| Borough unbeaten
in their last 4 games against
an out of sorts Basingstoke
beaten in their last 5 games
looked a potential home win.
In cold condition both teams
started brightly. Town’s
Stamp forced his way along the
left flank and cutting in ,
shot but Richard Goddard racing
back to cover headed out to
safety. Then in an innocuous
shoulder charge, heads clashed
and Clemente Lopez lay several
minutes whilst having treatment.
On resumption the visitors
Stamp and Elad combined in one
twos along the right wing against
poor marking by Borough with
Stamp driving the ball across
the six yards box with no body
making contact until Fabio Valenti
picked up outside the box, swept
the ball up-field to Ross Fitzsimon
who’s centre across to
Goddard saw his header sail
over the crossbar. A fully recovered
Lopez then made space and pace
on the left side outrunning
his marker and crossed the ball
into the middle where Basingstokes
unmarked Allaway on 8 yards
saw his fortunate misplaced
header hit his own upright and
scrambled away.
The ball fell to Valenti on
the left flank and cutting in
shot low, but understrength
and the keeper smothered easily.
Borough pressure told as Lopez
and Fitzpatrick combined on
the left flank to allow a cross/shot
towards goal which defender
Allay completely missed and
Goddard may have touched into
the net past stranded keeper
Harbur on 26 minutes. Basingstoke
responded and from a corner
the ball bobbled in a melee
of players in the penalty area
and 2 yards outside goal Roach
back heeled the ball but fortunately
Keita Karamoko was well placed
to scoop up on the line. The
visitors pressure continued
with shots from Elad, McAllister
and Roach being solidly saved
by the well positioned Karamoko.
Then Roach left in acres of
room on the left side made ground
and passed forward to McCormick
who’s goal bound shot
from the edge of the penalty
area was fingertipped round
the post by Karamoko. From the
corner the ball reached Allaway
on the far side and with an
empty net in front of him, he
dwelt too long and his shot
was blocked by Goddard.
The second half saw the visitors
bombard the Borough goal looking
for the equaliser. Awarded a
free kick the ball was pumped
up to the unmarked Howes and
Roach who’s inter passing
led to Howes drive going wide
of goal. From a corner, Elad’s
inswinger brushed the crossbar
with Karamoko pushing over.
From the corner Goddard emerged
from the packed area to head
out. Then on 63 minutes the
visitors lobbed a high ball
into Borough’s half over
the back pedalling defenders
heads into no mans land where
a quick McCallister nipped in
and lifted the ball past the
fazed Karamoko to score off
the inside post.
Within a minute Borough still
disorganised were made to pay
dearly as an overworked Karamoko
dropped a cross in a packed
area and Allaway tapped into
an empty net. Basingstoke continued
to press with Roach speculatively
lobbing from 30 yards and Karamoko
just scrambling back to take
a high catch. Karamoko then
punched the ball out through
a melee of players and held
on to a McAllister special from
20 yards. Harrow brought on
Brian Haule to bolster the attack
and this turned the tide. Fitzsimon
had a shot but was blocked by
Stamp. From a corner Goddard
headed out to McKenna who,s
shot from the edge of the penalty
area through a pack of players
just whistled past the upright.
Harrow looked for the equaliser
but Fitzsimon powerful drive
went straight at the keeper.
With time running out defender
Adam Everitt made a run up-field
crossed the ball into the middle
from the left and McKennas header
down wards just missed the upright.
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