|
Pat
Gavin lines up his second
goal |
|
| Both sides
came into this game needing
a win - Heybridge being in the
relegation zone and Harrow needing
the points to steer away from
the danger area.
The first half was very poor
fayre - neither side played
good football and the game was
scrappy. Swifts played the ball
on the ground and their passing
was neat, but they failed to
impress in front of goal, while
Harrow relied on long balls
upfield, but they too were goal
shy. Harrow should have scored
when Clemente Lopez was clear
on goal in the 43rd minute,
but Swifts goalkeeper Darren
Placid saved easily. It was
no surprise when half time arrived
and the score was 0-0.
The second half continued the
way of the first half and Harrow
were playing against a strong
wind hampering their football.
In the 57th minute Harrow's
Eseyas Yhdego was substituted
for Brian Haule and although
this appeared a surprise, it
was to be a key factor in the
way the game unfolded. Harrow
suddenly appeared to be more
of a threat up front, and ten
minutes later a goal came. Fabio
Valenti was fouled on the edge
of the penalty area and from
the free kick Pat Gavin was
able to head the ball home,
despite the attention of the
Swifts defence in a crowded
penalty area.
The game opened up and Swifts
should have equalised in the
72nd minute when Richard Goddard
slipped in the Harrow defence,
leaving Kevin Budge clean through
on goal. His shot however was
high and wide. In the 85th minute
Swifts did equalise when the
ball was pumped upfield and
again it was Budge who was able
to turn in the penalty area
and slide the ball past Matthew
Ferguson. That seemed to be
that, but three minutes later
after good work by Brian Haule,
Pat Gavin found himself clear
and his hard hit shot went across
the goalkeeper and into the
bottom left hand corner of the
net. |
