Holyport lay trap to catch the Hares
Combined Counties round-up: Lock’s side boost play-off hopes with 4-1 win
Holyport 4, Harefield United 1 Holyport boosted their hopes of a play-off finish on Tuesday as they came from behind to comfortably beat Harefield United in awful conditions.
For much of the afternoon it looked like the match might not go ahead due to the incessant rainfall. However, the Summerleaze Park surface passed a couple of pre-match pitch inspections and the game kicked off on time, despite doubts from both teams that they’d be able to conclude it.
The game didn’t get off to the best of starts for Port, with the home side falling behind after only 15 minutes. But they responded brilliantly with Kickie Dzimba netting twice and Luke Appleton flicking home a third to give them a 3-1 lead heading into the interval.
Josh Addae had come close to a stunning equaliser for the hosts midway through the half, before the in-form Dzimba ran through to slot home their leveller in the 32nd minute.
Much as he’d done in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Edgware & Kingsbury, the striker kept calm and composed as he slotted the ball past the onrushing keeper.
His second goal in the 40th minute was even better as he finished off a flowing counterattack to lob the ball over the keeper and make it 2-1.
Appleton then flicked home Port’s third in the 43rd minute to give Sam Lock’s side some breathing space and they needed it as well, with Harefield pushing to find a route back into the contest after the break.
The hosts had to work hard for the points in the second half, with Matt Ensby making a goal-saving challenge in the 82nd minute.
This followed a great chance for the visitors which they put wide in the 79th minute.
However, the greatest threat to the home side collecting all three points was probably the weather, as the rain continued to fall hard on an already saturated surface.
As the clock ticked on towards 90 minutes, Port then put the game to bed when Brandon
Curtis’ attempt from distance looped into the back of the net to make the final score 4-1.
Tempers boiled over for the visitors in the final minutes, with one of their players seeing red after a terrible challenge on Rahma Ajibola. He then booted the ball at the Port player and was shown the red card.
The result improves Port’s hopes of a play-off finish in the Combined Counties Premier Division North, however, sixth-placed North Greenford United – who currently sit four points behind them – do have five matches in hand.
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Milton United 2, Burnham 4
To finish in the top five, Sam Lock’s side may have to reel in fourth-placed Burnham who themselves picked up a solid 4-2 win at Milton United on Tuesday evening.
Milton had much of the play in the first half but two goals from Jabir Laraba put the Blues on course for a vital away win.
The home side pulled a goal back immediately after the restart, but Leo Decabo restored the visitors’ two-goal cushion and Elliott Poley scored a fourth to make sure of the points.
Milton managed a late consolation, but Ben Murray’s side comfortably held on for their third win in five matches. The result means they remain five points clear of Holyport in fifth with a game in hand. Milton next host Holyport on Saturday, while the Blues play the first of three home games in a row against third placed Bedfont Sports.
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Egham Town 1, Flackwell Heath 3
Flackwell Heath overcame an early scare to keep the pressure on leaders Rayners Lane as they came from behind to beat Egham Town 3-1 on Saturday.
With Combined Counties Premier Division North leaders Rayners winning 2-0 against North Greenford United, Chris Ayres’ side remain three points off the top in second, however, the Heathens showed impressive nerve to withstand the early blow of falling behind to battle back for a relatively comfortable away win. The result keeps them on the coattails of Rayners Lane with a game in hand, however, the leaders do have a plus five goal difference on Heath heading into the final eight games of the campaign. With the leading sides having already played each other twice – and exchanged victories – it looks like this season’s title race may well go down to the wire.
On Saturday, they once again matched each other stride for stride, however, Flackwell’s win at Egham was a little less routine.
Luke Maguire fired the home side in front after only seven minutes, but the Heathens showed their resilience in the remainder of the half. They hit back through Wiktor Makowski in the 29th minute, the striker confidently tucking home a penalty to make it 1-1.
Marcus Mealing then made it 2-1 to the visitors in the 33rd minute and Matthew Ayres extended their advantage to 3-1 in the 38th minute. The Heathens then confidently took the sting out of the game as they saw out victory against one of the division’s playoff challengers.