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Pat
Gavin - third goal finished
off the K's |
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| Borough boss
Edwin Stein returned to his
first club in English football
last week, to get the signature
of 18-year old midfielder James
Osborn, just released by Luton
Town. Thrust straight into the
Borough starting eleven, the
signing paid immediate dividends
as the youngster’s two-goal
debut capped an excellent team
display and a thoroughly deserved
victory.
On a very dry and hard pitch,
both teams took a while to settle
and, apart from Payne’s
blocked effort for the hosts,
there was little of note in
the first 20 minutes. Harrow
then began to dominate, with
veteran centre-forward Pat Gavin
twice going close with headers
from Ross Fitzsimon corners.
Against the run of play, Kingstonian
went ahead after 32 minutes.
Goalkeeper Key launched a long
free-kick into the Harrow penalty
area. It was half-cleared by
the Harrow defence but the ball
was quickly played back into
the danger area where Payne
was given a half-yard, which
was all he needed to fire past
Matthew Ferguson.
Edgar was give space to plant
a header past Ferguson’s
post, but Harrow hit back to
level after 43 minutes. Richard
Clarke, playing a holding role
in midfield in place of the
suspended Wayne Walters, began
the move with a surging run
ended 25 yards out by a foul
tackle. Referee Evetts played
a good advantage as the ball
broke to Fabio Valenti, who
diverted it to Osborn who poked
it firmly past Key from 10 yards.
Borough built on this by taking
the lead in first half stoppage
time. Again Gavin caused problems
to the home defence from a Fitzsimon
corner. Though he did not win
the ball, his challenge forced
a poor header across the penalty
area, and Osborn was sharply
onto the loose ball to crack
a sweet right-foot shot past
Key from 16 yards.
Harrow fans might have expected
a surge of home pressure in
the second half, but it did
not materialise. Fitzsimon and
Osborn formed a strong partnership
with Clarke in midfield, and
Richard Goddard, Dean Marney
and Adam Everitt coped comfortably
with the home attack. At the
other end Gavin and Valenti
worked tirelessly, supported
by forward raids by Daniel Dyer
and Clemente Lopez on the flanks.
Harrow threatened a third goal
when Gavin and Valenti exchanged
passes before Valenti fired
wide, and Osborn showed a knack
of arriving at the right time
with two shots off-target.
Ferguson was stretched for
the only time during the afternoon
in the 71st minute when he dived
to his left to push away substitute
Wingfield’s shot. Two
good blocks in the Harrow goalmouth
stopped further efforts a few
minutes later. But Borough weathered
that brief threat and came back
strongly in the closing minutes.
A nice move between Fitzsimon
and Osborn fed Valenti on the
left of the box. He cut the
ball back onto his right foot
and hit a good shot that was
blocked. Harrow crowned their
performance with a fine third
goal in the 87th minute. Ferguson’s
clearance upfield was worked
by Fitzsimon to Valenti on the
right. He got past the full-back
and hit a cross that Gavin dived
to head home from six yards.
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