Harvest using Hampshire Premier League’s post-lockdown cup as a ‘marker’ for next season’s title challenge

The reigning Mid-Solent League champions began their cup campaign with a 1-0 victory at Front Lawn against higher division Clanfield at the weekend.

Centre half Mychal Griffin grabbed the first half decider, netting with a low shot after the ball had fallen to him from a corner.

Harris believed his side were ‘comfortable’ even when forced to play the last half-hour with 10 men after winger Jay Kane was dismissed for pushing.

‘They didn’t really trouble us,’ said Harris. ‘We could have had another one or two on top of a contentious disallowed goal.’

That was ‘scored’ by Bobby Read, who is dual signed from MSL team Portchester Rovers and was given his debut as a second half sub.

‘We stayed organised, we stayed compact,’ Harris continued.

‘We are not a team of superstars, we’ve just got that togetherness - that’s what’s going to win us games.

‘We will grind teams down, we are a fit side - especially our midfield.’

Harvest have also been grouped with Senior Division heavyweights Paulsgrove and Denmead, who beat them 3-0 in their opening HPL Division 1 game of 2020/21 last September.

They face Denmead at Front Lawn on Tuesday before travelling to Paulsgrove at the weekend.

‘Denmead are a good, young, organised side - they deserve to go up along with Moneyfields Reserves.

‘In our heads, we’re playing six group games against teams from a higher division. Paulsgrove and Clanfield are established and Denmead deserve to be in the Hampshire Prem.

‘These games are markers for next season.

‘Our target next season is to win the title and these games will show me the level we need to be at and where we need to improve.’