New faces at Harvest leave Ray delighted

Harvest Home boss Ray Ogilvie is delighted with three new recruits as his new-look squad settles into life in the Hampshire Premier League.

After a 3-0 loss to Denmead in their opening Division 1 game, the reigning Mid-Solent League champions are unbeaten in three games, winning two of them and only conceding two goals - both penalties.

Ogilvie has released eight players in recent days and brought in Clanfield defender Lee Caldwell, young keeper Tom Roxborough and Craig Ralph,below, from Paulsgrove.

‘I said before the season started that I wanted to win the league,’ said Ogilvie. ‘Some of the players didn’t have the same attitude and weren’t willing to get fit enough.

‘The eight players who have left didn’t have the right attitude.’

Ogilvie put an appeal for a new goalkeeper on social media and was contacted by Gosport-bosed Roxborough.

He made an impressive debut in last weekend’s 3-1 win at Michelmersh & Timsbury.

‘He’s young, he’s fit, he’s hungry,’ said Ogilvie. ‘That attitude will bleed into the squad.

‘I’ve also brought in Lee Caldwell, he’s 36 and a calming influence with a great attitude, he’s a phenomenal signing for us.’

Ralph played for Harvest last season but left due to the fact they were winning games too easily.

‘I’ve never known a player leave because his side had won every game,’ said the manager. ‘But Craig said he wanted to be challenged more.

‘This is a tough league, most teams can beat anyone else - and the standard is more professional than people think.’

Harry Byrne jumped off the bench at Michelmersh with the scores level and promptly netted twice.

Luke Steere, who had left a family holiday in the New Forest to play, had scored Harvest’s opener before a spot-kick leveller.

‘I was delighted because the team didn’t do it for me, they did it for themselves,’ said Ogilvie. ‘I’m the happiest I’ve been for a while now, I was very proud of the team.’

Harvest face unbeaten Andover New Street Swifts this weekend before next Tuesday’s Hampshire Trophy final against former MSL rivals FC Strawberry at Front Lawn.

That final has been held over from the 2019/20 season.

■ Fred Penfold missed a late penalty as Moneyfields Reserves saw their 100 per cent start to the HPL Division 1 season end at home to Andover New Street Swifts.

Penfold had earlier netted for Moneys in the 1-1 draw.

There was a shock for highflying Denmead, thrashed 4-1 at home by South Wonston Swifts. It was their first league loss since early October 2019 and ended a 16-game unbeaten league run.

Ryan Harrison replied for Denmead, whose next game is an

HPL Cup tie at home to Fleetlands on October 10.