| On a bitterly
cold afternoon at Earlsmead,
Harrow did little to warm their
supporters with a listless display
on Saturday. It wasn’t
until the last five minutes
that Harrow had some attempts
on target, but it was then far
too little, far too late.
After an impeccably-observed
minute’s silence for the
late Jim Rogers, Purfleet were
quick out of the blocks. Matthew
Ferguson made three fine saves
in the first six minutes, from
Akurang’s free-header,
Kandol’s header that was
destined for the corner of the
net, and at Keeling’s
feet. It was no surprise when
the Essex men took the lead
after 20 minutes. Keeling juggled
the ball past Dean Marney and
lashed it across Ferguson into
the net.
Robert Charles had an effort
just past the post, but with
the strong wind at their backs,
the visitors ran the first half,
and Allen was close to doubling
the lead with a shot saved by
Ferguson.
With the advantage of the wind,
Borough started the second half
with a Pat Gavin header that
took an alert header from Maxwell
to keep away from the inrushing
Clemente Lopez. But the killer
second goal arrived after 58
minutes, Kandol outjumping Adam
Everitt to head a left-wing
cross over Ferguson.
The game then entered a very
dull period, with little happening
at either end. Kandol broke
through and shot wide for the
visitors with five minutes to
go, and this seemed to wake
Borough from their lethargy.
Harvey turned round James Osborn’s
25-yard free-kick, and then
made a great double save from
Osborn and Brian Haule. On the
stroke of ninety minutes, Eseyas
Yhdego lifted a clever pass
to Robert Charles, who chested
the ball down and fired past
Harvey.
Three minutes into stoppage
time, Marney chased a Purfleet
forward who was offside but
who tried to waste time by holding
onto the ball. Marney lashed
out with his foot, and was red-carded
by referee Scholes, but why
was the Purfleet forward not
booked for his part in the proceedings?
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| Before this
game started there was a one
minute silence in tribute to
Jim Rogers the Harrow Borough
Club President who died on Tuesday
aged 82. On the field a small
crowd watched a game which was
spoilt by a cold and swirling
wind. It was Purfleet who began
the better and were to remain
so for the whole game. Purfleet
had corner after corner and
their forwards, together with
the swirling wind, caused Harrow
keeper Matthew Ferguson real
problems.
In the 20th minute the wind
deceived the Harrow defence
and Jon Keeling stole in, turned
on the edge of the penalty area,
and hit a strong volley which
Ferguson could only watch sail
into the left hand corner of
the goal. Seven minutes later
and Ferguson's legs deflected
the ball for a corner and prevented
Harrow from going two goals
down. Harrow could hardly get
out of their own half and only
determined defending prevented
them from being out of the game
completely.
In the second half the game
opened up and although Harrow
had the advantage of the wind,
Purfleet being the better side
were dangerous on the break.
In the 57th minute Purfleet
were further rewarded with a
second goal when the Harrow
defence were caught sleeping
and Tresor Kandol found himself
unmarked on the edge of the
penalty area and headed the
ball over Ferguson into an empty
net.
Harrow did not drop and were
urged on, in particular by Adam
Everitt, but Purfleet remained
the better team and could easily
have put the match out of the
home team's reach long before
the end. In the last five minutes
Harrow did put pressure on the
visitors' defence and did score
in the 90th minute when Robert
Charles bundled the ball home
following a cross from the left.
In stoppage time Dean Marney
was sent off for the home side
following retaliation, and although
this was not a dirty game the
sending off was deserved.
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