So close for Hares despite having a player sent off

SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE

LONDON TIGERS F.C. 2 - 1 HAREFIELD UNITED F.C.

Harfield started the match on the attack and  created several chances in the opening 20 minutes, writes Peter Granville .

But they failed to hit the target with any of these.

Tigers then created a few half chances themselves but it was United who had the better possession for the remainder of the half. However, they failed to turn their dominance into goals as the Tigers kept them at bay with a series fouls and it was from one of these free kicks that the Hares had their best chance of the half when Ryan Ashe shot hit the post and the rebounded to safety.

The second half again started with the Hares on the attack. However, in the 54 minute Ryan Egan went off injured and minutes later Seldyn Grant who was moved back into the defence to replace him fouled a Tigers player on the edge of the box and the referee awarded a penalty and then sent the player off. This was considered a harsh decision especially as it appears he did not clearly see what happened and these type of incidents normally at worst only warrant a yellow card.

The Tigers took the lead from a well struck resultant penalty.

The Hares reorganised their team and they slowly recovered from the loss of a player as they pressed forward in search of an equaliser. They were eventually rewarded with a penalty midway through the half when the Tigers goalkeeper brought down the Reds striker to stop him from scoring but for some reason he was not sent off and only received a cautioned.

Ryan Ashe scored the penalty to level the score and the Hares then went in search of the three points.

 However with only three defenders at the back they left themselves open to the counter attack. With only 10 minutes remaining the Tigers striker hit a shot from outside the penalty area that sailed over the Hares goalkeeper and into the net for the winning goal.

Team: M. Pearce, C. Pearce, Morris (Keeley 83), Egan (Martins 54), Kinnane, Grant, Ashe, Girt, Sargeant, Fleming (Aitken 65) Reader.

Subs. Not used: Burt.