A
quick recovery from a poor cup display mid week was essential
in this bottom half Ryman league match against Carshalton. However
the visitors started more brightly and in the 2nd minute Pace
in a good scoring opportunity had the ball whipped off his shooting
foot by Oliver Lyons. Carshalton continued to pressure and Imond
Protain headed off the line to thwart a certain goal.
From
the corner the ball went to Pace but Dave Hook read the situation
and gallantly smothered at his feet. Borough's defence continued
to hold mastered by Lyons, who again made a saving tackle against
the in rushing Pace. Borough pushed up and the free roving Mark
Xavier along the left flank bustled his way thru 3 defenders and
crossed the ball into the path of Pat Gavin who's left footed
shot was saved by the keeper at the near post.
Borough
then went close again with Keith Newby spotting the keeper off
his line speculatively lobbing the ball from 30 yards but the
scrambling keepers fingertips just pushed the ball over the bar.
Borough's pressure paid off and with packed play around the corner
flag somehow Frank McCormacks contrived to swing the ball across
goal and an unmarked Xavier from 20 yards smashed the ball into
the top netting on 20 minutes.
Carshalton
responded and Pace catching the Borough defence flat footed and
with Hook only to beat shot around the post. The visitors persistence
eventually paid off with Pace allowed to move unchallenged on
the left flank and who's pass into the middle fell to Thomas who
at close range and under pressure from Imond Protain managed to
stab the ball home. Borough reacted and McCormack and Andy Rose
combined well with Rose's shot from inside the goal area just
pushed over for a corner. From the corner the ball fell to Newby
who's shot from 20 yards just brushed the bar.
Second
half start saw the visitors start strongly and good chances quickly
fell to Jones and Pace to increase their score but their shots
went wide. Then Thomas with a further two opportunities headed
over and lashed his next round the post. Borough made substitutions
and Xavier defence splitting pass to an unmarked Pat Gavin, with
the visitors expecting the offside flag, shot tamely at the advancing
keeping from 5 yards. Borough were picking up the pace and first
Gavin and the Dwayne Lewis had chances.
Persistent
Borough pressure especially by Xavier got a well earned corner
in the 90th minute and from it the ball fell into a melee of players
from which Nicolaj lund emerged, to drive it home. 3 points badly
needed, but no, 2 minutes into injury time with Carshalton suicidely
pressing, Thomas beat 2 defenders and scored with a rising 25
yard blockbuster hitting the net under roofing, with Hook transfixed,
for a well earned equisaliser.
HARROW
BOROUGH: HOOK, ROSE, PROTAIN, NEWBY (LUND), LYONS, NWAOKOLO,
ROBERTS, LEWIS, GAVIN, XAVIER, McCORMACK (SMALL-KING) unused sub
- GUSAVAC
CARSHALTON
ATHLETIC: HARRIS, BROOKER, DALY, AKERS, BRODRICK, ELVERSON,
CURRIE, ROBSON, PACE, THOMAS, JONES - subs LOCK, HAYNES, NAREYDOO
BOROUGH
XAVIER 20 mins LUND 90 mins
CARSHALTON
THOMAS 42 mins THOMAS 90 mins
REFEREE
M TINGEY
YELLOW
CARDS Lyons & Newby - Also Pace
