Harrow
Borough 1 Basingstoke Town 4
View
Lineups / Goalscorers
Possession
may be nine tenths of the law but in soccer, if you don't convert
that possession into goals, you're not going to win matches.
Harrow
Borough had their fair share of the ball in Saturday's Ryman League
Premier Division fixture, at Earlsmead Stadium, only to miss out
on good opportunities to score at vital times and paying the penalty.
Following
last Tuesday's encouraging draw with Aldershot, Boro' had looked
likely to gain further ground with this home game. They started
strongly, with Lund sending Hunter clear, only for Tarr to parry
the latter's shot, with Lund having his effort on the rebound
blocked by a defender. James then set off on an adventurous run,
crossing for Gavin to have a close range opportunity, but the
Boro' centre forward scuffed his shot wide. Hook's massive clearance
was knocked on by Gavin and Hunter looked to have opened the scoring
with an angled shot, only for Tarr to dive and touch it wide.
The
visitors had been limited to long range efforts, some of which
had been very close to goal - so it was against the run of play
that they took a 39 minute lead. Baker and Gorman worked an opening
for GIRDLER to net a 16 yard drive. A minute before the break,
this blow was doubled when Baker's cross allowed COOK a free header
from close range that flew past Hook.
Boro'
gave themselves a good chance of recovery, scoring two minutes
into the second half, when a fine run and cross by Mark Xavier
found Pat GAVIN at the far post, where he netted a shot before
colliding painfully with the 'keeper. Tarr was soon very busy
in the 'Stoke goal, saving Xavier's cross shot and Lund's shot
but the visitors bided their time before hitting Boro' on the
break.
|
|
Mark
Xavier in full flight
|
It
took an excellent diving save from Hook to turn Gorman's shot
onto the underside of the 'bar and back out into play, abd though
Lund's header and another cross shot from Xavier nearly brought
dividends, the visitors went on to further their lead. With 7
minutes left, Mings and Richardson set up GORMAN for a close range
goal and, in the last minute of normal time, when Richardson's
long ball sent Gorman clear, though Hook made two fine saves and
Lyons blocked a third effort, the Boro' defender was then ruled
to have fouled Gorman.
NEWBERY
netted the resultant penalty, to inflict Boro's second successive
1-4 Saturday defeat.
