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Harrow's
new strikeforce in action
against Sutton -
David Ocquaye (left),
Simon Underwood (right) |
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| It’s
only mid-September, but Harrow
are in trouble at the foot of
the Ryman Premier. The only
side without a win this season,
they are now four points adrift
of the next team up, following
a performance that lacked nothing
in effort but was let down by
poor defending.
Harrow began with a new strike
partnership, David Ocquaye and
Simon Underwood. It was not
a dream debut for either, as
each was at fault in the first
ten minutes. First, Ocquaye
mis-controlled Richard Goddard’s
header in front of goal when
presented with a clear chance
to put Harrow ahead. Then, after
nine minutes, Underwood allowed
visiting left back Eddie Akuamoah
a free run to collect a corner
and deliver a cross for Mark
Watson to head past David Hook.
Borough equalised after 27
minutes. Goddard had just made
a fine saving tackle in the
Borough goalmouth, when Valenti
beat his man on the left and
sent in an inswinging cross
that Sutton defender Palmer,
under pressure from Underwood,
headed into his own net. Ocquaye
then chested down a cross and
fired over from 18 yards.
Sutton went back in front after
40 minutes. Underwood broke
clear of the Sutton defence
to chase Clemente Lopez’s
pass, but he miscontrolled the
ball. Sutton very quickly broke,
again on the left, and when
the cross came in there was
Watson once more to convert
from close range. As the half
closed, Hook made a fine double
save and, at the other end,
Wayne Walters’s header
was saved by Iga.
Borough looked full of spirit
as the second half began. Goddard
headed Elliott’s corner
over the bar, Ocquaye shot wide,
and Underwood hit a 20-yard
dipper just over the bar. Stein
introduced Abdulai Yoki after
56 minutes, and the lively forward
made an immediate impact with
a 58th minute left wing cross
that Kevin McKenna headed in
from 15 yards for the equaliser.
But the parity only lasted
ten minutes. Once again the
visitors raided on the left,
and with Valenti caught upfield
the lively Bailey was allowed
to take on Goddard and cross
for Gray to convert at the near
post.
Harrow kept battling and were
close to equalising when Underwood,
falling slightly backwards,
could only direct Yoki’s
cross past the far post. However,
the final nail in the coffin
was driven in after 78 minutes,
Bolt slamming a penalty past
Hook after Elliot was adjudged
to have upended Watson. A good
save late on by Iga from Robert
Charles denied Borough the consolation
of a third goal.
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