| 14th
December 1996 saw Harrow supporters
celebrating a league win over
Chertsey Town. Few of them could
have imagined that it would
be nearly seven years before
another league win was obtained
in the month of December, but
the Advent jinx was finally
broken at Earlsmead on Saturday
with an important win over Bishop's
Stortford. Not only was it the
first December win in that long
time, more currently it broke
a drought of home points that
stretched back to 4 October.
Caretaker-boss David Howell’s
first-choice midfield was decimated
for this fixture, with Ross
Fitzsimon completing a two-match
ban, and Kevin McKenna and Clemente
Lopez injured. With Robert Charles
unavailable, the side was re-adjusted,
but it seemed to have little
effect on Borough who started
in lively fashion. Danny Moore’s
20-yard shot was saved by Desborough
before Harrow scored after 7
minutes. Simon Underwood crossed
from the left and although the
Stortford defence cleared the
initial danger, Steve Dogbe
picked up the loose ball and
precisely side-footed it into
the corner of the net from the
edge of the box. It was his
first competitive goal for Borough.
Harrow continued to dominate
for a while, but the visitors
started to come into the game
midway through the half. Richard
Weale had to make an important
header clear from Howell’s
cross from a quick Stortford
break. Keita Karamoko made a
good save from Southam’s
shot which took a nasty bounce
just in front of him.
Richard Goddard had a headed
‘goal’ disallowed
for a dodgy-looking offside,
before Wayne Walters shot wide
from 25 yards after Danny Moore’s
long-throw came out to him.
Another Moore throw saw Dean
Marney head on the ball, and
Dogbe shot past the post from
seven yards when he ought to
have hit the target.
Late first-half scrambles in
the Harrow goalmouth saw Walters
and Marney get in timely blocks
to avert danger. With the strong
wind at their backs, the visitors
took an early grip on the second
half, which turned into a tough
resistance effort for the Borough
rearguard. Rainford’s
early shot was deflected over
the bar, and a good Karamoko
save was followed by the first
of number of scrambles. The
Malian keeper made another good
save and Walters made a good
tackle.
Some rare Harrow pressure saw
an Underwood effort fly just
wide, but they were soon on
the back-foot again. Southam
shot wide, and another headed
effort flew just over the bar.
Morison shot over, but great
credit is due to Marney, Goddard,
Weale and Perry Norman who tackled
and pressed for all they were
worth and kept the openings
on goal to a minimum despite
the high amount of Stortford
pressure. Into stoppage time,
Karamoko made a great save at
the feet of a raiding forward,
and then tipped away a free-kick,
with a great Marney clearing
header completing the defence’s
fine work.
With none of the other bottom
nine teams winning, the win
lifted Borough a further place
and, importantly, drew a number
of other teams within range
as manager Howell seeks to guide
Harrow up the league.
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