HARROW BOROUGH 0 CHESHAM UNITED 2

Harrow’s season is petering out, as they continue to concede far too many goals while at the other end the hitherto free-scoring has dried up appreciably.

One of a host of teams that are now closing in and threatening to demote Harrow to a mid-table position is Chesham, massively improved from earlier in the season, and they plundered the points from The Rogers Family Stadium despite having less possession and fewer attempts on goal.

On a chilly Spring afternoon, Steve Baker selected the same starting eleven as had won at Gosport a week ago and, attacking the school end, Harrow were first to threaten when Michael Bryan’s deep cross found Mark Bitmead beyond the far post, but his volleyed attempt was seriously miscued, going away from, rather than towards, the visiting goal. Louis then volleyed over for the visitors. Bitmead had another opportunity but dallied just long enough for his effort to be blocked, before spurning a decent chance from twelve yards. This time the ball rebounded to George Moore whose shot brought a low save to his right from visiting goalkeeper Ben Goode, once of Harrow and about to put in a man-of-the-match performance on his return to former pastures. Ryan Moss’s reverse pass picked out Lewis Cole whose rising drive whistled narrowly over.

But in the 29th minute, The Generals took the lead. The Harrow defence were asleep at a right-wing corner, and the ball was played to Sinclair, on the angle of the penalty area, and he had time and room to line up a fierce drive that shot past Hafed Al-Droubi’s left hand.

Harrow hit back and Moss headed Moore’s ball forward into Bitmead’s path, but the shot was blocked. Adam Pepera then drilled the ball forward. It was knocked down into Moore’s path and he appeared to have netted his first goal of 2019 with a low drive, but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside. It wasn’t Moore who was offside and it was a little surprising that referee Mr Simpson did not go across to check who the offender was and if that individual really was standing in a position that was ‘interfering’ – Moore’s strike went in cleanly and there didn’t appear to be anyone near Goode’s line of sight. Moore then played a one-two with Bitmead and was denied by another fine low save from Goode. But on the stroke of half-time, Chesham doubled their lead and again sloppiness from a dead-ball situation was to blame, a cross allowed to bounce on the six-yard line, with Murphy reacting the quickest to finish.

As the second period opened Harrow had a half-chance as Moore’s low free-kick found Pepera at the near post, but he poked the ball wide. Baker made a double-substitution, taking off Mark McLeod, to the surprise of many, and Bitmead, not so surprisingly, as he seems to be struggling to adapt to the Southern Premier level. Frank Keita and Anthony O’Connor came on and immediately O’Connor missed a glorious chance, chasing clear of the visiting defence to meet Al-Droubi’s long punt downfield, only to be foiled by Goode, who stood tall for as long as possible before saving. A stretching Moss, who hasn’t now scored a league goal from open play for three months, headed wide from Moore’s cross, and Moore himself then tried a 25-yarder but a diving Goode was equal to it. At the other end Martin curled a free-kick inches over. Many Harrow dead-ball deliveries had been disappointing but Keita swung in a better corner that Shaun Preddie got his head to. For once Goode was beaten but Warner-Eley cleared off the line.

With Borough committed forward, Chesham ought to have added to their lead when a quick break on the left ended with Sinclair’s cross going beyond the incoming Louis. Louis then had a header hit the bar, with Harrow maybe a little lucky not to concede a penalty as Al-Droubi appeared to haul down an attacker in the ensuing scramble. Pepera then made a goal-saving tackle to stop Louis in another break. Substitute Gianni Crichlow cut in from the left to hit a right-footer that Goode saved, before in the dying moments he found O’Connor, but again Goode denied him one-on-one, with Moore’s follow-up deflected over.

Harrow stay seventh, but are struggling in the form table and now have five clubs within three points of them. In a week’s time the side that is bottom of that form table, Wimborne Town, are the visitors.

HARROW BOROUGH: Hafed Al-Droubi (booked, 82 mins), Josh Andrew (booked, 18 mins; sub Gianni Crichlow, 68 mins), George Moore, Shaun Preddie, Nathaniel Oseni, Adam Pepera, Mark Bitmead (sub Anthony O’Connor, 56 mins), Mark McLeod (booked, 55 mins; sub Frank Keita, 56 mins), Ryan Moss, Michael Bryan, Lewis Cole. Unused subs: Ryan Haugh, Jordan Ireland.

CHESHAM UNITED: Ben Goode, Jeanmal Prosper (sub Luke Heneghan, 83 mins), Luke Warner-Guest, Adam Martin, Kieran Murphy, Lewis Rolfe, Ronny Mfinda, Ryan Blake (sub Billy Adcock, 57 mins), Jefferson Louis, Matt Sinclair, Dave Pearce (sub Bradley Clayton, 74 mins). Unused subs: Eoin Casey, Michael Murray.

Referee: Mr D Simpson

Att. 182

By Simon Grigor