Green & Gold News Archive

Summer 2024

A busy pre-season campaign saw five home friendlies at Rothamsted Park.

Potters Bar Town H 0-2
Hendon H 3-0 (Plowright, Simmons, Yearwood)
Ilford H 0-2
Bedford Town H 2-4 (Yearwood, Sweeting)
Hertford Town H 0-2 (Gleeson, Webb)

A number of new faces arrived over the summer including Alfie Osborne and Danny Webb from Dunstable Town, Mike Evans from Potton United and Mario Stavrou from Enfield Borough. Striker Charlee Yearwood also joined and scored a couple of times in pre-season friendlies, but moved on to Cranfield United shortly after the season started. We said goodbye to James Ewington (Codicote), Reece Crowter (Potton United) and Lewis Williams (Dunstable Town).

Micky Nathan moved quickly to replace his coaching line-up, recruiting Lee Hawkes, who had previously been a first team coach at Welwyn Garden City and manager at Ampthill Town as his new assistant manager. He was followed by Chris De Freitas from Oxhey Jets as first team coach and Peter Russell from Step 2 St Albans City as an assistant manager and head of goalkeeping. Finally Ryan Haggar joined after spells with Baldock Town Reserves, AFC Welwyn and Totternhoe. They join Ivan Arapov, who remains at the club.

May 2024

Play-off defeat followed by cup final triumph

A record crowd of 917 packed Rothamsted Park to see if Harpenden Town could beat Leverstock Green to reach the play-off final. The visitors scored an early goal, doubled their lead before half-time and put the game beyond doubt in the second half before Archie Locke scored a late consolation goal. Despite the 3-1 defeat it was a fantastic occasion for the club. Leverstock Green went on to beat FC Romania in the final to achieve promotion to Step 4 for the first time in their history.

Shortly after the play-offs assistant manager Steve O’Reilly and first team coach Rob Swan left to join Dunstable Town. O’Reilly, who had served the club as a player, coach and assistant manager, wanted to take the opportunity to be a manager in his own right.

Harpenden ended the season on a high by winning the St Mary’s Cup final against Leverstock Green at Hemel Hempstead Town’s Vauxhall Road ground. Again Leverstock Green took the lead but in the second half Harps roared back thanks to a hat-trick from Jake Anthony. Connor Coulson was in blistering form between the posts, making a string of top saves to help secure victory. It was the first piece of silverware the men’s first team have won since the 2018 Premier Division Cup.

Harpenden Town Women fell just short of promotion when Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers won their final game to clinch the championship.

April 2024

Women finish season top of the table. Now, we wait

Sunday, April 28
A hat-trick from Sophia Amanor sewed up a 3-0 home win over Mulbarton Wanderers to take Harpenden back to the top of the table by three points from Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers. However, Rovers have two games still to play and a win and a draw will see them take top spot and clinch promotion to the Premier Division of the Easter Region Women’s League.

Leverstock Green, we’ll meet again…

Saturday, April 27
We will face Leverstock Green in the St Mary’s Cup final after they won their semi-final 1-0 at Tring Athletic this afternoon. The date and venue of the final are to be confirmed. We meet on Wednesday in the play-off semi-final and Leverstock Green also have the Gladwish Trophy final against London Lions on May 11 so we wait to hear a suitable date for the match.

Win over Dunstable Town rounds off season with seven in a row

Saturday, April 20
A 1-0 win at Dunstable Town rounded off the Premier Division season with a seventh victory in a row and set up a play-off semi-final against Leverstock Green. An inswinging Dave Keenleyside corner late in the second half took a slight deflection off a Dunstable player’s head for the only goal of the game. It means Harps finish their season in third place and have to wait to see whether Leverstock Green do enough in their game in hand to overtake them. If Harpenden finish third the semi-final will be at Rothamsted Park, if Leverstock Green get at least a point in their final game against Tring Athletic on Tuesday the match will be at Pancake Lane.

Harps extend winning run to six with victory at FC Romania

Wednesday, April 17
Harpenden Town remain third in the Premier Division after a 2-0 win at potential play-off rivals FC Romania. A goal in each half capped a performance in which the visitors were in control for long periods of the game. Harry Andic opened the scoring with his fifth goal in four games in the first half. Archie McClelland doubled the lead in the second half and Harps kept their hold on the remainder of the match. The final league game of the season is at Dunstable Town on Saturday, then we wait to see what the other clubs do to see who we face in the play-off semi-final.

Play-off place confirmed after Cockfosters draw with MK Irish

Tuesday, April 16
Harpenden Town qualified for the inaugural Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division play-offs after Cockfosters drew 0-0 with Milton Keynes Irish. It means Harps are guaranteed a third, fourth or fifth-place finish. If we can finish third, we’ll have a home semi-final against the fourth-placed team on Wednesday, May 1, otherwise we’ll be away. The final will be played at 3pm on Bank Holiday Monday May 6 at the ground of whichever finalist finished higher in the league.

Harpenden Town Women lose top spot after defeat at Mulbarton

Sunday, April 14
Harpenden Town Women slipped from top spot in the league as they lost 4-2 at Mulbarton Wanderers. Harps led 2-0 after goals from Sophia Amanor and Belle Shannon and Wanderers pulled a goal back before the break. Mulbarton roared back in the second half with three goals, meaning Harps were replaced at the top of the table by Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers, who did not play today, on goal difference.

Battling performance sees Harps go third

Saturday, April 13
Harpenden fell behind to Shefford Town & Campton in the first half but fought back to win 2-1 and move up to third place in the Premier Division. Shefford were impressive in the first half, looking a lot better than their league position suggested, and took a deserved lead. Harpenden struck back just before half-time when Harry Andic hit a dipping shot that beat the keeper from distance. In the second half, Harpenden improved and although they survived a few scares at the back looked the likelier side to get a winner. It arrived from a Dave Keenleyside corner, headed home by Jake Anthony. Harps saw out the win in front of the second biggest home crowd of the season – 290.

Locke named player-of-the-month for March

Wednesday, April 10
Archie Locke was named by the management team as player-of-the-month for March after a string of strong performances at the heart of the defence, and the late header that secured a point against Baldock Town.

Five-star Harps go fourth with win over Stansted

Tuesday, April 9
Fresh on the heels of Saturday’s 6-0 win over Sawbridgeworth, Harpenden produced another excellent performance to see off Stansted 5-1. After a dominant opening 20 minutes, Harpenden finally got the goal their play deserved when Dave Keenleyside cut inside and curled a left-foot shot past the keeper. Ten minutes later, Isaiah Hilaire made it 2-0. Stansted pulled one back with a header early in the second half but that just sparked Harps into action again and they restored their two-goal lead five minutes later when Harry Andic finished off a nice move with a crisp shot. Andic made it 4-1 with another shot from distance – this time it deflected off Archie McClelland into the net. James Ewington made it 5-1 with nine minutes to go when he smashed home his 16th goal of the season. The win takes Harps fourth in the table on goal difference after Leverstock Green’s draw with Milton Keynes Irish.

Harpenden Town Women top table on goal difference

Sunday, April 7
Harpenden Town Women went top of the Eastern Region Women’s League Division One North on goal difference after a 7-3 win over Histon at Rothamsted Park. Sophia Amanor scored twice and Belle Shannon got the other as Harps took a 3-1 lead into the break. Shannon added a fourth after the break, then Jasmine Hughes scored a hat-trick to make it 7-3. Harps are level with Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers on 37 points but have a better goal difference. Both teams have three games to go and it looks like the title race will go down to the wire.

Sawbo hit for six after first-half Ewington hat-trick

Saturday, April 6
Harps manager Micky Nathan rotated the squad after Tuesday’s win at MK Irish and was rewarded with a commanding first-half performance. Harry Andic opened the scoring after eight minutes with an audacious flick off his heel after a well-worked move down the left. Then James Ewington got two in quick succession before completing his hat-trick just before the break. Second-half sub Mickey Shuttlewood made it five with a thumping header off the bar from a Keenleyside corner, then another sub Hadley Gleeson rounded off a comprehensive 6-0 win.

Heroic Harps hang on to beat MK Irish

Tuesday April 2
Harpenden Town became the first side to win at Milton Keynes Irish in the league this season. A terrific first-half perfomance and goals from Isaiah Hilaire and Archie McClelland gave Harps a 2-0 lead. MK Irish fought back in the second half and were helped when Harps were reduced to 10 men after Kyle Rahho was sent off for a second yellow card. MK Irish pulled a goal back from the resulting free-kick and then missed a penalty as they piled on the pressure. Harps defended with defiance for the final half an hour to clinch a terrific win and strengthen their grip on a play-off place.

March 2024

Olajide saves the day with injury-time penalty save

Saturday March 30
Eman Olajide saved a penalty in the 95th minute to seal three points for Harpenden Town in the derby at Colney Heath. A first half Dan Palmer header from a Dave Keenleyside corner gave Harpenden the lead in a close-fought match. Harps had two glorious chances to extend the lead in the second half but hit the woodwork on both occasions and had to weather the storm at times. The referee awarded Colney Heath a last-gasp penalty, which looked harsh on Harps, but Olajide stopped George Sippett’s kick to save the day. The win keeps Harpenden fifth in the table.

St Panteleimon withdraw from the league

Thursday, March 28
We received notice from the Spartan South Midlands League that St Panteleimon have folded and withdrawn from the league with immediate effect. The club was fifth in the Premier Division, occupying the final play-off place, but their record will be expunged and the league table will be adjusted accordingly.

Late Locke goal salvages a point for Harps in front of bumper crowd

Saturday, March 23
A scrambled late goal from Archie Locke secured a 1-1 draw against Baldock Town in front of a bumper Non-League Day crowd of 234. Harpenden were on top in the first half without managing to make the breakthrough, then fell behind to a header from a corner midway through the second half. But Harpenden piled on the pressure in the last 20 minutes and eventually got their reward, although they fell short in their push for a winner. The result leaves Harpenden sixth, level on points with St Panteleimon – who lost for the third game in a row. Next up it’s the local derby at Colney Heath on Saturday.

Defeat at Biggleswade dents play-off hopes

Saturday, March 16
Harpenden Town went down 3-1 at Biggleswade United despite starting the match brightly and a late flurry of chances as they went in search of a point. Biggleswade broke the deadlock in the first half, although Harps had a few chances to score, most notably a Jake Anthony shot that was stopped by the keeper after a nice move, and an Archie McClelland lob that went over after he’d latched onto a great long ball from Archie Locke. Biggleswade doubled their lead just after the hour mark but Harps gave themselves hope late on when McClelland was tripped in the box and he stepped up to convert the penalty. The visitors threw on Mickey Shuttlewood as they tried to create a late equaliser but they were hit on the break when Biggleswade got a third.

Harps beat Oxhey Jets to reach St Mary’s Cup final

Tuesday, March 12
Harpenden Town came from behind to beat Combined Counties League Division One side Oxhey Jets 4-1. The match was switched to Rothamsted Park because of an unfit pitch at Altham Way and the Jets weathered a strong Harpenden start to take the lead midway through the first half. The boys in green and gold responded with two goals in the space of a minute before half-time. First Jake Anthony threw himself into a challenge and forced the ball over the line from a Hadley Gleeson cross. Then Dave Keenleyside fired the ball home after a Gleeson shot was parried. Just after the hour-mark sub Archie McClelland made it 3-1, then deep into injury time Reece Crowter slotted the ball home after hitting the Jets on the break. The win sealed Harpenden’s first cup final appearance since they beat Welwyn Garden City 3-1 in the 2018 Dudley Latham Premier Division Cup. The final of the St Mary’s Cup will be against either Tring Athletic or Leverstock Green on Monday, May 6 (bank holiday Monday) at a venue to be decided.

Harpenden Town Women take the points at Thetford

Sunday, March 10
A first-half goal was enough to give Harpenden Town Women a 1-0 win at Thetford Town that leaves them second in the table, a point behind leaders Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers but with a game in hand.

Harps keep up the pressure with solid 3-1 Tring win

Saturday, March 9
Goals in quick succession from Dave Keenleyside and Isaiah Hilaire gave Harpenden a 2-0 first-half lead and put them in control against Tring Athletic. Keenleyside’s goal was a stunning strike from outside the box and Hilaire finished off a fine team move with a neat header. Tring pulled a goal back just before half-time when they caused trouble in the Harps six-yard box. The boys in green and gold saw off the Tring threat and started the second half brightly and finally made certain of the three points with a late goal from Ryan Plowright after another neat move. With FC Romania and St Panteleimon both securing 1-0 wins, Harpenden are still just outside the play-off places.

Spaul player-of-the-month for February

Saturday March 9
Ben joined from Bedford Town in December and has established himself in the Harps midfield since the turn of year. Like Archie McClelland, he was part of the Leighton Town team that won the Spartan South Midlands League title last season and his work-rate, physicality and experience have been invaluable in the team’s recent run of form.

Harps cut loose to get revenge over the Dynamos

Saturday, March 2
Harpenden Town sealed a convincing 3-0 ‘away’ win against Aylesbury Vale Dynamos after losing the home match in January. The match was switched to Rothamsted Park because Aylesbury’s pitch was unfit for play. A strong first-half performance saw the boys in green and gold create a number of chances, with Reece Crowter opening the scoring after Isaiah Hilaire’s shot was parried by the goalkeeper. After a scrappy start to the second half, Harps regained the upper hand midway through and the subs Dave Keenleyside, Hadley Gleeson and Jake Anthony combined to create a second. In injury time, another Gleeson cross found Anthony in the six-yard box again and he converted his second, and Harps’ third, goal. The win means Harpenden draw level with fifth-placed St Panteleimon on points, although the Saints have games in hand and a better goal difference.

Coulson adds strength to goalkeeping department

Friday, March 1
Connor Coulson has signed for Harpenden Town to add experience and depth to the goalkeeping department for the run-in.

February 2024

Saturday’s Aylesbury Vale match now at home

Wednesday, February 28
Saturday’s (March 2) away game against Aylesbury Vale Dynamos has been switched to Rothamsted Park and will kick-off at 3pm. Dynamos’ Greenfleets Stadium has been unable to host a home fixture since late November because of storm damage to a stand at one end of the ground and frequent heavy rain. In order to ensure fixtures are completed without a backlog building up, we’ve agreed to host the game. However, it will still be an ‘away’ match, so Harpenden Town season tickets will not apply. Admission will be £8 and the kick-off is 3pm.

Ten-man Harps push league leaders to the limit

Tuesday, February 27
An Archie McClelland goal after six minutes gave Harpenden an early lead at league leaders Real Bedford. However, Harpenden were reduced to ten men on the half-hour mark when Kyle Rahho was shown the red card. Rahho will feel hard-done-by because he didn’t appear to touch the Real Bedford player and a similar challenge by one of the home players merited only a yellow card ten minutes earlier. Harpenden almost held out till half-time but Real Bedford equalised in the 44th minute. A heroic second half display almost proved enough to secure a point but Real Bedford made the breakthrough with nine minutes remaining to clinch a 2-1 win.

Shuttlewood returns to bolster squad

Tuesday, February 27
Defender Mickey Shuttlewood has returned to Harpenden Town following a spell at local rivals Colney Heath. Shuttlewood’s registration did not complete in time for him to face Real Bedford but he could be in the squad for the game against Aylesbury Vale Dynamos on Saturday (March 2).

Women’s cup semi-final abandoned in extra-time

Sunday, February 25
Our women’s team County Cup semi-final at Royston Town was abandoned in extra-time after a clash of heads. The score was 2-2 at the time and a penalty shoot-out looked on the cards.

Friendly win over Ampthill Town

Wednesday, February 21
Goals from Dave Keenleyside, Prince Asare and a trialist gave us a 3-1 friendly win over Division One side Ampthill Town at Rothamsted Park last night. For Harps player Spencer O’Leary played for the Amps. Our next first team game is away to Real Bedford on Tuesday, February 27.

Another McClelland penalty seals win at Cockfosters

Saturday, February 17
Harpenden Town produced a committed, hard-working performance in tricky conditions at Cockfosters and came away with the three points. Cockfosters is never an easy place to go but there were strong performances all over the pitch as the boys in green and gold found a way to win in the second half. An early James Ewington goal gave Harps the perfect start but Cockfosters levelled midway through the first half. Eman Olajide made a string of top saves and in the second half Archie McClelland was fouled in the box, then picked himself up and put the penalty away to secure a 2-1 win that keeps our play-off hopes alive.

McClelland hat-trick fires Harps into St Mary’s Cup semi-final

Tuesday, February 13
It was the all-Archie show at Rothamsted Park as Harpenden Town beat Chipperfield Corinthians 4-0 in the St Mary’s Cup. Archie McClelland returned to the side and hit a hat-trick – including one from the penalty spot – and Archie Locke added the other goal as Harps joined holders Leverstock Green, Oxhey Jets and either Tring Athletic or Berkhamsted Raiders in the last four. Harpenden will travel to Oxhey Jets in the semi-final.

Hilaire, Crowter and Ewington on the mark at Sawbridgeworth

Saturday, February 10
Isaiah Hilaire, Reece Crowter and James Ewington got the goals to see off bottom-of-the-table Sawbridgeworth Town. The hosts got a late goal back but Harps ran out 3-1 winners.

Harpenden Town Women win 2-1 at Newmarket

Sunday, February 4
Goals from Sophia Amanor and Natalie Cloy gave us a hard-earned win at Newmarket Town to maintain a two-point lead over Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers at the top of the league.

Harps back to winning ways against Crawley Green

Saturday, February 3
Harpenden beat Crawley Green 2-1 at Rothamsted Park thanks to goals from Isaiah Hilaire and Jake Anthony. With Josh Rodrigues and Archie Locke both struggling with knocks, Kyle Rahho dropped into the defence. Hilaire opened the scoring and Anthony doubled the lead with a fierce left-foot strike into the top corner. Crawley hit back just before half-time but there were no further goals in the second half.

January 2024

Another penalty shoot-out defeat ends cup hopes

Tuesday, January 30
For the second consecutive Tuesday, Harpenden go out of a cup competition on penalties, this time in the Premier Division Cup. Jake Anthony put the boys in green and gold ahead with a fine free kick in the first half. Cockfosters struck back to take the lead in the second half before Kyle Rahho headed home in the 88th minute to make it 2-2. However, Cockfosters held their nerve from the spot to win the shoot-out 5-4.

Harps grounded at Stansted

Saturday, January 27
Harpenden Town’s play-off hopes were hit by a second consecutive league defeat, this time at Stansted. Isaiah Hilaire equalised but Stansted scored a second to secure a 2-1 win.

Harps go out of Gladwish Trophy on penalties

Tuesday, January 23
A Reece Crowter equaliser deep into injury time at Potton United secured a 1-1 draw and sent the Gladwish Challenge Trophy tie to a penalty shoot-out at The Hutchinson Hollow. However, the home side won the shoot-out 5-4 to progress to the next round.

Harpenden Town Women go top after last-minute goal

Sunday, January 21
A game that had everything ended with a last-minute goal that sees Harpenden Town leapfrog Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers at the top of the table. The Rovers keeper saved a first-half Harpenden penalty. Harpenden took the lead in the second half, Rovers equalised but the home side won it 2-1 at the very end.

Two late goals give Dynamos the points

Saturday, January 20
Dave Keenleyside scores twice, including a fine direct free-kick, but it’s not enough as Aylesbury Vale Dynamos stage late comeback to clinch a 3-2 victory.

Jake Anthony is back in green and gold

Monday, January 15
Striker Jake Anthony is on his way back to Rothamsted Park after a short spell at Dunstable Town. Anthony scored 52 goals in 111 games for Harpenden Town between 2017 and October 2023. While he’s unlikely to be involved at Sawbridgeworth Town on Tuesday night he could be in the squad for Saturday’s home game with Aylesbury Vale Dynamos.

Ewington at the double

Saturday January 6
Two first-half goals from James Ewington secure a 2-1 win over Baldock Town at Arlesey’s New Lamb Meadow.