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Early
Christmas Fayre was set out for the fans at Earlsmead with this
nine goal thriller. The cold conditions proved no obstacle for Hampton
and they went on the offensive from the start with Griffiths shooting
over the bar and then his next attempt cleared off the line by Emond
Protain.
New
boy ,keeper, Andy Walker deputising for the injured Hook booted
the ball upfield but it fell to Griffiths who fired back from 50
yards but Walker off his line and running back fumbled the ball
to the ground and then managed to gather it before crossing the
line. Hampton continued to pressure and Holloway running through
on the right flank was fouled by Protain outside the area.From the
free kick the ball was swung across the goal and Flitter rose up
above the packed Harrow defence to head down and in at 17 mins.
Harrow
woke up and shots from Derek Payne and Keith Newby were easily saved.
Then Mark Cooper joining the attack was brought down in the area
but Harrows seemingly justifiable appeals were waved away. Harrow
continued to seek the equaliser but the next attack saw the ball
booted way up and out of Hampton's defence towards the Harrow keeper
who dashed off his line and out of the area to kick back but the
pacey Griffiths running in took the full impact of the ball on his
body and it sailed back over the keeper into the net, followed closely
by Griffiths and Walker.
Harrow
responded with a jinking run by Mark Xavier along the left wing
who's pass into Newbys path was met by a beautiful curling shot
from 15 yards into the top right corner just evading the despairing
keepers hands. Harrow continued to pressure with shots from Xavier.
Andy Rose and Dwayne Lewis going close. Second half saw Hampton
start quickly and Protain was caught in possession near goal forcing
Payne to foul Mansfeld. From the free kick just outside the area
Griffiths bent the ball round the wall to make it 3-1. From the
kick off Newby picked up the ball near goal, switched it thru to
Hasan Oktay who threaded the ball into goal but was judged offside.
On
52 minutes Payne gathered the ball on the left wing and with keeper
and defenders getting in each others way slotted the ball through
to the unmarked Oktay who left footed it into an empty goal . Richmond
came back and Holloway rushing through into the penalty area towards
the Harrow defence, side heeled the ball out to Maskell who should
have scored from 10 yards but hammered the ball past the upright.
Holloway continued to torment the Harrow defence and his next run
into the penalty area saw him shepherded to the by line by Rose,
but who's then tackle was adjudged to be a foul and a very controversial
penalty awarded.
From
the spot kick Griffiths buried the ball into the right corner. Harrow
reacted with Roberts making space on the right flank and racing
in powerfully hammering a swerving shot from 20 yards which the
keeper did well to save first time. Then Xavier stealing the ball
on the right flank ran at the Hampton defence and swung the ball
across the face of the goal to substitute Kelechnu Duru who drove
in past the keepers outstretched hands on 80 minutes.
Richmond
came back and a mix up in the penalty area between Rose and Walker
now carrying a leg injury led to the ball being gift wrapped to
Holloway who's goalbound shot hit his own man Griffiths and sailed
harmlessly around the upright. Then Willan intercepting the ball
in Harrows half evaded two tackles on the left side and passed into
the middle where an unmarked Griffiths slotted in for his fourth
and Hamptons fifth.
A
minute later Duro picking the ball up inside Harrows half beat 3
defenders and from 20 yards smashed the ball under a late diving
keepers body. The game continued to ebb and flow but Harrow couldn't
find the equaliser.
HARROW
BOROUGH: WALKER, ROSE, PROTAIN (WALSH), LEWIS, COOPER, NWAOKOLO,
ROBERTS (PETERSEN), NEWBY (DURU), OKTAY, XAVIER, PAYNE
HAMPTON
& RICHMOND: MAY, FLITTER, GIRVAN, HOUGHTON, BURTON, MANUELLA, HOLLOWAY,
GREEN, ASAMOAH (CARTER). MASKELL (WILLAN), GRIFFITHS (UNUSED), SHAW
Referee:
Paul Armstrong
Goals:
Harrow: Newby 40, Oktay 52, Duru 80, 86
Hampton: Flitter 17 Griffiths 37, 47 75 (pen) 85
Attendance
217
Yellow
Cards
Harrow: Rose, Protain, Lewis, Cooper
Hampton: Houghton Holloway
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