GCE Hire Fleet United Counties Football League
Reserve Division
Saturday 21st February 2026
Harborough Town Under 21’s (3) – (2) Daventry Town Reserves
Report – Josh Unsworth
Photo – Luke Darby Photography
Harborough Town Under 21’s produced a dramatic late turnaround to secure a thrilling 3–2 victory over Daventry Town Reserves at the Beehive, with a last-minute header sealing all three points in a contest full of twists and character.
The visitors struck early, taking the lead inside five minutes. A mistake at the back gifted possession to Thomas Kruck, who reacted quickest and was left with the simplest of tasks to tap into an empty net and put Daventry 1–0 ahead. It was not the start the Young Bees would have wanted, but their response was immediate and determined.
Harborough began to grow into the game, moving the ball with greater intent and pressing higher up the pitch. Their efforts were rewarded after 20 minutes when Leighton McWilliams slipped a clever pass down the right to Archie O’Donnell. Cutting inside onto his left foot, O’Donnell saw his deflected effort wrong-foot the goalkeeper and find the back of the net to level the score at 1–1.
Just two minutes later, the game took another twist as Martin Tsvetkov was shown a straight red card following an off-the-ball incident, reducing the Young Bees to ten men. Despite the setback and Daventry’s numerical advantage, Harborough showed composure and organisation to ensure the sides went into the break level.
Early in the second half, Daventry regained the lead — and it was Kruck again. Another defensive error allowed him to double his tally and put the visitors 2–1 up against the run of play.
Undeterred, the Young Bees continued to press with real belief. Their persistence paid off when Lovell Edwards was played through on goal and brought down inside the penalty area. Archie O’Donnell stepped up once more and calmly dispatched the spot kick to draw Harborough level at 2–2.
With the clock ticking into the 89th minute, the decisive moment arrived. Substitute Reece Loyal made an instant impact, delivering a corner with his very first touch. Thomas Hoey rose highest in the box to power home a header and complete a superb comeback.
A spirited and disciplined performance from the Young Bees, who showed resilience and character to overturn setbacks and claim a memorable 3–2 win, whilst playing 70 minutes with ten men.
After the game, U21 Head Coach Josh Unsworth said:
“Incredibly proud of the resilience, commitment and heart my boys shown today. Martin had a rash mistake today, which he will learn from but the boys got him out of jail. To play the way we did with a man less, we were absolutely superb.”