HARPENDEN bounced back from their disappointing draw with Sudbury last week to record an emphatic 4-1 win against Crostyx in the Printwize East League Division Two South.

The Blues pressed from the start but failed to convert their pressure into goals as the teams went into the break deadlocked despite the best efforts of Dan Burgess.

The forward was only denied by the referee as his effort at goal was controversially not given because the shot was deemed off-target before striking the Crostyx keeper and finishing in the back of the net.

However, the striker did miss a hatful of chances in front of goal which could have seen Harp well in command by the start of the second half.

Burgess' blushes were spared five minutes after the restart though when the Blues made the breakthrough. Kevin Moxham played in Paul Wise who found the back of the net with an emphatic finish.

Harpenden soon made it two, when Johnny Freedman scored after being set up after good work from Davison played him in.

Crostyx did pull one back from a short corner, but the Harpenden team never looked like crumbling, with Tom Bumbury and Tim Flower marshalling the defence well.

The home side continued to press and soon extended their lead when Timms' shot somehow found its way past the Crostyx keeper and into the back of the net.

The fourth came courtesy of Freedman who rounded the keeper and finished sensationally from what seemed an impossible angle to wrap up the points.

October 18, 2001 16:37