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Harrow
Borough 1 Aldershot Town 1
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Lineups / Goalscorers
A
performance as gutsy and committed as the previous Saturday's had
been disappointing.
That's
fair comment on the improvement shown by Harrow Boro's much altered
line up in this pulsating Ryman League Premier Division fixture
at Earlsmead Stadium on Tuesday, sponsored by former Boro' forward
Paul Ripley's estate agency.
Manager
Eddie Stein spared no one from his eagle eye as he made four team
changes from the first match of the league season, writes Tony Booth.
In came Sean James, returning to the Boro' after a spell at St Albans,
together with new signings Hurracia Willock, Shane Small-King and
Jesse Hall. Also brought in, on the bench initially, was Danish
signing Nicolaj Lund, whose international clearance allowed him
to play.
Facing
them were three ex Harrow players, Andy Pape, Mark Pye and manager
George Borg. Ludicrously branded as 'relegation favourites' in one
Sunday paper, Boro' showed real mettle in this match, where they
opposed one of the sides feted as promotion candidates, certainly
the best supported club in the league, in terms of numbers at least.
The
match began at a hectic pace, which never really decreased and all
the players deserve credit for maintaining the excitement right
up to the final whistle. The visitors applied most of the early
pressure, with Lyons, Willock and James all making timely clearances
in the Boro' defence. Hook confidently held onto Crossley's looping
header before Boro' created two good chances of their own - Gavin's
header and Xavier's cross causing some consternation in the Shots'
penalty area. Though the ball spent most of the first half in Boro'
territory, the home team were covering well and supporting each
other.
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Mark
Xavier scores from the penalty spot
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At
one end, Lyons did well to clear from the pacy Abbey, whilst at
the other, in the 27th minute, Willock nearly opened the scoring,
his 20 yard drive being palmed wide by the diving Pape, after a
flowing move involving Gavin, Willock and Small-King. Pat Gavin
showed his determination as a team player, when twice clearing the
danger from his own area, before Boro' had a stirring spell towards
the end of the half. First, Hall and James set up Small-King for
a mazy run that saw him - literally - escape the clutches of Crossley
and force a double save from Pape.
Then,
in the 39th minute, after a strong challenge on Coll, the Aldershot
defender rashly moved back into his own area and felled Xavier.
Referee Pearce correctly awarded a spot kick, which Mark XAVIER
stroked past the rooted Pape, to put Boro' ahead. Strong words in
the visiting changing room saw Aldershot's players spending most
of half time out on the pitch and two substitutions suggested a
new approach. It took an excellent tackle by Rose and an even better
diving save by Hook, to keep out Abbott's header, to keep the hosts
ahead in the early minutes of the second half. Newcomer Lund was
introduced and he swiftly made his mark, sending in Hall for an
effort that Pape had to clear for a corner.
A
good tackle by Lyons on the hour averted danger but six minutes
later, he was penalised for a challenge on Gell, with ABBOTT netting
the penalty.Four minutes later, Boro's 'keeper made a brilliant
save on the edge of the box, diving to turn away Bentley's shot,
after the visitor had run free from halfway. With both sides keen
to earn their first win of the season, it was nip and tuck as to
who would win but the closest either team came to a victory was
three minutes into stoppage time, when Duru's through ball sent
Xavier racing clear of Chewins, only for Pape to spread himself
well and block the shot, whereupon Lund's pass gave Hunter two bites
at the cherry, only for his first shot to be blocked and the second
to fly narrowly over the 'bar.
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