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Heybridge
unbeaten for 10 games were going to be a good test for the improving
Harrow side and although played in heavy conditions the match proved
to be entertaining with both teams playing open, attacking football.
In the first minute John Hurlock gathered the ball outside the area
and drove it straight at the keeper.
Then
Oliver Etersen racing down the right flank swung the ball across
goal to the onrushing Frank McCormick who chipped the ball into
the middle to Otis Roberts who drove straight at the advancing keeper
from 15 yards. Harrow pressure continued and Heybridge keeper Banks
made one handed saves from Petersen and then Andy Rose. The visitors
fought back and Rogers outpacing Harrow's defence on the right flank
threaded the ball into the path of Parker and with only Dave Hook
to beat put round the post from 5 yards.
Then
Miyoba left clear on the left flank and racing into the area saw
Hook advancing off his line and his placed shot went across goal
narrowly missing the far post. From a Heybridge corner into the
middle Gillespie shot and Pat Gavin standing on the line booted
out and the ball fell to Pollard who slammed it back goalwards and
Gavin again saved the day by somehow bicycle kicking outwards into
play.
Both
defences were getting stretched and the big built Oliver Lyons was
instrumental in racing back to stop the pacey Gillespie from shooting
with the goal at his mercy, and then heading off the line from the
next Heybridge attack. Harrow picked up the pace with McCormack's
jinking run on the right flank, swinging the ball across to Petersen
who's glancing header to the far post was brilliantly one handed
saved by the keeper.
Then
Petersen, Roberts and wing back Rose combined well on the flank
to allow Rose a shot but the ball was partly smothered by the keeper
and ran loose for Wiles to kick away. Then McCormack on the wing
ran 20 yards and surrounded by 3 hassling defenders ,stumbled, still
got up but his shot was directed straight at the keeper. The keeper
lobbed the ball upfield into the path of Gillespie who's crashing
left footed drive was brilliantly saved by Hook's fingertipping
round the post.
Second
half saw Harrow attacking with Roberts, Rose and McCormack shots
going near but Heybridge in the 48th minute broke away and Parker
put clear on the left flank shot, and the ball was deflected into
the Harrow goal by Lyons. Harrow pressed for the equaliser and with
shots from McCormack and Gavin raining down on goal, followed by
another Gavin effort kicked off the line by Miyoba. In the 64th
minute Gavin was brought down in the area by Walters and a penalty
awarded.
Hurlock
waited for the keeper to move before driving into the top corner
for a deserved equaliser. Both teams continued at a hectic pace
to look for the winner with McCormack and Rose going close for Harrow.
A fine move involving McCormack and Danny Nwokolo coming up to support
attack saw the latter slide the ball across the centre to a waiting
Hurlock who fierce low shot from 10 yards was deflected by Vladamir
Gusavac up towards the top netting but the agile keeper somehow
fingertipped the ball over the bar.
In
the dying minutes Dwayne Lewis was red carded for elbows (2nd yellow
card) but with 10 men Harrow's Gavin still managed a good header,
under pressure just round the post. A well fought game with both
teams exhausted and deserving their wages.
HARROW
BOROUGH: HOOK, ROSE, NWOKOLO, LEWIS, COOPER, LYONS, ROBERTS, HURLOCK,
GAVIN, PETERSEN (GUSAVAC), MCCORMACK (DURU), UNUSED SUB: WALSH
HEYBRIDGE
SWIFTS: BANKS, CRANFIELD (MIYOBA), WILES, HAYDON, TOMLINSON (KANE),
POLLARD, PAYNE (WATERS), PARKER, GILLESPIE, ROGERS, WALTERS
HURLOCK
65th min LEWIS (own goal) 48th min
DWAYNE
LEWIS 2 yellows + a red
JOHN POLLARD 1 yellow
REFEREE
Mike Hughes
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