Harrow Borough 0

Kingstonian 2

At the end of a week where Boro notched up two impressive results against Chesham and Brimsdown, it was not overly surprising that Kingstonian spoiled the party.

Saturday's match at Earlsmead was expected to end as an away win on form, and so it proved to be.

With Kingstonian boasting the Ryman League Premier Division's meanest defence (25 goals conceded in 29 games), goalscoring -- even for Boro's recently rampant strikers -- was going to prove difficult.

Added to this, Boro only average one goal a game at home in the league this season -- the top division's weakest home scoring record.

That the result began 'Harrow Borough 0' was therefore not a shock.

What did prove disappointing was that Boro had themselves proudly held the Premier Division's best home defensive record, having only conceded 12 goals in 11 matches.

That they were ultimately undone by two defensive errors was a surprise, for which the home team paid dearly.

Boro had to play into the descending sun and a strong breeze in the first half. Though hampered by these, they knew that attack was the best form of defence.

In the eighth minute, Boro should have gone in front, crosses by Denny and Ekoku allowing Ian Rutherford a clear sight of goal -- but the striker headed meekly at ex-Boro keeper Mackenzie.

Good work by Mark Xavier produced the hosts' best forward movement when his 26th minute shot took a lucky deflection to the keeper.

Further shots by Denny and Rutherford were off target, but Kingstonian had already shown that they knew the route to goal.

Loyal goalkeeper David Hook was celebrating his 250th appearance for Boro, but let himself and his colleagues down when Dean Hooper's speculative 25 yard drive squirmed under his body and into the net in the tenth minute.

Veteran defender Terry Evans was a persistent threat at set pieces, for his massive frame found no match among the Boro ranks.

Having survived his set piece headers, Boro were nearly undone again in unconventional circumstances after 18 minutes.

Luckett's cross drifted onto Hook's crossbar and when it bounced down, Pitcher headed the rebound straight at Hook.

Shots by Xavier and Lord forced diving saves but four minutes before the interval Kingstonian doubled their lead.

This time, Hook and Coleman got themselves in a muddle when a tentative pass fell into open space and Leworthy nipped in to chip the ball in.

Determined to make up for these misdemeanours, Boro began the second half well, forcing four successive desperately cleared corners.

Long range shots from Rutherford and Denny narrowly missed the target, as did efforts from Lord and James, but Boro were destined not to beat Mackenzie.

Late efforts by Ekoku and Xavier show the former Earlsmead favourite deny his old club even a consolation goal.

At the other end Corbett twice went close to netting with fierce shots, one of which forced Hook into a brilliant tip-over save.

In the 63rd minute, Hooper's corner was headed onto a post by the towering Evans, who later powered another header just over the bar.

To concede another goal would have been an injustice to Harrow, though it took a dramatic late header by Hook to deny Dennis as he ran clear.

HARROW BOROUGH: Hook, Lord, James, Coleman, Paris, Webster, Rutherford, Denny, (Gavin), Ekoku, Xavier, Bates; other subs: Issott and Beard.

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