Pitching In Southern League Premier South, Saturday 4th February 2023
With a first league win for almost two months, Harrow gained a hugely-important three points in their foot-of-the-table struggle with this narrow victory over their visitors from just along the A/M40.
Tuesday’s titanic struggle with FC Halifax Town had left a nasty injury list, with James Taylor, Shaun Preddie and Isiah Noel-Williams all ruled out, the former probably for the rest of the season. In came Keegan Bloom, Jaden Sharman and, newly signed on work experience from Swindon Town, 16 year-old centre back Sonny Hart. Anointed Chukwu returned having been cup-tied with Montel Brown dropping to the bench.
Chukwu had the game’s first effort on goal, robbing a visiting defender and letting fly, Plumley in the Beaconsfield goal saving comfortably. At the other end, Nathan Minhas, a past thorn in Harrow’s side, turned and shot wide. Samuel Adenola drove wide after a one-two with Chukwu, before Beaconsfield had a period of ascendency. Bradshaw stretched to poke a shot that Jacob Knightbridge held, and the young Harrow keeper then made a superb save when Granville and Bradshaw broke through on goal in a two-on-one situation. Webb then found Nathan Minhas who shot across goal.
But Harrow began to gain ascendency as the interval approached. Billy Leonard won the ball to set up Kai Omoko Brosnan whose shot was saved at the near post, and in the 44th minute the hosts scored what was to be the game’s only goal. A good interchange between Brosnan and Ahmet Biler ended with the former delivering the ball to Chukwu. He had his back to goal but chested the ball down, turned sharply to his left and slid the ball past Plumley’s left hand.
Harrow gained confidence from their half-time lead and dominated the early exchanges in the second half. Biler picked out George Moore, Borough skipper today, and he had his angled shot saved, before Adenola fired over from long range. Brosnan was then foiled by Plumley after an exchange between him, Moore and Biler. But Beaconsfield should have levelled when a sharp left-wing break ended with Granville sliding in to meet a low cross, but missing the target.
Hart’s debut had seen him impressive at the back, and he turned provider with a long free-kick that picked out Chukwu, whose header was saved. A deep Biler cross was met by Leonard, his shot blocked. However, as the game entered its closing 15 minutes, a nervous Harrow began to sit deeper and the visiting pressure increased. Ezra Ikebuasi and Hart combined well to repel a number of attacks, but Aaron Minhas got through to head over at the near post, and Knightbridge saved a Reid free-kick as Beaconsfield mounted a late but unsuccessful attempt to get a point.
That’s a fabulous way to begin a massive, massive week in Harrow’s attempt to beat the drop, and today they moved one place above the dreaded dotted line. On Tuesday night they travel to a Winchester City side that are now two places behind Borough, but who themselves will have been buoyed by coming back from two goals down to force a draw today against Merthyr Town.
Result: Harrow Borough 1-0 Beaconsfield Town
