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It
was the Colin Simpson show at the Thurrock Hotel last Friday, with
Boro' providing little by way of a supporting cast, writes Tony
Booth.
The
much travelled striker netted four times in little over an hour,
whilst the visitors showed little appetite for the contest, at the
end of a week when they had previously achieved more than a little
good, with their win at Enfield and the seven goal hammering of
Ruislip.
Weakened
by the absence of Lund, Payne and Xavier, and with Everitt suspended,
Boro' made the long evening journey to face a side that was below
them in the table but which was unbeaten at home in the league since
September last year. Harrow made the worst possible start, conceding
a penalty after 100 seconds. Ling's cross beyond the far post tempted
Robinson off his line but the Boro' 'keeper only turned the ball
back into play and Lewis was ruled to have pushed an opponent in
the resulting melee. SIMPSON netted from 12 yards.
Boro'
responded positively, Richardson seeing his cross shot saved, and
a series of corners and crosses causing concern in the home defence.
However, the visitors could not find a finishing touch, going on
to suffer another blow when Nwaokolo was injured making a block
tackle. His replacement, Lyons, had only been on the pitch a matter
of seconds, when SIMPSON outpaced him and ran on to slip the ball
past Robinson, making it 2-0 after 19 minutes.
Again,
Harrow continued to trouble the home back four with speedy attacks,
Gavin having a volley saved and Richardson wasting a clear opening,
allowing Mead to save with a leg when put clear by Gavin. By contrast,
Purfleet had found their cutting edge all right. Robinson went full
length to save from Ling but was left helpless in the fourth minute
of stoppage time at the end of the half. Ling's free kick allowed
McFarlane a free header at goal and, when the ball rebounded off
the far post, SIMPSON was on hand to stab in his hat trick goal.
Oliver
Petersen replaced Gavin at the interval and Harrow made an encouraging
start to the half. Richardson had a shot saved, before Boro' netted
in the 53rd minute. Richardson raced up the wing and crossed for
PETERSEN to force the ball past the 'keeper. However, having got
themselves back into contention, more sloppy defending saw the three
goal deficit restored three minutes later. Ling's corner was flicked
on and SIMPSON completed his night's work with a close range chip
into goal.
Thereafter,
Purfleet were content to play out time, whilst Boro' were unable
to trouble them again, until two minutes from the end. Crosses by
Barnes and a shot from Rose had posed the only threat, until the
latter was fouled and Otis ROBERTS skilfully curled his 25 yard
free kick around the wall and inside the near post.
Harrow:
Robinson; M. Walsh, Rose; Lewis, Cooper, Nwaokolo ( Lyons 19 );
Roberts, Hurlock, Gavin ( Petersen 45 ), Richardson, Barnes; other
sub. Newby.
Purfleet:
Mead; Purdie, Southon ( Pashley 69 ); Lawrence, McFarlane, Ling;
Adams, Howard, Buglione ( Heighway 71 ), Simpson ( Georgiou 66 ),
Carthy.
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