HARLESTON went out 3-2 to a team in a higher division in the Junior Cup yet can only feel gutted not to have claimed the scalp of Loddon Reserves. In a match where they out-played their opposition and dominated the entire game Harleston never led and paid the ultimate price after missing a penalty to get their noses in front.

Harleston 2,

Loddon Utd Res 3

HARLESTON went out to a team in a higher division in the Junior Cup yet can only feel gutted not to have claimed the scalp of Loddon Reserves.

In a match where they out-played their opposition and dominated the entire game Harleston never led and paid the ultimate price after missing a penalty to get their noses in front.

Loddon took the lead when Mark Pearce's run of goal-scoring form continued, this time in his on net though, a low cross hit the Town defender and nestled in Bartrum's bottom left corner.

This seemed to kick-start Harleston who then entertained their home fans with a display of fine passing football and were soon level when Sam

Wilby found Ben Green who had peeled away at the back post to head in from five yards.

Harleston's lead was short lived, undisciplined play from Town gifted Loddon with a needless free-kick deep in Harleston territory. The initial cross was cut out but landed to a Loddon midfielder who cleverly guided the ball just inside the post.

Just minutes later Harleston had equalised for the second time, again the goal scorer was Ben Green, a neat finish over the oncoming keeper was enough to see the teams go in to half-time all square.

Harleston's first-half dominance wasn't matched in the second half, the work rate seemed to drop, Harleston's playmaker James Trudgill saw less and less of the ball and Sam Wilby was finding himself starved of service.

Half-chances were not taken but Town's main chance fell to skipper Wes Holloway. A penalty decision went Harleston's way but the penalty was knocked wide of the goal.

Soon after Loddon had a quick counter attack down the right wing which enabled a simple squared ball to be slotted past Bartrum.

A late rally from Town wasn't

enough to see them progress into round two and it handed them their second successive defeat.