MARGATE 1 HARROW BOROUGH 1

A late equaliser from Adam Richards gave Harrow a hard earned draw at Hartsdown Park.

Steve Baker chose to put some steel into midfield by playing both Shaun Preddie and Mark McLeod, whilst George Moore continued at Right Back.The opening minutes of the game were even, with no real chances. A Reis Stanislaus shot following a Boro throw in was comfortably saved by the Margate keeper, whilst at the other end, appeals for a penalty on Prescott, following a run into the box, were turned down. Margate began to get the better of the possession and Wynter just failed to connect with a cross from the left and then Smith got past Adam Richards, but Curtis Ujah cleared the danger. Harrow`s main attacking plan appeared to be long balls up to Stanislaus, but he was getting no joy from the Margate centre backs. The Boro`s best chances came from a couple of Michael Bryan crosses from the right wing, whilst a classic Bryan corner routine saw his goal line cross evade both sets of players. Stanislaus had a good chance after George Moore turned his man and put him through, but his shot went well over the bar.

After an enjoyable but largely uneventful first half, the second period started in much the same manor. Margate were having more of the possession and were enjoying some success down the wings, but neither goal was really threatened until Margate took the lead on 59 minutes. There was an element of fortune about their goal. Orlando Smith took on Uade again, but the full back tackled him just outside of the area. The ball bounced off Smith and ran towards the penalty spot, whilst Smith`s momentum took him forward behind the ball and he found himself clear to shoot past Minter.

Harrow began to attack more as they looked for an equaliser, but too many routine passes were going astray. Margate nearly went two up when a long ball sent Prescott away, but Minter saved brilliantly at his feet. Harrow should have equalised around the 80th minute, when Bryan dribbled into the box and passed to Charles Banya standing free near the penalty spot, but his weak shot went well wide.Shortly after, a shot from substitute Cumberbatch was deflected just wide of the post by Margate centre half, Wynter and Cumberbatch had another chance when he got his head to a Bryan cross, but the ball was again just wide of the post. Harrow had pressed hard for an equaliser and had created chances, but as the game moved into additional time, it looked as if their efforts had come to nought. Step forward Adam Richards to show the forwards how things could be done. Another Harrow attack broke down and Margate cleared the ball from the penalty area. In the ensuing challenges for the ball, it ran loose to Richards. A forward would probably have passed the ball wide or tried a clever flick over the defence. Richards just ran at the defence, rode a couple of weak challenges and smashed a shot at Pidgeley, who could only help it into the corner of the net. Easy! The unexpected ending left the boro supporters in Dreamland.

MARGATE: Lenny Pidgeley, Craig Sessegnon, Tom Mills, James Rogers, Liam Friend, Thomas Wynter, Orlando Smith ( sub Matthew Bodkin, 83 mins), Lee Prescott, Jay May (sub Henry Ikeije, 32 mins), Frannie Collin, Dave Martin ( sub Ben Smith, 83 mins). Unused subs: Harry Stannard, George Brown.

HARROW BOROUGH: Melvin Minter, George Moore, Arinse Uade, Adam Richards, Curtis Ujah, Shaun Preddie, Charles Banya, Mark McLeod ( sub Richard Paquette, 76 mins), Reis Stanislaus, Michael Bryan, Anthony O`Connor (booked, 48 mins; sub Kurtis Cumberbatch, 67 mins). Unused subs: Alfie Cain, Tayo Davies-Coker, Howard Hall.

Referee: Mr J Pike

Att 556

By Richard Dyett