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Pat
Gavin scores Harrow's
second goal |
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| Both sides
required the points at Earlsmead
this afternoon, but especially
Chesham who are currently one
place above the relegation zone.
A deceptive wind spoilt the
whole of this game, but even
allowing for that it was very
scrappy and very poor standard.
Chesham with the wind in their
favour in the first half began
the brighter and were more threatening
than Harrow who could hardly
get the ball out of their own
half. When they did it was usually
a long ball hoofed upfield for
the ever willing Robert Charles,
but Chesham keeper Delroy Preddie
had little to do for the visitors.
The best that can be said of
the first half is that Matthew
Ferguson in the Harrow goal
made three excellent saves in
the 5th minute, in the 38th
minute with his legs and again
in the 43rd minute which kept
the home side in the match.
It was Andy Douglas and Andre
Scarlett for Chesham who seemed
to pose the most danger each
time.
The second half continued where
the first had left off. Slowly
however Harrow began to improve
and take advantage of the conditions,
and the fire which Chesham had
played with in the first half
drained away. In the 73rd minute,
Harrow did score unexpectedlty.
They won a free kick well over
30 yards out and Kevin McKenna
placed the ball carefully before
taking aim. It flew into the
top right hand corner of the
net, off the bar and the despairing
dive of keeper Preddie.
Then in the 80th minute Harrow
won another free kick just inside
their own half on the edge of
the touchline. Again McKenna
swung the ball over towards
the right hand post and Preddie
dropped it straight into the
path of Pat Gavin who tapped
it home. Finally in the 90th
minute after good interpassing
by the left hand corner flag
involving substitute Dwain Clarke,
the ball was crossed and Robert
Charles scored from close range. |
With Borough in mid table
and Chesham dangerously close
to the relegation zone, dispirited
from a home thrashing last week
and sacking manager Colin Lippiat
this looked an easy win on paper
for Borough. New manager Peter
Lawrence had obvious other ideas
and his motivated team took
the early game to sleepy Borough.
Poor defending saw Sinclair
left clear but his shot from
15 yards at the advancing keeper
Matt Ferguson saw him smother
the ball. Then Scarlett and
Braithwaite combining well along
the left flank made space for
Fewings to turn and his snap
shot rose above the cross bar.
The Dogbe left clear with just
Ferguson to beat panicked and
the advancing keeper managed
to smother the ball at his feet.
The visitors continued to attack
as Scarlett and Fewings interpassing
moved through the Borough defence
but the pass to Sinclair in
the area was well read by Ferguson
who advanced out of goal and
gathered at his feet.
From a free kick outside the
area Braithwaites lob found
Morgan but his drive went straight
at Ferguson. Borough seemed
to be relying on counter attacking
and were content to lob balls
into the visitors half and let
Robert Charles chase. One pick
up along the left flank saw
him move inside but his shot
through the crowded defence
went straight into Preddie’s
arms. Then Marvyn Watson loping
along on the right flank worked
one-two with Ross Fitzsimon
before passing into the middle
where a good chance fell to
James Osborn but this shot skied
over the bar.
From the restart Chesham continued
to pressure Borough with Douglas
shot being blocked by Richard
Goddard and then a free kick
taken by Morgan hit low through
a crowded area and kicked off
near the line by Watson. Next
attack saw Sinclair making room
on the right flank pump the
ball to the far side where an
unmarked Braithwaite passed
the ball towards the corner
flag where Morgans pacey drive
into the area missed everyone.
Borough brought on a 3rd striker
and immediately the tempo was
upped as Bent was dispossessed
near his corner flag by the
harassing Lopez and his cross
to the unmarked Osborn saw his
left footed hook shot glance
the crossbar and over. From
a free kick by McKenna, Pat
Gavin headed goalwards but Kleboe
dashing across headed out. The
overlapping marauding Lopez
went close twice as first his
8 yard shot was blocked and
skied over the bar and then
his lobbed shot from the edge
of the box hit the top of the
netting with the keeper back
pedalling.
On 74 minutes Borough were
awarded a free kick in a central
position 35 yards out and McKenna
bulleted the bull towards the
top right corner with Preddie
just touching in. Borough looked
for a second and good chances
fell to Watson, Charles and
Gavin. 7 minutes later Borough
were awarded another free kick
just inside the visitors half
which McKenna again struck powerfully
towards the goal. Chesham keeper
misjudged its pace and it hit
his outstretched arms to fall
invitingly behind him to the
waiting Gavin who slotted home.
Chesham continued to fight on
with Douglas in a good scoring
position being thwarted by Dean
Marney’s goal saving tackle.
With seconds left Borough’s
new acquisition from Chesham,
Dwayne Clarke added insult to
injury by providing the perfect
pass to Charles who side swiped
the ball into an unprotected
goal.
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