Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 16th December 2023
Harrow Borough 4 v 2 Basingstoke Town Attendance 198
Where: Carlyon Avenue, Earlsmead, South Harrow. HA2 8SS
Dan Brownlie went with a line-up of : 1. Paul Strudley, 2. Nathan Smart, 3. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 4. James Clark, 5. Scott Armsworth (Capt), 6. Billy Upton, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. D’Andre Brown, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Stefan Brown, 11. George Reid
On the bench: Callum Winchcombe, Mark Scott, Kai Hobbs, Noah Chengun & Shane Hollamby
Referee – Vladyslav Bakulin (Replaced Jonathan Bolland – pre-game)
The game got underway and we are first to attack with Bradley Wilson down the left, but his cross is dealt with by Harrow’s keeper.
Harrow have a brief attack and then we break down the right through Nathan Smart, who sends in a cross into the heart of the penalty area, and Liam Ferdinand is up and he flicks a header that hits the bottom of the left-hand post on it’s way into the net. GOAL! Harrow Borough 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Ferdinand 3 mins)
The next few minutes of play see neither team create anything of note, as we move past ten minutes.
Harrow are looking to break down our left through their speedy winger Reece Mitchell, as he sends over two crosses which we are able to defend.
We then break from another Harrow tackle and the ball is slid across to George Reid just outside the penalty area, but his shot skews off away from the goal and ten yards wide.
Harrow come forward again down our left, and another cross is met by a Harrow forward whose shot is pushed wide.
Harrow continue to press and we seem to struggle to hold them, as another cross has Billy Upton making a good defensive header just in front of a Harrow forward.
We seem to struggle to hold onto the ball in the midfield, not helped by some very inconsistent refereeing, and Harrow come forward down our right and a cross is headed clear by Upton, but it falls to Harrow’s Mitchell, who bring the ball to our penalty area, and he is not closed down, and he takes a touch then curls shot into the far right-hand corner of the net. Harrow 1-1 Basingstoke
Harrow are straight back on it and although we initially clear, Harrow push forward again as we struggle to close them down, but a good tackle by D’Andre Brown puts a stop to that attack.
Then just before the half-hour, Harrow break again and the cross finds their No.10, in space, as he slots the ball past Strudley in goal. Harrow 2-1 Basingstoke
Harrow are looking for a third as they outpace us down the wing and the cross is blocked out by Upton for a corner, which we clear.
We have a little bit of possession again through Wilson on the left, but his cross can’t beat the first defender and they clear.
We seem unable to stop them from crossing the ball and Scott Armsworth makes a diving header clear.
With just under five minutes to go, we push forward through Reid, who finds Ferdinand who takes a touch but then drags his shot just wide of the post.
Harrow then have a claim for a penalty as Mitchell, goes down close to the byline, but the referee waves it away.
We play just a minute of added-time and the referee blows the halftime whistle, with Stoke having to do a lot to get back into the game in the second-half.
Halftime Score: Harrow Borough 1 v 2 Basingstoke Town
Basingstoke during the halftime break, are forced into a goalkeeper change, with Mark Scott replacing Paul Strudley, as the game gets back underway, and it’s Smart who breaks down the right, and his cross although across the face of the goal is too hard for a Stoke forward to get to it, and it rolls out for a goal-kick.
Harrow push forward and win back-to back corners, but these are defended well, with Wilson and then Armsworth.
Five minutes in we attack with Wilson now back in the attack, and his cross/shot is held well by Harrow’s keeper Tyler Tobin.
The small vocal Stoke support in the covered side, try to get behind the Stoke players, but two more poor passes and another strange refereeing decision, does not help our cause.
We have a little bit of possession in Harrow’s final third, but they are able to deal and they break down the right again through Mitchell and his low cross, is met by another Harrow forward who sweeps the ball home. Harrow 3-1 Basingstoke
The game continues with some poor refereeing decisions as the game starts to get a bit niggly between the players.
It’s time for our second change with Callum Winchcombe replacing James Clark (71 mins).
Stoke have a little more possession, as Wilson breaks down the left and his low cross is missed by our first Stoke player, and falls to Ferdinand, who can’t put his shot on target, as he’s tackled by a Harrow defender.
Stoke make their final change with Kai Hobbs replacing Nathan Smart (75 mins).
Hobbs is straight on it and a nice pass finds Wilson on the right who sends a dangerous cross that is forced out by a Harrow defender for a corner. Harrow defend the corner.
Harrow haven’t finished scoring as they break with five minutes to go, and they find the back of the net. Harrow 4-1 Basingstoke
We now head into an unknown amount of added-time, as we try to come forward, looking for a consolation goal, which comes in the seventh minute of added-time, as Wilson slides the ball across the face of the goal and Ferdinand forces the ball home as the ball flies into the roof of the net. GOAL!! Harrow Borough 4 – 2 Basingstoke Town (Ferdinand 98 mins)
This is the final kick of the game, as the referee blows the final whistle.
Full-time Score: Harrow Borough 4 v 2 Basingstoke Town
Mitchell 22 mins, Ferdinand 3 & 98 Mins
Kennedy-Sinclair 29 & 59 mins,
Talla 84 mins
Match Thought’s
Not the best of performances which, was summed up by Stefan Brown, “The less said about today the better, we can only apologise to all the fans that made the trip. Easily our worst performance since I’ve joined the club and it’s not even close if I’m honest. We owe all the fans a response next week!”
Up Next:
We now have seven days to get the team up for a bigger than expected home game against bottom-placed Didcot Town next Saturday (23rd).
Match Report by Martin French..
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