NARROW DEFEAT FOR BALDOCK

Baldock Town 1 v Harpenden Town 2

I hate writing match reports when we get beat so I usually give up half way through. This one is different as I thought we played well so here it is.

Harpenden were late turning up and Josh Furness was missing so this was not a great start. Coppin was Captain for this one.

Baldock were definitely up for the match and you couldn’t fault the work rate right from the start. They chased everything and weren’t for giving up. After just 5 mins Brooker, our centre forward , went off injured, so that wasn’t the best start. Early on we had a chance when Gaffney sent Hay away down the right, who made it to the byline and cut it low across the box, everyone missed it.

On 22 mins Rome battled and won the ball in Harpenden’s half and shot wide from distance. Just a bit later a move from our own half was well worked between White and Downes to Robertson who got a cross in but a defender cleared for a corner. The resulting corner came in to the back post where Robertson headed to the middle for Matthews to head home for Baldock.
1-0 up in 25 mins.
Baldock had been chasing and pressing non-stop and just a minute later a mistake in the Harpenden defence allowed Robertson a run towards the near post but shot high and wide when the Keeper should have been made to work. Harpenden really hadn’t tested us but in 30 mins they managed a header that looped high over the bar. This was as close as they had got so far.

Baldock were still chasing everything and Harpenden’s frustration was becoming clear as they had a player booked for pulling Matthews’ jersey as he wa breaking out of defence with the ball. One of the Harpenden coaches was then sent off for something the linesman noticed. There was a bit of confusion as he didn’t seem to want to leave but Little Dave on our bench made it clear where he should go.
Baldock were really dominating and right on half time Hay found himself all alone inside the six yard box with the ball and just the keeper to beat but he managed to miss, most unlike him, but we could have done with that one.
Baldock 1-0 and definitely the better team at half time.
Just after the restart the ball broke to White who unleashed a shot from distance. From where I was it looked bound for the top corner but it went narrowly past.
Unfortunately Baldock then lost a goal in 52 mins when they had chances fo clear but Harpenden were quicker and got a goal back. Well against the run of play but that’s how it goes sometimes.

Baldock were not about to give up and down the other end Downes got in a cross to the back post where Aldridge was waiting and went back across the keeper with a header and almost caught him out. A good save from the Harpenden keeper.
Aldridge then had a nice run into the box and had a shot saved by the Keeper for a corner. Baldock were still pressing and were causing havoc down the left. Aldridge, again, had another chance and blasted a shot from 9 yards but the Keeper got in the way again. Hay was next up and got a shot off following a pass from Robertson. Hay, now on the right got a good ball from Rome and hit the outside of the post. Lots of pressure but no luck. Unfortunately, as is quite often the case, Baldock then lost a goal against the run of play on 80 mins.
With 10 mins to go the Harpenden defence were too experienced to lose this one and effectively shut up shop.

It was a good battling performance from a very young Baldock team but we just couldn’t convert the chances we had.
We should have won this one.
Team; Skinner, Downes, Franklin, White, Matthews, Coppin (C), Aldridge, Robertson, Brooker, Rome, Hay. Subs; Gaffney, Adeyemi, Green, Trott, Harpur.

Report by J.Graham, BTFC Fan
The views expressed here are my own - apologies for any inaccuracies.