Calling the Shots yet again
LITTLE Bowden slid to a 3-0 home defeat by neighbours Harborough Hotshots, who in the process extended their winning run against them to four games.
A soft penalty decision and two further strikes condemned Bowden in an ill-tempered affair.
Bowden struggled to gain much possession in the opening exchanges, with Hotshots asking lots of questions of them.
The visitors got their reward on the quarter-hour mark, when minimal contact from Bowden’s Alex Stanyon saw the referee point to the penalty spot. The kick was converted by Sam Evans.
A second goal followed shortly after. Good hold-up play down the right from Hotshots saw the ball cut back to the edge of the area and Ben Corry was allowed time and space to send a fine strike into the bottom corner.
Bowden had one or two chances to cut the deficit before half-time, but neither Ben Hobson nor Jim Burton could find the target when through on goal.
Ex-Bowden boy Aaron North made the game safe deep into the second half, pouncing on a defensive error and firing high into the net.
MDH Knights 7 DME 4
AFTER a dreadful start to their campaign, Knights continued a run that sees them unbeaten since the beginning of November.
With the wind gusting, the Harborough side used the conditions to their advantage in the first half.
Jack Abbott rose well as David Brennan headed back across goal to give the Knights the lead before strikers Sim Thomas and Brennan sparked into life.
DME pulled one back to make it 4-1 at half-time and with the wind got a second shortly after the restart.
Knights did not panic and while the opposition pressed using the wind, Brennan and Thomas continued to fire, Brennan ending with two goals and Thomas turning in a hat-trick. Aaron Watts rounded off the scoring for a convincing 7-4 victory.
Royalist 3 CSKA Sporting 0
ROYALIST resumed their fine league form with a fifth victory from six games.
An all-round hardworking performance in blustery conditions was the key to their success.
A resolute back line of Dan Aldwinckle, Garrett Taylor, Matt Mossman and Shaun Deacon snuffed out any Sporting threats.
Formidable Andy Hiron gave the home side a half-time lead after superb work from winger Dean Barnett.
In the second period the home side extended their advantage courtesy of a rare right-foot drive from midfielder Stuart Cooke.
There was a scare for the Harborough’s Royals when a Sporting effort crashed off the bar, the only ball to elude solid keeper Richard Lenny.
The third goal came with 15 minutes left when Barnett, who was not even fully fit, sent in Hiron for his second strike of the game and his 21st of the season.
This Sunday Royalist are on their travels in the cup (meet 9.15am at Royalist pub).
Harborough Town Res 3 Bugbrooke St Michaels Res 2
A FINE game between the two top sides of the reserve division two in the United Counties League produced just about the right result, with Harborough shading it.
Harborough started the brighter and could have been two goals ahead, with Baz Panter forcing two saves on the line – but he wasn’t to be denied for a third time.
Tom Hillier found Will Arnold and his slide rule pass set up Panter to convert a powerful strike from the edge of the area.
Bugbrooke started to find their feet and forced several outstanding saves from Glen Giles, but he had no chance with the equaliser, when Harborough failed to deal with the pace and trickery of Lance Allen.
Two injuries in quick succession rocked the hosts, strong-running Chris Wake and young right back Jonny Nye the victims.
Harborough rejigged their formation at half- time and came out showing more purpose in the second half, but they were caught on the break when Bugbrooke took the lead for the first time, Allen again doing the damage.
Harborough’s response was impressive and they were soon level on 75 minutes, Brent Steed putting in a wicked cross that was helped into the net by a defender.
And it was Harborough who had the final say on 83 minutes. Another fine cross from Steed was blasted in by Panter.
Despite a wonderful team display by second-placed Harborough, star performers were Panter and Giles, with important performances from Steed, Nick Chapman and the ageless Matt Gamble.
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Weather for Harborough
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
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