistake from the Town centre half saw the striker race through and finish well to make it 1-1.
 
Town didn't let this faze them and following some great work down the right hand side from Turkentine, Shaw, Gregory and Ryan, a Brad Marney corner was headed home via Crabtree restoring Town's one goal advantage.
 
Town made a couple of changes with Burgess and Roe replacing Scott and Marney, as St Margaretsbury went on the attack for a point.
 
Town defended superbly which forced St Margaretsbury into long range efforts, all of which missed the target, and when they did get in behind Mathers pulled off 2 good saves and combined with Shaw cleared one effort off the line.
 
Town were still dangerous going forward on the break and could have sealed the game when Burgess was sent through one on one but blazed over.
 
Tom Coates replaced Crabtree to sure things up in midfield and Town duly saw the game out 1-2 to take a well deserved 3 points.
 
Team: Mathers, Shaw, Gilham, Wallace, Dawson, Marney, Turkentine, Crabtree, Ryan, Gregory, Scott.
 
Subs Used: Burgess, Roe, Coates                       Not Used: Lord

 
Saturday 01 November 2008 - League

Harpenden Town Res 1 v 3 London Colney Res
Ralphs
 
Harpenden Town Reserves went into this local derby missing 8 players from the past couple of games.  Manager Kevin Christou was forced to call upon the club's under 18 team to be able to put a team out.
 
In to the squad came Phil Jeffery, Ian Shaw, Jamie Ryan, Liam Prince, Ollie Galea, whilst young keeper Ted Mathers retained his spot in goal, and 16 year old Gary Wallace at centre back.
 
Despite all the changes Harpenden started the game very brightly with Shaw and Ryan making the most of the space down the right flank, playing some good football.
 
Ben Ralphs looked dangerous with his movement up front and it was Ralphs who was fouled just out side the box giving Town an early chance in the first 10 minutes.  Ralphs stepped up himself and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner giving Town a deserved lead.
 
Town continued to cause problems down the right side which saw Ralphs and Scott go close.
 
Town's injury curse struck midway through the first half with Ralphs going off injured and being replaced by the 70% fit Namo Matamisa, who went straight in up front.
 
London Colney gradually came back into the game and equalised 35 minutes in, through a fine Jermaine Davey header, although Town will be very disappointed with their marking.
 
Colney were on top, and would have gone in 2-1 up at the break if not for a fine save from Ted Mathers.
 
The second half started much as the first finished, with Colney on top, having the lion's share of possession and territory.  They soon took the lead following more poor defending, the Colney striker was able to beat 2 town defenders on the by-line, before chipping Mathers from a very tight angle.
 
Town's afternoon got worse 20 minutes into the second half with another injury.  Chris Newbury hobbled off to be replaced by young Galea, who slotted in out of position in the middle of the park with the impressive Liam Prince.
 
Although Colney were enjoying more of the ball, Town did look dangerous on the break through Namo, Prince and Ryan, but were always lacking a decent final ball.
 
At the other end Mathers was keeping the score line respectable with a couple of great saves as Colney peppered the Town goal with 4 or 5 good chances.
 
Eventually the game was put to bed with 5 minutes to play following another defensive mistake.  The town centre back miss-controlled and the Colney forward went through one-on-one and tucked home to seal the points.  3-1 Colney.
 
Despite the defeat, Town can take many positives from a spirited performance despite their depleted squad, and will look to bounce back with a mid week game away to St Margaretsbury Reserves on Tuesday night.

 
Team: Mathers, Shaw, Wallace, Foster, Jefferies, Ryan, Prince, Newbury, Roe, Scott, Ralphs (c).
 
Subs Used: Matamisa, Galea.

 
Saturday 25 October 2008 - Herts FA Intermediate Cup - Round 1

Harpenden Town Res 3 v 1 Bovingdon Res
Gregory (2)
Knock
 
After a weeks break to mull over their disappointing exit from the Challenge Trophy, Harpenden Town Reserves bounced back with a good victory over Bovingdon Reserves.
 
Chris Gregory returned to the reserves after a good spell with the first team and made an immediate impact scoring 2 goals taking his tally to 8 for the season.
 
Paddy Knock also scored from centre midfield and Town will face St Peters in the second round.

Saturday 11 October 2008 - Reserve Challenge trophy
 
Caddington Res 2 v 1 Harpenden Town Res
                              Marney
 
Town Reserves put in below par performance to go crashing out of the Challenge Trophy at the first hurdle.  Town started slowly and were 1 down in the first 5 minutes following some poor marking at the back.
 
Town were the better team and dominated most of the play and should have scored through Ian Shaw and Ben Ralphs, but both failed to hit the target when well placed.
 
The equaliser soon came following good work from lone striker Ralphs, seeing Brad Marney finishing well from 15 yards out.
 
Town were on top now, but not really creating much, and it was 1-1 at the interval.
 
Town just didn't get going in the second half, they gave the ball away, lost headers and tackles and were punished after a lucky ricochet fell straight to the Caddington striker, who finished well.
 
Town did get forward but the final ball was always lacking as Caddington had the better of the second half.
 
Team: Lord, Warren, Gilham, Wallace, Dawson, Shaw, Crabtree, Coates, Knock, Marney, Ralphs.
 
Subs Used: Foster, Prince, Kiss.

Saturday 04 October 2008 - League
  
Cockfosters Res 2 v 0 Harpenden Town Res

Harpenden Town Reserves put in a very average display against a strong Cockfosters side.

The first half was tight, and despite Cockfosters having more possession, Town looked tight at the back and were relying on hitting Cockfosters on the break, especially down the right side with Paul Doonan looking threatening.

Matt Lord however kept Town in the game with 2 good saves and some safe handling. Half time 0-0.

Town never really got going and despite the hard running up front from Warren and Ralphs, they created very little.

Town could have sneaked the lead against the run of play however when good chances fell to Ralphs and Gilham, but Cockfosters went up the other end and scored a very soft goal from a corner. 1-0 Cockfosters.

Despite the introduction of Steve Chapman up front Town couldn't raise their game and went 2 down on 70 minutes.

Cockfosters were good value for the win, and could have made it 3 nil from the penalty spot, but for a great save from Lord and follow up block from Paddy Knock.

The game finished 2-0 and Town will have to improve to start picking up some points.

Team: Lord, Shaw, Foster, Wallace, Crabtree, Doonan, Gilham, Knock, Roe, Warren, Ralphs.
Subs Used: Chapman

Saturday 27 September 2008 - League
 
Hoddesdon Town Res 2 v 0 Harpenden Town Res
 
Town's reserves were very unfortunate to lose this one by 2 goals to nil.  The lads played well with Paddy Knock having a great game in the middle of the park.

Tuesday 9 September 2008 - League
 
Harpenden Town Res 2 v 2 Cockfosters Reserves
Ben Ralphs (2)
 
Harpenden Town Reserves extended their unbeaten run to 3 games with a good draw against an impressive young Cockfosters team, under the new guidance of manager Kevin Christou.
 
Adam Smith came back in upfront with Joe Burgess to replace Jimmy Warner and James Ewington.  Matt Armitage also returned to the back 4.
 
It was an even start to the game with both teams feeling each other out, and it was Town who took the lead through Ben Ralphs.  An Adam Smith cross took a slight deflection and there was Ralphs at the far post who volleyed home neatly.
 
Cockfosters then started to get on top creating a few half chances and duly equalised with a good early finish from the striker into the bottom right corner giving keeper Matt Lord no chance.
 
Cockfosters really started to turn the screw and would have gone ahead but for some great defending and last ditch tackles from Crabtree, Jack, Armitage and Horsley.  1-1 Half time.
 
Town were forced into a change at half time with Horsley on the wrong end of a bad tackle that the referee failed to spot, and was replaced by Chris Newbury.
 
Town found themselves a goal behind early in the second half with some poor defending leading to an easy chance for the other Cockfosters striker.

The game was even with neither team on top, and no real chances on goal.  Town were then forced into their second change of the game following a dreadful knee high tackle on centre back Crabtree, again the referee, who had a poor game, failed to take any action.  Chapman slotted straight in at centre half, and Jacko replaced Burgess up front.
 
Time was running out as Town searched out an equaliser, and they were awarded a free kick just outside the area with 5 minutes remaining.  Adam Smith first effort was poor and hit the wall, but at the second attempt Smith produced a superb curling cross that was met at the far post by Ralphs, who claimed his second of the evening.
 
A draw was perhaps a fair result and Town can be happy with a battling performance.
 
Team: McLean, Warren, Crabtree, Cartwright, Armitage, Ralphs, Beasley, Knock, Horsley, Smith, Burgess.
 
Subs Used: Chapman, Newbury, Jacko
 

Saturday 6 September 2008 - League
 
Harpenden Town Res 5 v 2 London Colney Res
James Ewington (4)
Paul Doonan
 
Harpenden Town Reserves recorded their first win of the season with the demolition of local rivals London Colney Reserves.
 
Town welcomed James Ewington and Jimmy Warner into the team, as a new strike partnership for the injured Adam Smith and Matt King.
 
Ewington was a thorn in Colney's side all afternoon, and only an injury put a stop to his goal scoring spree, which saw him notch 4 goals.  Midfield dynamo Paul Doonan capped off a fine display with his first goal of the season, whilst Stuart Crabtree and Simon Foster were solid at the back.
 
Town reserves will look to continue their unbeaten run in Tuesday evening's game at home to Cockfosters.
 
Team: McLean, Warren, Crabtree, Foster, Roe, Ralphs, Doonan, Cartwright, ?, Warner, Ewington.
 
Subs Used: Chapman, Beasley


 
Wednesday 3 September 2008
 
Tring Athletic Res 1 v 1 Harpenden Town Res 
                                           Chris Gregory 
 
Harpenden Town's reserves got a creditable draw away to Tring Athletic on Wednesday evening, determined to make amends for Saturday's 5-1 defeat against St Margetsbury.
 
With temporary 1^st team manager Christian Garzarolli watching on it was a good chance for players to stake a claim for a place in the 1^st team squad.
Town started the game well, moving the ball well, and some slick passing down the right ended in Town's first chance, a long range effort that failed to beat the keeper.
 
Town's new formation seemed to be working well, and the players seemed determined to work hard for each other.
 
Great hold up play by Adam Smith gave Town's defence a breather as Tring started to get on top and boss possession, but without really penetrating.
 
Tring did however find the breakthrough just before half time with their first real chance.  A well taken goal that clearly disappointed the players so close to the break after they had defended so well.
 
Town came out strong in the 2^nd half and looked the brighter of the 2 sides and should have equalised but for a couple of missed opportunities.