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Lineups / Goalscorers
It's
said that the mark of a good side is to win when not playing so
well. In that case, the revival at Earlsmead really is genuine,
for this win against fifth-placed Billericay in very wet conditions
was achieved without reaching the high standards of recent games.
Having
taken just one point from their first four games, Harrow are now
unbeaten in seven league fixtures which have yielded fifteen points.
Harrow made two changes to the line up that had beaten Tring in
the FA Cup, with Danny Nwaokolo replacing the injured Emond Protain,
and Mark Walsh, newly signed from London Colney, coming in for
Mark Cooper who was serving a one match suspension. There was
early pressure from the visitors, and Linger shot wide after a
good build-up.
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Mark
Xavier hits Harrow's first
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Harrow
were slower to settle, but should have gone in front after 16
minutes when Pat Gavin intercepted a back-pass. He was blocked
as he attempted to round King, and shot wide with a second attempt.
Harrow had a penalty claim turned down in the 27th minute when
Nicolaj Lund was tugged as he moved towards Mark Xavier's cross.
However, the opening goal arrived three minutes later. Nwaokolo's
long ball down the left was headed on by Gavin.
Xavier
got away from the Billericay defence in the inside left position,
and hammered the ball between King and his near post. Borough
survived an immediate scare at the other end when David Hook was
caught out of his goal but the ball was crossed into the side
netting. Territorially, Billericay probably had more of the first
half possession, but it was the home side who scored a second
goal in the 43rd minute. Lund played a fine pass inside the full-back,
Xavier crossed and Billericay's Moore, not helped by the slippery
conditions, stumbled on the ball and diverted it into the net.
Borough
nearly got a third just before half-time, when Moore had to make
a fine header clear to stop Gavin reaching Otis Roberts's cross.
The visitors enjoyed some good pressure early in the second period,
with Baker and Parratt very influential with some astute passes.
Lund and Walsh made fine clearing interceptions, Hook made a good
save with his feet, and then an even better one to turn aside
Linger's goalbound shot. Harrow attacks were intermittent and
it was no surprise when the visitors pulled a goal back in the
77th minute.
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John
Hurlock makes it three
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A
build up on the right saw the Borough defence sucked across the
goalmouth, leaving Southgate free on the left to hammer the ball
past Hook. With an equaliser looking possible, it was harrow who
scored a decisive third goal in the 81st minute. Xavier chased
a lost cause pass up the left, rounded a defender, and cut the
ball back for substitute John Hurlock to fire home from 15 yards.
Still the visitors attacked.
Oliver
Lyons and Danny Nwaokolo made clearances before Parratt made it
3-2 in the 87th minute, clipping a free-kick over the Borough
wall past a static Hook. There was briefly some desperate defending,
but it was Harrow who signed off the game with a fourth goal in
stoppage time. Lund found substitute Perry Norman on the right
hand side of the area. He held the ball up cleverly before crossing
for Gavin to twist to fire home a great volley from 12 yards.
