Isthmian League Cup Final

Harrow Borough’s first Isthmian League Cup Final ended in defeat when a goal in each half from Tilbury’s top scorer, Chris Stowe, condemned them to a disappointing night at Staines Town FC.

It was a fine, if chilly evening with a pitch not as hard as in recent games due to rain in the early hours of Wednesday.

David Howell restored Andray Baptiste in goal in place of Richard Wilmot and brought Dorian Smith into the side, replacing the cup tied Dean Fenton, this compared to the side that won against Margate in the league at the weekend.

Both sides started nervously, not wanting to make any early mistakes. Neither keeper was tested in the early exchanges and a number of Harrow though balls towards Garry Noel were dealt with competently by the Tilbury centre backs.

The first two corners of the game went to Tilbury, both were over hit and were cleared easily by The Boro’ defence.

On 23 minutes Jonathan Constant had a shot blocked following a good build up by Harrow and three minutes later he had a further effort from about 20 yards easily saved by the Tilbury goalkeeper, Andy Hall. A Harrow defensive wall did its job from a Tilbury free kick and the subsequent corner was cleared.

James Fraser shot wide following good work by Lee Hall, but on 30 minutes Tilbury took the lead. A free kick out on the right taken by Jamie Wallace found Chris Stowe unmarked to head in. Stowe having been spoken to the referee earlier for an earlier challenge on Andray Baptiste, was then booked following his celebration.

Harrow’s first corner on 32 minutes was initially cleared but was worked back into the Tilbury area for Danny Leach to have his headed effort saved comfortably by Andy Hall. Two minutes later Dorian Smith put Ryan Watts in on the left, whose ball across the face of the goal caused a slight panic in the Tilbury defence, but went safely out of play.

Just before the interval a corner on the left from Constant found Tobi Jinadu at the far post and although he rose above his marker could only direct his header just wide.

It was important for Harrow to start the second half well and indeed a Gary Noel shot was fielded by the Tilbury keeper on 47 minutes. However, on 51 minutes The Dockers doubled their lead. Harrow had trouble clearing an attack on their right and the subsequent cross was volleyed home left footed by Stowe who found himself free at the far post.

Three minutes later Jerome Hall came on for Dorian Smith. On 57 minutes Gary Noel’s sharp shot on the turn took a deflection, thus taking it across an unguarded Tilbury net, but also just beyond Jonathan Constant’s lung at the far post, before going off for a corner. After 62 minutes Jerome Hall headed a Gary Noel cross wide and, indeed, Hall’s introduction did have a positive effect on Harrow’s play. It was just after this that Harrow had a penalty appeal turned down when Constant ran down the inside left channel going down in the area following a challenge from a defender.

Tilbury, since they had scored their second goal had rarely threatened the Harrow goal, but Michael Black did have a long range effort claimed by Baptiste after 64 minutes and the Harrow keeper then saved at the feet of Stowe. The Boro’ then had there best effort from open play when Jerome Hall’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected towards the corner of the Tilbury net, only for Andy Hall to make a very good save low down to his left.

With about eight minutes remaining, Harrow got their last realistic chance to get back in the game. Kurt Morlese, who had come on as a substitute for Kwasi Frempong in the 79th minute, was brought down by the last defender when going towards goal. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, but took no further sanction against the Tilbury defender. Lee Hall stepped up to take the kick but shot over the bar.

Former Harrow man; substitute Rachid Kamara, went close with a free kick for Tilbury but the Essex side closed out the game to gain a deserved win. Harrow may well have had the most of the game territorially, but Tilbury appeared to be the sharper of the two teams on the night and Stowe certainly took both his goals well.

HARROW BOROUGH
1 Andray Baptiste
2 Danny Leech
3 Ryan Watts
4 Wayne Walters
5 Tobi Jinadu
6 Kwasi Frempong
(Kurt Morlese 79)
7 Lee Hall
8 James Fraser
9 Jonathan Constant
10 Gary Noel
11 Dorian Smith
(Jerome Hall 79)

12 Kurt Morlese
14 Warren Whitely
15 Simon Dahl
16 Jerome Hall
17 Bobby Highton

TILBURY
1 Andy Hall
2 Daniel Smith
3 Joe Keith
4 Ricky Hayles
Courtney McLean (87)
5 Junior Baker
6 Jason Fontaine
Zubair Haleem (66)
7 Jamie Wallace
8 Michael Black
9 Chris Stowe
Rashid Kamara (79)
10 Manlee Brown
11 Greg Cohen

12 Rashid Kamara
14 Dean Stannard
15 Zubair Haleem
16 Courtney McLean
17 Nick Wilsom

by Andy Turner at Wheatsheaf Park