On This Day 2009

An action packed opening quarter of an hour determined the outcome of this game, with four of the five goals coming in that time. However despite a decent performance after the break, the deficit proved too much for Harrow in their last home game of the season.

Having played three games in the last week, David Howell rested some tired legs, with Danny Leech, James Fraser and Kwasi Frempong on the bench, and Dewayne Clarke missing altogether. With Richard Wilmot still sidelined with his hamstring injury, Andray Baptiste had to continue in goal despite having picked up an ankle injury on Thursday at Hornchurch.

Harrow got a great start with a goal after 63 seconds. Dorian Smith tried his luck with a shot at goal from a free-kick 25 yards out. Angels’ keeper French looked like catching the ball, but it reared up off the six-yard box marking, over his arms and into the goal.

But the goal served only to anger the visitors, and within 12 minutes they were 3-1 up. After six minutes, a corner was half-cleared, but when it was returned from the left, and an unmarked Dayes nodded the ball in.

One minute later, a ball into the inside left channel found the Harrow defence absent and, with Baptiste in no man’s land, Rook clipped the ball over his head and into the goal.

Gary Noel’s cross-shot went across the Angels goal, but after 13 minutes Booth got past Walters and clipped the ball in for the third Tonbridge goal.

Baptiste held Minshull’s free-kick, before Harrow got their breath and created a couple of openings. Dean Fenton’s dangerous cross was held by French at his near-post with Noel hovering. Warren Whitely then shook off Starkey and cut in from the left to power a shot that French saved.

But Tonbridge ended the half looking like adding to their lead. Olorunda skipped past Bobby Highton and saw his drive saved by Baptiste, who then saved at the feet of Minshull.

Borough began the second half well. Whitely shot over after a good pass from Kurt Morlese, who then shot disappointingly wide after good work by Smith. At the other end, Baptiste dived full-length to push away a free kick from former Harrow player Dwain Clarke, and Glover’s header clipped the top of the bar.

Noel headed over when Ryan Watts crossed after good work by Whitely, before Harrow made it 2-3 after 76 minutes. Jonathan Constant took a short corner, and Whitely crossed for Walters to head powerfully home.

Tonbridge went close with a Legge far-post header across the goal. Harrow had two late efforts, Noel chesting down a cross, turning away from a defender and seeing his powerful shot held by French, before Constant cut in from the left and belted a shot past the far post.

HARROW BOROUGH
1 Andray Baptiste
2 Lee Hall
3 Ryan Watts
4 Wayne Walters
5 Tobi Jinadu
6 Bobby Highton
7 Dean Fenton
8 Dorian Smith
(James Fraser 73)
9 Kurt Morlese
(Jonathan Constant 73)
10 Gary Noel
11 Warren Whitely

12 Jonathan Constant
14 Danny Leech
15 Simon Dahl
16 James Fraser
17 Kwasi Frempong

TONBRIDGE ANGELS
1 Rob French
2 Phil Starkey
3 Simon Glover
4 Lee Minshull
Dwain Clarke (45)
5 Leon Legge
6 Gavin Dayes
Lewis Hamilton (45)
7 John Westcott
8 Tim Olorunda
9 Paul Booth
10 Carl Rook
11 Jamie Cade

12 Dwain Clarke
14 Lewis Hamilton
15 Steve Ferguson

by Simon Grigor at Earlsmead