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Richard
Goddard heads over Hampton's
Alan Inns |
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| Skipper Kevin
McKenna’s 55th minute
goal was enough to give Harrow
three important points in Tuesday
night’s game with the
league’s bottom club at
a misty Earlsmead. The win lifted
Harrow to 13th place in the
Ryman table, and kept a comfortable
buffer space over the clubs
in relegation trouble.
With keeper Keita Karamoko
on international duty with Mali,
Borough boss drafted in Ray
Francis between the sticks.
Francis had played pre-season
against Harrow for Irish side
Mullingar Town. The only other
change from Saturday’s
starting line-up at Hendon was
the inclusion of Ross Fitzsimon
in place of Phil Gridelet.
The first half was a dull affair.
Misplaced passes were a common
feature of both sides’
play and there was only one
serious attempt at goal at each
end. In the 25th minute, Fitzsimon’s
through ball sent Richard Goddard
through, but visiting keeper
Iga made a comfortable save.
After 32 minutes, a dreadful
pass by the otherwise-impressive
Perry Norman allowed O’Connor
to burst through on goal, and
his shot was deflected just
past the post.
Things livened up in the second
half, with Riddell heading wide
for the visitors after 52 minutes.
Three minutes later, Harrow
broke quickly from a Hampton
corner. Dean Marney sent Mekel
Hackett away on the right, and
his fine far-post cross was
headed home over Iga by McKenna.
Over the next eight minutes,
Francis made four saves to preserve
Harrow’s lead, the highlight
a quick reaction near-post block
to deny substitute Edwards.
Harrow needed a second and got
a glorious chance to get it
after 66 minutes. Adam Everitt’s
throw was headed down to Clemente
Lopez, who was flattened as
he attempted to get past a defender
on the left side of the penalty
area. Hackett had taken a very
confident penalty on Saturday,
but tonight his effort sailed
past Iga’s left-hand post.
There were fears that Hampton
might capitalise on this let-off,
but the hosts came strong in
the final quarter of the game.
Lopez hit a dipping 20-yard
volley just over the bar, before
Iga made an excellent save to
deny Hackett’s close range
effort after good work by Fabio
Valenti and Marvyn Watson. Everitt’s
run past three defenders on
the left-wing led to a cross
eluding the Harrow attack, and
Valenti’s 25-yard effort
was parried by Iga. Hackett’s
sharp turn to feed on Goddard’s
knock-down was denied by a block
by Rose, and finally Valenti
shot wildly past the post after
Watson’s cross and Goddard’s
header had created an opening.
The visit on Saturday of a
Basingstoke side who, while
in the top half of the table,
are not currently in good form,
gives Harrow a chance to get
another three points and really
consolidate their place in the
middle reaches of the table.
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