|
One-up at half-time in a keenly-fought
local derby, Harrow appeared
to be on the way to a vital
three points to aid their relegation
struggle. But then a highly
controversial refereeing decision
turned this game on its head,
and the end result was all-too-familiar
for Borough supporters.
Missing the suspended Richard
Goddard, Borough manager David
Howell was delighted to welcome
back fit-again skipper Kevin
McKenna after a six-week injury
absence.
Early exchanges were even.
The lively Abdulai Yoki got
round the back of the Hendon
defence after six minutes, but
sent his cross behind his in-rushing
colleagues. At the other end
Randall sent a curling shot
just beyond the post.
After 27 minutes, Cook rose
above the Borough defence to
send in a header that looked
bound for the net, only for
Keita Karamoko to pull off a
tremendous save. Hendon were
on top at this time, and Randall
chipped just over the bar and
Ofori shot across the goal.
But Harrow hit back, and Yoki
skinned his former colleague
Pat Gavin forcing Bates to clear
hurriedly for a corner.
Harrow went in front after
37 minutes. Yoki again left
Gavin trailing and raced into
the box in the inside-right
position. King parried his shot
but Ross Fitzsimon was following
up and calmly picked an empty
spot in the goal from 10 yards.
Karamoko saved well from Ofori
who burst between two defenders,
before picking up a nasty blow
on his hand in gathering another
ball from Randall, who was yellow-carded
for following through on the
Malian. In the run-up to the
break, Dean Marney headed Fitzsimon's
corner past the post, while
Ofori scuffed a shot wide for
the visitors.
At half-time Hendon brought
on Binns for Bates. Binns's
speed has troubled the Harrow
defence in previous encounters,
but there was no sign of Borough
organising against the new threat
when he raced past Daniel Church
in the 49th minute. However,
his cross appeared to be chested
clear for a corner by Danny
Moore. The Hendon fans behind
the goal shouted for handball,
possibly half in jest, but referee
Comerford, who could not have
seen what part of Moore's anatomy
the ball hit from his position,
decided it was time to play
Santa Claus to the people of
London NW2, and pointed to the
spot. Cousins sent Karamoko
the wrong way with the penalty.
A more likely penalty appeal
followed a couple of minutes
later, when Karamoko seemed
to shove a Hendon player aside
before gathering the ball, but
this time Comerford saw nothing
untoward.
Harrow should have regained
the lead after 54 minutes, but
Yoki failed to connect properly
with a cross eight yards out.
Marney then cut in from the
left to hit a fierce shot just
past King's post. Karamoko saved
Brennan's header, and at the
other end Robert Charles shot
wide of the near post after
a good run.
After 75 minutes, Hendon went
in front, with a fine curling
free-kick from Brennan that
Karamoko got his hands to but
couldn't keep out. Binns then
cut in from the left to hit
a shot that went just past the
far post.
Borough made substitutions
in an attempt to get back in
the game, and King had to make
a good palming save from Marney's
cross, while McKenna shot wide
from 20 yards. But the visiting
rearguard was well-organised,
and they might have added a
stoppage-time third when Karamoko
came out of his penalty area
but gave the ball away, Brennan
returning it goalwards but narrowly
past the post.
|
