|
Eseyas
Yhdego - return to the
side |
|
| The conditions
at Oakside on Saturday were
not suited to good football,
with a grassless, bumpy pitch
that was very hard at one end
and softer at the other. But
that should not be an excuse
for this inept display. A good
surface is not a necessary requirement
for defenders to be on their
toes, and both home goals came
from the home side being quicker
in thought than the visitors.
Borough were missing Adam Everitt
with a stomach strain, and the
suspended Richard Goddard. Paul
Symes came in to lead the line
on his first first-team start.
Dean Marney’s early header
from Kevin McKenna’s free-kick
was blocked, and Fabio Valenti’s
follow-up shot saved. At the
other end Perry Norman dragged
down a home forward, earning
a booking in the process, Poole
shooting wide from the resulting
free-kick. Borough’s defence
gave warning of what was to
come later when Bejada, possibly
the smallest man on the pitch,
was allowed to get in a firm
header that Keita Karamoko dived
full-length to save. A nice
free-kick routine from the home
side ended with McLeod swerving
a shot just past the post. Home
right-back Collis was lucky
to escape with just a caution
for a challenge on Clemente
Lopez from which the Borough
defender was lucky to get up
with all limbs intact.
Referee Margetts had turned
down home penalty appeals when
Marney’s challenge on
Abrahams saw the home player
fall to the ground. But on the
stroke of half-time he more
than evened things up, when
he waved play on as Ross Fitzsimon
was simultaneously grabbed and
tripped as he weaved into the
area.
Seven minutes into the second
half the home side took the
lead. Wayne Walters lost the
ball and pulled down a home
forward outside the penalty
area. Collis’s curling
free-kick brought a great save
from Karamoko, pushing the ball
onto the upright, but the Malian
keeper could only look on as
Abrahams was first to the loose
ball and fired home. Why was
it a home player who was - by
a distance - first to react?
Harrow made some effort to
get back into the game, but
they lacked a cutting-edge.
Marney headed Fitzsimon’s
free-kick wide, before a nice
ball from Lopez sent Valenti
clear on the left, but his cross
was fractionally behind Symes
who consequently could not get
any power in his shot. Ford’s
Halle escaped with a handball
inside his penalty area, probably
unintentional and if so a correct
decision.
The home side came on strongly
late in the game. A poor Phil
Gridelet pass led to a move
that required Marney to clear
off the goalline with Karamoko
out of his goal. An 81st minute
corner killed off Borough’s
chances. Poole was left in space
on the edge of the box with
time to control the ball before
shooting. The effort was blocked,
but a big scramble ensued which
ended with Perkins bundling
in the ball.
Substitute Eseyas Yhdego, making
a welcome return to the side,
had two late efforts off target,
while Poole was again given
room to shoot, off-target, for
the home team.
Harrow still have a safe margin
between their 14th place and
the relegation battle. But more
performances like this will
soon have the Earlsmead faithful
nibbling on fingernails that
aren’t usually allowed
to grow long in Springtime.
|
