Harborough Town 4 Stephens (10’), Rose (55’), Kennedy (86’), Carta (89’)
Leiston FC 0
Harborough Town were well worth the three points, scoring four and keeping a clean sheet versus Leiston in foggy conditions at the Community Football Ground.
After a flurry of early corners for both sides, it was Ben Stephens’ who chested the ball down and fired past William Johnson in the Leiston goal from close range after a lofted ball from Alex Morris on 10 minutes. Stephens’ almost doubled the lead shortly after but his side foot shot was comfortably saved. Fellow striker Luis Rose forced Johnson in to a full length save midway through the first half and was on hand again to thwart Rose this time one-on-one after an exquisite reverse through-ball from Dan Cooper.
Harborough doubled their advantage early in the second half as Luis Rose held up the ball in the middle of the park and whilst holding off two defenders fed the ball into the path of a marauding Ben Starkie who returned the favour by crossing for Rose to prod home. Rose’s fourth attempt on goal was an ambitious side bicycle kick was equally saved in acrobatic style by the Leiston keeper. Midway through the second half and a second yellow for Cameron Rayworth reduced the visitor down to ten. As the game wore on and looking to exploit the man advantage Jutorre Burgess received the ball on the edge of his own box and ran at the Leiston defence and somehow Johnson, whilst diving to his right, stuck out his left hand to parry Burgess’ shot away. Starkie continued to be the architect of the afternoon breaking over halfway and tormenting the visiting defence before delivering a cross that found Rhys Hilton who has his shot well saved but Connor Kennedy was on hand to powerfully finish. And into injury time Dan Cooper deep down the right-hand side fires a low cross which Kennedy dummies and there is Joel Carta, back from his lengthy injury lay-off, to fire the ball sweetly into the top corner to make it four.
MOTM: Connor Kennedy (HTFC)
Match Rating: 5*