THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW – HARROW BOROUGH (HOME) 3.00PM

After the frustrations of another midweek postponement at Lewes and last Saturday’s draw at East Thurrock, Dulwich Hamlet look to get back on track.

Next up Harrow Borough whom Dulwich Hamlet entertain at Champion Hill this Saturday afternoon.

Despite occupying the lowly spot of 16th place in the current Premier Division table, the playoff places are just ten points away from Steve Baker’s men, the drop zone 14 points distant in the opposite direction. Given the congested battle to jump up to the National League South, Borough still have an eye on building momentum as the season starts to move towards its endgame.

Twice have the teams already come into contact this campaign, both at Earlsmead and both producing contrasting fortunes for the opposing clubs. When FA Trophy glory was at stake at the end of October it was the Hamlet in full command. The crowd might have been thin, too thin perhaps to inspire but though it was a strangely subdued performance from the men in Pink and Blue it was a commanding one as they made an untroubled start to their best run for many a year. Nyren Clunis lashed home a 14th minute opener that wrong-footed Conor Hudnott in the home goal. Damien Scannell larruped a second past Hudnott early in the second half, converting a penalty after Calum Willock had been upended in clear sight of goal. Come the last 25 minutes and it became the Dean McDonald Show, the substitute might easily have helped himself to a hat trick before he finally added a deserved third in the dying moments.

Just over three weeks later and Borough would have their revenge in the league. Coming into the game on the back of seven successive wins, the odds surely favoured the Hamlet but on a frustrating night in North London, Dulwich spent an evening firing blanks whilst Harrow scored from one of but a handful of opportunities, thanks to Joshua Webb’s top drawer and top corner finish. Despite enjoying more than the Lion’s share of the play Dulwich just could not find the back of the net as their hosts defended stoutly throughout.

Remarkably since that late November evening Borough’s playing schedule has been somewhat truncated by a raft of postponements. Not until Boxing Day would they find themselves back at Earlsmead, a run of five games on the road stymieing hopes of kick-starting a run up the table in the wake of that unexpected victory. Things looked to off to a good start when David Taylor gave Borough an early lead on the short trip across town to Wingate & Finchley. However, Billy Healey drew the Blues level five minutes before the interval, the striker adding another ten minutes into the second half, just three minutes after Alfie Bartram had given Wingate a 2-1 advantage.

The boot was on the other foot away to Leatherhead as Kiernan Hughes-Mason gave the Tanners a speedy start with the game’s first goal after 9 minutes. However, Harrow bounced back after the break with Fejiri Okenabirhie and Joshua Webb finding the net to turn the game Borough’s way. The 2-1 win allowed Borough to poke their noses into the top half of the table in 11th place though still some way off the heady heights of the 3rd spot they had occupied 10 games into the current campaign.

Unfortunately, the buzz soon wore off as they suffered a surprise defeat just two days later, going down 2-1 away to seemingly doomed Farnborough on the Monday night. The game took a familiar pattern, one team nudging ahead as Taylor scored midway through the first half to put Borough ahead only for the hosting Boro’ to wipe out that lead and more. In the space of five minutes late in the first half Jamie White and Nicholas Brown scored the goals that would give boracic Boro’ the full three points.

Pre-Christmas sent Baker’s boys over on Donkey Lane, Harrow washed away on rail-lashed Queen Elizabeth Stadium pitch by an Enfield Town side building up a team of steam in pursuit of their own promotion dreams. Former Champion Hill idol Harry Ottaway, fast taking on that same cult hero mantle among the Enfield Town tifosi bagged the opener on 24 minutes with Evans Kouassi and Bobby Devyne wrapping up a convincing 3-0 after halftime.

The patchy performance had Harrow casting anxious glances over their shoulders at the trailing pack but an entertaining afternoon away at the Longmead once more proved the Borough could be a key player in end of season run-in, if not a major participant. The Angels might have been flying high in the upper echelons of the division but that was no reason for Harrow to pay obeisance at Tonbridge. Tom Parkinson struck first for the hosts with five minutes of a keenly contested first 45 minutes remaining but on the stroke of halftime, a foul on Josh Webb gave Marc Charles-Smith the opportunity to level from the penalty spot. He duly obliged. When Josh Webb and Harry Newman put Harrow 3-1 ahead before the hour mark it looked as if the Borough might claim another mighty scalp but Angels take a lot of killing off as Luke Blewden swiftly reduced the arrears before Luke Allen made sure the points were shared.

If that six goal thriller must have been tough on the hearts of those of a defensive bent the Boxing Day derby encounter with tenants Hendon must have ensured the defibrillators worked overtime. Trailing 4-1 at one point Harrow fought back superbly to secure an exhilarating 5-5 draw. The hosts got off to the ideal start when Lewis Driver fired in the opener after just one minute. However, Hendon were handed an equaliser when ‘keeper Jamie Cassel punched the ball into his own net. Hendon then took control of the contest as goals from Kezie Ibe, Carl McCluskey and Finbarr Robins opened up a seemingly unassailable lead after just 21 minutes! However, the gulf was bridged in the last five minutes of the half as Driver headed home to spark the fightback, Marc Charles-Smith curled one home on the halftime whistle to make it 3-4. Hendon again opened up a two goal lead as Adam Wallace found the net. But Harrow found a second wind to rescue a point as first Okenabirhie then Charles-Smith scored. With fully 15 minutes on the clock it was something of a miracle that there were no more goals but after all perhaps it would have been churlish for anyone to bemoan the lack of a winner!

Since the turn of the year, the weather has played havoc with the Harrow Borough playing schedule, games against Brentwood Town, Met Police, Staines Town and Leiston among those falling foul of frost or rain. The impromptu midwinter break finally came to an end last Saturday as Harrow welcomed 4th place Billericay Town to Earlsmead, a side whose rise up the table out of early season doldrums Baker would surely olive his team to emulate. It was also a chance for the Borough to put new ‘keeper Brendan Hazlett under the spotlight. Borough proved more than a little ring rusty after the four-week layoff with the defence failing to keep hold of ‘Ricay’s Cox as the visitors went ahead after just four minutes. However, the team seem used to coming from behind, once more turning the game on its head as Driver levelled, Spencer McCall making sure of a much needed win five minutes into the second half.

Unlike the Hamlet, Harrow were in action during the midweek travelling to Ashford Town (Middx) in the Middlesex Senior Cup. Despite fielding a side containing a wealth of first team experience the evening proved something of a hangover as Harrow defence of the cup ended in a rather tame exit from the competition at the hands of the Combined Counties League club. Though the game remained scoreless at the break, Harrow mustered barely a shot afterwards with the Ash Trees turning on the gas for a convincing 3-0 win.

This Saturday’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

The turnstiles will be open from approximately 12.30 pm with refreshment facilities available in the ground for early arrivals. Before the game why not enjoy a drink or snack in our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles? The bar will open serving a range of excellent ales including selections from local breweries such as First Team main sponsor Late Knights Brewery as well as Clarkshaws and the Brick Brewery.

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (JSA), Full Time Students as well as Serving Members of the Armed Forces and all Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID if requested)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £2-00