Harpenden Town missed the chance to make it two wins in their first two league games as they were frustrated by Wormley Rovers.

Harps had won their opening Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division fixture on Saturday, 3-2 away to Shefford Town & Campton.

But back on their Rothamsted Park turf, they were held to a 0-0 draw.

And frustrating was the word of the first half for the home side.

They had all the possession, and the vast majority of the chances, but they couldn't fashion an opportunity to truly test the keeper.

Those frustrations were exacerbated by a knee injury to the stopper, brought about as he landed awkwardly after claiming a high ball.

The best chances fell to Harry Andic but both were put over the top, the first on the run giving him a clear sight of goal but the pace he arrived at meant he was unable to get over the ball.

Harry Webb misjudged a ball in, as well as his leap, and the danger passed while Hadley Gleeson did force a save out of the keeper, prior to his injury, after using his pace on the break.

The closest Harpenden came was a speculative effort from out wide by Isaiah Hilaire which curled in and watched by everyone.

All saw it bounce flush off the crossbar and get cleared.

And with the supporters getting restless, some of that was seemingly seeping onto the pitch, Andic booked late on.

The half-time interval saw the Wormley keeper stay on, albeit with very limited movement.

Harps did make a switch though, Charlee Yearwood coming on for Hilaire, and he forced a corner in the opening minutes that Ryan Plowright met but couldn't direct on target.

The sub had even better opportunity to influence the game when George Robinson got a foot into a tackle and poked the ball behind the Wormley defence.

It just needed the ball slid along the turf into Webb but with his right foot, instead of his left, Yearwood chipped it into the middle with too much weight and too far in front of the striker.

That was doing little for the frustrations around Rothamsted Park and Wormley were also venturing forward more, adding to the nerves and tension.

One long rang effort could have been dangerous, bouncing up in front of Eman Olajide, but the keeper watched it into his hands.

And there was a corner from the right that somehow found a red head in a crowded six-yard box.

That was steered over though.

A cross flashed goal by Webb, after a superb touch, failed to find a Harpenden foot.

Their big chance to win it came on 81 minutes - twice.

A ball slid through by Dave Keenleyside found fellow sub Jake Collins who took it inside the defender and shot low.

The keeper spilled it off his chest and it needed put behind.

That corner into the next post saw Ryan Plowright  come in on it, yet for the second time in the match the ball only found the crossbar.

After that there was only a Keenleyside free-kick into the Wormley wall and some frantic Wormley defending to keep the goals at bay.

Match details

Harpenden Town (0) 0 Wormley Rovers (0) 0

Harpenden Town: Olajide, Robinson, Plowright, Locke, Rodrigues, Gleeson (Whiffen 77), Rahho (Collins 77), Webb, Andic (Keenleyside 60), Hilaire (Yearwood 46), Simmons.

Subs (not used): Osborne

Goals: 

Booked: Andic 45+4, Keenleyside 76

 

Referee: James Sedley

Attendance: