Evening games are notoriously difficult particularly when the pressure is on to win. Last nights game was no exception against a reasonable Ramsfield side who worked hard and who, particularly in the first half, posed a real threat up front.
We almost scored within a few minutes but it was Ramsfield who had the best early chance hitting the bar from a few yards out when it looked easier to score. Thereafter we dominated possession but often our football was too tidy and enabled them to get behind the ball in numbers. Despite this we did create several chances but were unable to capitalise on some good build up play. Ramsfield continued to play on the break and caused problems on the few occasions that we lost our shape or where defensively we were caught out of position.
With the match scoreless at half time, we expressed the need for patience and concentration and were confident that if we maintained our discipline and moved the ball quickly with width that goals would come. Fortunately we were rewarded within a minute of the re-start when a Dave Burren cross was headed home by Alun Evans. A speculative cross cum shot by Danny McGahan also found the net five minutes later to finally ease the nerves and from then on we bossed the game and moved the ball well. A second for Danny followed on fifty three minutes when he was played in by Dave Burren and left with the keeper to beat. Harps atoned for some earlier misses when he scored a brace, the first from a free kick on the edge of the box in the sixty fifth minute and the other a comfortable finish with four minutes remaining. In between Ramsfield managed to pull one back with a rare second half attack but by then the game was safe.
The win enables us to go back to the top with a two point advantage over Simla on the same games played. Whilst it continues to look as though the game with them on the 18th May will be the decider, if we can get another result on Sunday then a five point gap will certainly add to the pressure that will be mounting as they play catch up.
Team:
L.Baker
O.Allman
S.Hunter
A.Lindsey
I.Ward
A.Evans
G.Manser
A.Chapman
D.McGahan
D.Burren
S.Harper
Subs:
M.Millins (for Manser)
J.McKenna (for Evans)
M.Lester (for Chapman)