Northants Combination League
Premier Division
Friday 18th September 2026
Harborough Town Under 21’s (9) – (0) Raunds Town
Report – Jonathan Hulls
Photo – Andy Murdock Photography
Harborough Town Under 21’s: Alexander Fisher, Corey Birch, Coen Hughes (Charlie King 55’), Tom Hoey, James Flint (Luca Gillespie 55’), Bakari Furbert, Cyprian Mtenga, Leighton McWilliams (Archie Woolmer 61’), Chulu Johnson, Zak Gillespie (Shaan Virk 61’), Lovell Edwards (Ollie Price 55’).
The Young Bees produced a sensational performance under the Friday night lights, running riot against Raunds Town with a commanding 9–0 victory at the Beehive.
From the first whistle, Harborough Town U21s took complete control of proceedings, outclassing and outplaying their opponents with relentless attacking football and sustained pressure.
The breakthrough arrived when Lovell Edwards picked out Chulu Johnson at the back post. Johnson made no mistake with the opportunity, converting to give the Young Bees an early and deserved lead.
That opening goal set the tone for what became a devastating first-half display from Harborough, who continued to push forward and find the net time and time again.
Zak Gillespie was at the heart of the goalscoring onslaught, producing an outstanding individual performance as Raunds struggled to contain the Young Bees’ attacking threat. Gillespie helped himself to an incredible five goals before the interval, with Harborough’s movement, intensity and clinical finishing proving far too much for the visitors.
Edwards, having created the opening goal, then got himself on the scoresheet to register Harborough’s seventh of the evening and complete a remarkable opening 45 minutes.
Half-time: Harborough Town U21s 7–0 Raunds Town
Despite their commanding advantage, the Young Bees showed no signs of taking their foot off the gas after the restart.
A number of changes were made during the second half, but Harborough’s intensity and attacking pressure remained. The hosts continued to dominate possession, create opportunities and push forward in search of further goals.
Gillespie completed a remarkable individual performance by adding his sixth goal of the evening, taking his personal tally to six and Harborough’s total to eight.
Johnson then added his second of the night to round off the scoring and complete an emphatic 9–0 victory for the Young Bees.
The result provided the perfect response to the previous weekend and delivered another memorable Friday night under the lights at the Beehive.
Head Coach Josh Unsworth said:
“We needed to react from last Saturday and I got that from my team.
The football we played was some of the best I’ve seen in my three seasons in charge.”