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Boro'
have drawn a blank each time they have played the Islanders before
and their unhappy record continued at Earlsmead Stadium on Tuesday
night. Boro' remain rooted in 18th place in the Premier Division,
just above the bottom three, writes Tony Booth.
Boro'
made three changes to their starting line up, with Levene, Walsh
and Fontenele replaced by Valenti, Hyslop and Bates. The visitors,
sandwiching this match in between their F A Trophy semi final legs,
took the opportunity to rest some weary legs, in a match watched
by, among others, the Chester City chairman, the League's Chief
Executive and former Boro' player Geoff Taylor, who has in recent
years been scouting for several Football League clubs.
The
match began in cool, dry conditions which soon turned to torrential
rainfall. Harrow had by far the greater share of possession, as
in all recent matches, yet it was going to be a case of finishing
in front of goal to make the possession worthwhile. As it happened,
too many crosses were wayward and Canvey were well able to handle
what Boro' put in their path. In the 18th minute, a good shout for
a penalty, when Canvey's Bennett handled the ball away from Hyslop,
was turned down by the referee. Andy Rose then drove a 20 yard shot
just wide, as he picked up a headed clearance.
A
Bates through ball then just evaded the onrushing Woodrufe, only
for Canvey to nearly score from their first attack! In the 24th
minute, Tanner's free kick was headed onto his own far post by Boro's
Pat Gavin ( a la Iain Dowie ), the ball rebounding back into play!
Duffy then shot just wide as the ball fell to him, whereupon Boro'
should have taken the lead. Fabio Valenti's cross saw Hurlock denied
at the last, then Gavin was very unlucky, heading Woodruffe's cross
onto the Canvey crossbar. He then headed over from a Valenti cross,
but by then Canvey had taken a 41 minute lead. Hyslop's foul on
Clark was punished by a clever three man free kick routine, TANNER
driving a 25 yard shot past the diving Hook.
Needing
to get back on level terms in order to give themselves a chance
of salvation, Boro had Lewis driving a long shot just wide, then
Rose's shot was blocked by Scott and Bates netted the rebound, only
to be ruled offside. Good defence by Broughton and Rose kept the
visitors at bay but Boro' knew their hopes in this game were extinguished
once Gavin headed narrowly wide from Valenti's 78 minute cross.
Four
minutes later, a crisp three man move saw Armstrong cross for TANNER
to net a 20 yard shot that was inspired or a lucky swing of the
boot, take your pick, the ball swerving past the motionless Hook.
In the closing minutes, Levene shot over, Scott had a shot saved,
and Protain put the ball just wide, but Canvey had been in control
for much of the second half and few could argue with the end result
being justified.
Harrow:
Hook; Rose, Protain; Lewis, Broughton, Hyslop; Valenti, Bates (
J. Lyons ), Gavin, Hurlock ( Scott ), Woodruffe ( Levene ).
Canvey:
Harrison; Thompson, Dufy; Chenery, Bennett, Davidson; Tanner, Miller,
Clark, Vaughan ( Jones ), Smith ( Tilson ); other sub Gregory.
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