Town Leave Harefield Empty Handed.

Town would only have to wait 3 days to get the chance to get those elusive first 3 points of the season

They travelled to Harefield United, last season’s SSML Division One Champions.
Joe Sweeney made 4 changes to the side that lost on Saturday and Town lined up as follows: McKenzie-Lyle, Bryant, Silford, Murphy, Donkor, Osborne, Webb, Adams, McClelland, Towell, Campbell.
Much like Saturday, the chances came for Town in the first half.
Just 3 minutes in, Archie McClelland was gifted the chance to score when Webb disposed a Harefield defender. McClelland went for the lob and it thundered back off of the crossbar. A brilliant early chance.
Inside the opening 10 minutes, Town were much the better side. Ross Adams with some nice touches and passes, linking up well with Danny Webb on the right hand side.
However, the next set of chances fell the way of the hosts. Their No.8 broke clear of the Town back line and curled an effort round the wrong side of the far post.
Just a minute later and Harefield had the ball in the net. But, it was offside.
Danny Webb tested the Hares goalkeeper for the first time just after the 20th minute mark. He created some space for himself and forced a good stop down low from the keeper.
Town continued to play some good football, moving the ball around on a slippery but excellent surface at Preston Park.
Despite the good football, Harefield took the lead.
On 31 minutes, No.8 got in behind and with McKenzie-Lyle neither coming or going, he touched the ball past him and put it into the empty net. 1-0.
Town pushed on to get an equaliser before Half-Time and had a shout for a penalty when Webb was clipped in the area. He didn’t go down and played the cross, which McClelland got in the end of, but saw his effort blocked.
Then came another massive chance for Town. Ashton Campbell found himself with a free shot at goal on the left hand side of the box, around 12 yards out. He set his sights on the opposite corner, but dragged it well wide.
Shortly after it was Half-Time, with chances coming and going for Town and a familiar feeling from Saturday lingering in the air.
The second half began at a very frantic pace and saw plenty of drama. Archie McClelland was the first to pick up a card after a foul.
McKenzie-Lyle made a smart stop low to his left to keep out a Harefield header.
McClelland had another good chance in the box for Town, getting a shot away in a sea of Red Harefield shirts, but it went agonisingly wide.
Then came the drama, which lasted for a good six minutes.
Ross Adams’ very poor challenge saw him dismissed. That challenge saw tempers flare and after the referee consulted with his Linesman, it saw Harefield’s No.5 also join Adams for an early bath.
No.8 was booked and the play finally continued, with 10 men each.
Shortly after, Danny Webb was replaced by Aaron Murrell.
Alfie Osborne made his way into the book for a late tackle.
Just 2 minutes later, Town saw themselves get reduced to 9 men for 10 minutes. Ashton Campbell entering the Sin-Bin for the second time this season.
A couple of long range efforts and a comfortable header, was all that Town could muster whilst playing with 9 against 10.
But Harefield, they made it 2-0.
A tame cross was not claimed by McKenzie-Lyle, who parried it to the feet of the Harefield attacker, who poked into the empty net from close range.
Alfie Osborne was replaced by Sonny Newbury-Barr, for his Town debut.
Ashton Campbell finally came back on after what seemed like a life-time. But, he was immediately replaced by Ben Pattie.
With the amount of players on the pitch levelled again, Town looked to try and get themselves back into the game with 10 minutes to go. But as time ticked on, Harefield went and made it 3.
Dave Murphy nodded it back to McKenzie-Lyle, who pulled out of claiming it and the Harefield striker dinked it over him and tapped it home from a matter of yards. 3-0.
There was still time for a Town consolation goal. Ben Pattie’s smart delivery to the back post was nodded in by McClelland from all of a yard.
Harefield’s 11 was the last to receive a booking in stoppage time, but that was all of the action for one evening inside the M25.
Another disappointing day at the office for Town, as they slip to defeat again.
Missed chances and poor discipline amongst other things, see Town with just 1 point from 5 league games.
Despite the poor start, we must stay positive and look ahead to Saturday with optimism! We welcome Colney Heath to Bell Close, in what promises to be a very good game of Football.
Get yourselves down to the Home of Football in Leighton Buzzard and support your team! Your support is vital as we look to claim those first 3 points!