Forbes Brace Sends Bees Home Buzzing
After a solid performance last week against Step-four side Cambridge City, Harborough Town went into this week’s league fixture, and local derby, against Desborough Town with their heads held high. Desborough would not be no easy feat either, with a win and two draws under their belts before this game kicked off, they were unbeaten in the league. Harborough were desperate to get some points on the board and kickstart their campaign; with the quality of the football being no issue in the preceding weeks, the final finish was the only thing holding this team back from becoming a true force in the United Counties League.
The game opened slowly, with it taking 10 minutes for the first notable piece of action to occur; arriving when Callum Milne picked out Jordan Lever with a beautiful switch ball, Lever controlled well and terrorized his marker before making some space to shoot, but his shot was low, central and the keeper was able to get down to make the save. Harborough kept their foot on the gas and Finlay Gray charged high up the pitch and curled in an inviting cross, Aaron Preston was the man in the box, but he just couldn’t get in front of his marker in time to get the vital touch needed. Desborough looked to threaten, but an intelligent Callum Traynor, who did his reputation no harm on his debut, saw the pass and broke up the attack. Another Desborough attack saw them get closer, as Jason Turner drove a ball into the box which Ty Clark spectacularly reached, but his touch cleared the bar. Finlay Gray again caused panic for the Desborough defence after a commanding run through the middle of the park let him find Callum Steer in space, but his lobbed ball couldn’t find anyone. At the 24th minute Harborough unprofessionally lost possession in their own half and Desborough looked to counter, but captain Ben Williams expertly denied any threat and played the ball home to Giles. Unfortunately, a pacey Jason Turner closed down and blocked Giles’ clearance, allowing him to pass the ball into an empty Harborough net. 15 minutes of quiet followed, before smart interplay between Lever and Steer set Lever loose down the left, he efficiently took on his man and looked for the run of Aaron Preston, but it could not get through the legs of the Desborough defence. The final few minutes of the half were sketchy for Harborough, with Giles having to pull off 2 spectacularly acrobatic saves to deny a menacing Desborough blitz. The end of the first half came to a sigh of relief to many after a particularly unexciting 45 minutes, with much of the ball being played around in the middle of the park. There is no doubt Harborough were playing the better football, but again, the final finish just wasn’t quite there.
However, whatever manager Stuart Spencer said to his boys at the half: it worked. The Bees came out all guns blazing, they looked like a new team. After just 3 minutes back on the pitch, Aaron Preston found himself in some space in the box, but his low effort fired just wide of the post. The pressure kept coming as Tony Bartlett had a strong attempt saved; and by the 52nd minute, Desborough crumbled. Jordan Lever beautifully brought down a deep cross before neatly setting up Daniel Forbes whose first-time effort was cannoned into the bottom left corner, a fully stretched Leech unable to get down and tip it away. The Harborough assault continued, and minutes later Forbes got his well-deserved brace. He controlled a lofted ball but knocked it into the path of the Desborough keeper, Leech however, was unable to hold it and Forbes’ striking instincts saw him pounce on the opportunity to take it round the keeper and it was his turn to pass the ball into an empty net. The celebrations from both players and fans were jubilant, and it was a thoroughly deserved second for a team who had played so well and worked so hard throughout this game. Desborough turned up the heat on Harborough after the second goal, and Finlay Gray covered his man strongly after a neat through ball saw Giles faced with a shot that was straight down his throat thanks to Gray’s solid defence work. The last 20 minutes were nervy for all Harborough fans, at the 70th minute a Desborough free kick was whipped in and Mendy Maki leaped highest, aiming his header into the top right corner; but the linesman’s flag was up for offside and the goal was disallowed. Another Desborough free kick caused more havoc in the Harborough box, as an absolute scramble ensued the ball somehow found its way heading to the Harborough goal, but Giles’ quick reflexes saw him tip it onto the bar. The threat didn’t end there, as the ball rebounded dangerously back down into the Harborough 6-yard box, but a defiant defence clear the ball of all danger. With 5 minutes to go, yet another free kick spelt danger for Harborough as Turner’s effort took a deflection off the wall, but Giles followed it all the way and held well. A 3rd goal would have buried this game and seen a comfortable ending, and a quick break saw Jordan Lever charging down the left-hand side with Greg Usher looking to attack the centre of the Desborough box, Lever tries to pick him out but some very good tracking by Leo Adams saw a well-timed sliding block end any threat. The game was all but over, and one final Desborough attack in the 97th minute almost broke Harborough hearts. A wicked cross saw Ty Clark reach high, but his header scraped the bar on the way over.
Harborough deservedly broke out in celebration at the sound of the full-time whistle, after an extremely positive and defiant second half performance saw them walk away with their first 3 points of the season. If Harborough can carry that second half performance into the rest of their league games, they will be an absolute force to be reckoned with. Beautiful football, sublime team spirit and finally an eye for goal; Wellingborough Town must be worried as they look to welcome The Bees to the Dog & Duck stadium next week.
