Harrowby United fight out entertaining draw

United Counties League

Premier Division

Harrowby United 2

Huntingdon Town 2

Harrowby United and Huntingdon Town fought out an entertaining draw at the Environcom Stadium, sharing four goals on a biting cold Tuesday night.

The Arrows got off to a flying start, taking the lead with only a minute on the clock.

Joe Clarke played a ball down the left flank which was well picked up by Liam Motson. Motson took the ball on before passing inside to Ryan Holland who unselfishly laid it right to the advancing Tom Potts. He took a touch before slotting the ball past the out-rushing Dan George in the Huntingdon goal.

The ‘Croms’ levelled five minutes later when a break down their right ended with a ball into Charlie Sanders inside the Arrows penalty area. The big striker controlled the ball before firing a low shot across Harrowby goalkeeper Jack Drury and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Last season’s runners-up continued to put Harrowby under pressure, enjoying the greater amount of possession in a good spell and limiting the home side to counter-attacks.

After 26 minutes, a good Harrowby move involving Simon Bolland and Motson created a shooting chance for Sam Hill whose well struck shot went straight at the keeper.

Only a minute later, a loose ball out of defence by Joe Clarke was picked up by Huntingdon’s Dalton Bettles who advanced the ball down the right flank before squaring for Chris Jones to give Huntintingdon the lead as he knocked the ball home from around four yards out.

Just past the half hour mark, Harrowby’s man-of-the-match Drury got down well to save a low Sanders shot from the edge of the area with his left hand. A minute later, he again did well to parry a powerful shot from distance, before diving on the loose ball to deny the alert Sanders.

Five minutes before the break, Motson did well to find Bolland with time and space in the Huntingdon penalty area. Unfortunately, the Arrows midfielder rushed a first time shot which hit a defender before being cleared to put Huntingdon on a quick break which resulted in another decent Drury save.

Harrowby found an equaliser two minutes before the break when Potts played a ball from the right into Motson. With seemingly nowhere to go and his back to goal, the young Harrowby hit man’s first touch teed the ball up for him to spin and blast home a stunning half volley past George for the goal of the game.

The second half did not quite live up to the first as the game turned into a battle on aheavy pitch as the temperature dropped even more.

Webb had a chance shortly after the restart but fired over after good work from Motson and Holland provided him with the chance. Drury again came to Harrowby’s rescue, producing a good save to deny Jones who had got in behind the Arrows back line with a well timed run.

In the 78th minute, Huntingdon got the ball into the heart of the Arrows penalty area but were denied by some resolute defending as at least two shots on goal were superbly blocked in the scramble that ensued.

Harrowby finished the game strongly and, with five minutes remaining, a Motson free kick from the edge of the penalty area, for a foul on Jack Whyley, was well saved by George.

With 88 minutes on the clock, a ball out of defence from Harrowby was picked up by Potts who made a surging run down the right, outpacing a couple of defenders before getting a shot off that was deflected behind for a corner.

The remaining time saw neither keeper troubled again and both teams finish the game with a deserved point.

Harrowby United: Drury (c), Currall, Clarke, Stubbs, Whyley, Potts, Hill, Bolland, Webb (Watson, 65), Motson, Holland (Peberdy, 74). Subs not used: Harper, Weatherstone, Daykin.