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Double
goalscorer Robert Charles
on the attack |
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| Two first-half
Robert Charles goals were enough
to give Harrow the points at
Earlsmead, and consolidate their
position in the top half of
the Ryman Premier table.
Keita Karamoko made a first-minute
save, and Drew headed a right-wing
cross just wide, before Borough
began to dominate. Jimmy Aggrey
met a Fabio Valenti corner with
a header that was blocked, Dean
Marney scooping the rebound
wide. Davis Haule then fed Robert
Charles who cut in from the
left and tried to curl a shot
round Hitchin keeper Robinson,
who made a good diving save.
Harrow went in front after 24
minutes, with a fine goal. Kevin
McKenna began the move with
a pace-quickening pass to Haule.
He spread the ball wide to the
right-wing, where Daniel Dyer
ran on to put in a cross that
Charles cleverly converted despite
the ball being slightly behind
him.
Nine minutes later the lead
was doubled. Valenti played
a fine through-ball to Chrales,
who outpaced the visiting defence
and calmly slotted the ball
past Robinson.
Good pressure from Adam Everitt
forced Nolan into firing over
when presented with a good chance,
but that was a brief respite
for the visitors. Ayres headed
clear when Robinson was beaten
by Dyer’s header, and
Valenti’s follow-up shot
curled just past the post.
Hitchin manager Robbie O’Keefe
made a triple substitution at
the interval, and the changes
did help to get the visitors
back in the game, but not before
Harrow had missed further chances
to extend their lead. First,
Darty Brown sent Haule clear
to attempt a chip that Robinson
saved. Then McKenna played the
ball through to Charles. The
young striker declined the chance
of a hat-trick, squaring the
ball to Dyer whose shot was
saved by Robinson. Aggrey’s
header from Valenti’s
corner was then blocked in a
scramble on the goal-line.
But after an hour’s play,
Hitchin began to put some passing
together and create some opportunities.
Karamoko saved Brennan’s
free-kick and then used his
legs to block Drew’s effort.
Harrow had a let-off when referee
Young decided that Everitt could
not get his arm out of the way
of a Hitchin effort. This was
almost certainly true, but as
the effort was goal-bound, it
was hard luck on the visitors.
Borough hit back and Ayres cleared
Valenti’s 20-yard drive
off the line with his keeper
beaten. But Hitchin broke quickly
to the other end and the stretching
Drew poked a right-wing cross
past the post.
Tobi Jimadu then applied sufficient
pressure on Drew to force him
into putting another chance
past the post. A fine Hitchin
passing move then ended with
Rydeheard’s shot saved
by Karamoko, before Everitt
cleared off the line from Drew.
Brown provided some respite
for the Harrow defence with
a jinking run into the Hitchin
penalty box. Robinson half-blocked
his effort and was helped out
by a defender before Harrow
forwards could get to the loose
ball. In stoppage time, Brennan
fired a Hitchin free-kick over
Karamoko’s bar.
So, Harrow move to 31 points,
and it is still November. Last
season, this total wasn’t
reached until April!
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