I
understand it's called a league victory and that you get three
points for it? Is it reward for bravely playing in or attending
a crucial Ryman League Premier Division match, on a freezing cold
night, further afflicted with sleet and continuous torrential
rain? Whether it is or not, this is what Harrow Borough's players
and supporters achieved at Earlsmead Stadium on Tuesday night,
and wasn't it fun?, writes Tony Booth.
Having
failed to win a league match since the end of January and not
one at home since the beginning of October (!), Boro' put their
worries behind them, at least for a while, as they deservedly
celebrated what could be a vital change in their fortunes. On
the same night, a mixed bag of results for the teams in the lower
reaches of the table saw Boro' leap three places, from 19th to
16th, though having played 31 games, they have now played more
matches than all the teams in the lower half of the table, except
Enfield.
Manager
Eddie Stein made two changes from his previous starting line up,
in last week's critical defeat at home to Maidenhead. Out went
John Hurlock and Carl Levene, in came Adam Everitt and Paul Scott,
the latter making his full league debut for the club. On the bench,
three players returned to the playing squad, whilst out went former
skipper Mark Cooper.
Welcome
visitors to Earlsmead were injury victim Danny Nwaokolo, who hopes
to reappear before the end of the season, former reserve team
manager George Goode,. who was looking to bring the club a change
of luck, and another long term injury victim, Mark Xavier, whose
return to the field of play is still uncertain. In the first minute,
Andy Rose nearly made the most of his new, if temporary role in
the team, by shooting just wide from Hyslop's pass. Despite playing
into the teeth of a fierce wind, mid table Sutton were dangerous
on the break, with Haworth diverting the ball just wide and Whitmarsh
only being denied by Hyslop's tackle.
Horner
soon had to head clear from the threat of home skipper Pat Gavin,
whilst Joe Lyons put the visiting defence under pressure with
his long throws. At the other end, god tackles by Walsh and Everitt
kept the visitors at bay. Luton's Adam Everitt made an impact
at both ends for Boro', shooting just over from 30 yards, then
doing well to clear from the onrushing Bolt. As the half hour
approached, Fabio Valenti spurned a great opportunity, after a
Rose-Bates-Payne move, when he was forced wide and Howells was
able to tip the cross shot over. However, from Valenti's corner,
when the ball drifted beyond the far post, it was retrieved by
Jon Barrie BATES, whose right wing cross was comically misjudged
by the Sutton 'keeper. Howells at first pretended the ball had
gone behind the goal, then wandered across to look for a hole
inside the net at his near post, but referee Tingey was not to
be fooled and awarded a goal, the ball having flown into the net,
between the goalkeeper and the post !!
This
was the first piece of good luck Harrow had received for some
considerable amount of time - could they now build on it? From
Hook's massive clearance, Valenti headed on for Scott to run onto
the ball, only for him to blaze a shot wide as he was challenged.
Boro' were fortunate when Whitmarsh missed his kick in front of
goal but in the 42nd minute, a cruel deflection off HYSLOP led
to the scores being levelled. When a Bates clearance was blocked,
BOLT was able to cut in from the right and his driven shot, diverted
wildly, slid inside Hook's near post, when the 'keeper would surely
have saved but for the (un)lucky change of course. Payne was soon
dispossessed but fortunately for the hosts, Boothe blasted a 25
yard shot just wide.
For
the second half, it was now Boro's turn to be penned in their
half by the wind and rain. Yet they defended tenaciously and broke
out whenever the opportunity arose. Both teams tried their luck
from distance, with Gavin and Bolt both forcing saves, before
Boro' perhaps stunned themselves by regaining the lead, in the
56th minute. Howells had just launched the ball straight through
to his opposite number, so David Hook took the more sensible route,
aiming for a colleague. Derek Payne gained possession and threaded
the ball through the defence for VALENTI to run past his marker
and net an 18 yard shot, past the diving 'keeper.
Lewis
and Hunter were soon brought on to provide fresh legs and a change
of direction, as Sutton drove forward in search of another equaliser,
as they looked to maintain an away record better than that at
their Surrey home. Whitmarsh's shot was spilled by Hook, but Rose
cleared, then former Boro' winger Ekoku's cross was headed onto
a post, via Hook, by Whitmarsh, who then drove the loose ball
over the 'bar from point blank range! Payne was similarly frustrated
at the other end, no one being on hand to net when Howells could
only parry his long range shot.
A
flying tackle by Joe Lyons denied Ekoku a dangerous breakaway,
though the Boro' defender then had to go off injured. His replacement,
the speedy Fontenelle, then forced a pressure relieving corner,
after intercepting a stray Sutton pass. From Hunter's flag kick,
Gavin powered his header at goal, but only straight at the 'keeper.
With both clubs seemingly convinced each could still score again,
play swung from end to end in the closing minutes. Whitmarsh twice
more miskicked in front of the Boro' goal, a fate also befallen
by Gavin - whilst Fontenelle saw his shot held.
In
the end, a win that Boro' needed desperately, a defeat that Sutton
can live with, and much still to play for, not least this Saturday,
with the visit of runaway league leaders Farnborough Town, who
had coach Graham Pearce, another ex Boro' player, spying for them
at Earlsmead on Tuesday night.
Harrow:
Hook; Rose, Everitt; J. Lyons ( Fontenelle ), Hyslop, M. Walsh;
Payne, Bates ( Lewis ), Gavin, Valenti, Scot ( Hunter ).
Sutton:
Howells; Alighieri, Horner; Boothe, Palmer, Harlow; Bolt, Baker,
Whitmarsh, Haworth, Ekoku; subs. Gray, McCormack, Howard.
