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As
a result of one of the more surprising F A Cup 3rd qualifying round
scores on Saturday, this one a goalless draw, at Earlsmead Stadium,
Harrow Boro' have to travel north for a replay at Stafford's shared
ground next Wednesday, writes Tony Booth.
It's
not entirely new ground for Boro', as they have played at Marston
Road ( the ground Stafford Town rent from landlords Stafford Rangers
) before, during their FA Trophy run of 1982/3 that took Boro' to
the semi final. On that occasion, Boro's opponents were Barrow -
in a 2nd replay, won 2-0 by Boro'. This time around, Boro' will
visit a team they should certainly have beaten at the first time
of asking but who battled gamely to the finish.
Boro'
were without Lund from their recent line-up, whilst Stafford's Dematteo
was in the visiting team, despite having been sent off two weeks
ago, in the previous round. Harrow dominated the first half, as
you might expect, given the 'pyramidal' gulf between the two sides,
in terms of league status.
Stafford
then had a good spell at the start of the second half, whilst it
was tense for both teams in the closing stages, as neither dared
risk defeat in the final minutes. In the opening quarter of the
game, McCormack sent a screamer just wide from 30 yards, Hurlock
had a shot deflected over, Cooper headed wide and Gavin saw his
scissor kick end up wide of a post. The visitors were penned in
their own half to such an extent that they only got around to forcing
a corner in the 26th minute.
That
this came to naught was no great surprise on the evidence of what
had gone before. Matters returned to 'normal' the next minute, when
Gavin went close at the other end, his chip shot forcing Plant to
leap and tip the ball onto the crossbar and out of play. As the
chances for the home team continued to pile up, Gavin headed over,
Roberts had a shot deflected wide, McCormack saw two shots go very
close, and Hurlock had a very good call for a penalty turned away
by referee Phipps, when he appeared to be felled from behind as
he attempted to get in a shot on goal.
Hardly
able to believe their good fortune at being level at the interval,
Stafford threw themselves into attack upon the restart. Fortunately,
their efforts were no more accurate than Boro's. Dematteo spooned
wide from 3 yards, Stark completely missed his header in front of
an open goal, then the latter unluckily saw his firm drive rebound
back into play off a post.
Stung
into action, Boro' should have broken the deadlock on 64 minutes,
when Gavin's fierce header was palmed away. Then Xavier's chip was
saved, Hurlock shot just wide, and even full backs Rose and Nwaokolo
saw efforts deflected off target. Only a good save by Plant denied
a goalbound shot from Rose, before both teams had clear chances
to clinch the game in the final ten minutes. For Harrow, Gavin had
a shot and header saved, Rose then had two shots, one saved, the
other just wide.
Stafford
could have pulled off a shock win themselves, with Stark being crowded
out and Dematteo shooting just over. In all, a pulsating cup tie
that neither side deserved to lose, in terms of honest endeavour.
Harrow:
Hook; Rose, Nwaokolo; Lewis, Cooper (c), Lyons; Roberts ( 12 Gusavac
76 ), Hurlock, Gavin, Xavier, McCormack; other subs 14 Protain 15
Hayrettin 16 Petersen 17 Braathen
Stafford:
Plant; Gomersall, Anthony (c); Carter, Walters, Somerville ( 12
Tilston 88 ); Dunne, Campbell, Stark ( 17 James 86 ), Dematteo,
Curtis; other subs 14 Skelton 15 Edensor 16 Warrilow
Cautioned:
Walters 35 Lewis 45 Curtis 81
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