Harrow Borough 0 – 1 Wealdstone
Harrow Borough0 - 1
WealdstoneWealdstone eventually overcome their local rivals in the MSC on a freezing cold Tuesday evening at Earlsmead with a 77th minute strike from Omar Koroma.
As expected, Stones fielded a team that was virtually unrecognisable from the starting line up at Southport in Saturday’s heroic performance in the FA Trophy, with only Elliott Godfrey starting in both cup ties.
This match was never going to reach the heights of recent contests but local bragging rights were still at stake, although these days one feels that Borough would draw more pleasure from a victory over the auld enemy in a rivalry that has lost much of its edge. Nevertheless, it was a competitive cup tie played at break neck speed, reminiscent of Stones earlier Ryman League days, but lacking in quality and guile.
Credit to the away side for matching Borough’s energy and ‘headless chicken’ style and several of the newly signed squad played performed well with Solomon Sambou possibly the pick of the bunch with young Alex Lafleur.
Josh Parker started up front but understandably struggled to make an impact, lacking match fitness and therefore sharpness in a game where instant control was a must on a difficult surface.
Boro were unlucky on a couple of occasions when a combination of good goal keeping from Sheldrick and the woodwork kept them out in both halves, but eventually Stones superior incisiveness in the build up finally brought reward.
The winning goal came from a Johnny Wright pull back and Koroma had the easiest of tasks to blast home high into the net.
Stones injury problems are mounting again though and Wright ended the game with a hobble adding to the news on the night that Elliot Benyon will be out for several weeks with a shoulder injury. A bright spot was the return of Josh Urquhart after his successful knee operation.
Wealdstone: Sheldrick, Smith, Lafleur, Sambou, Hamblin, Urquhart, Koroma, Godfrey, J Parker, Wright, Mavila. Subs used: Francis, Gibson, Oshodi. Not used: McGleish, Brown.
Alan Palmer pictures HERE