Ex-Fulham striker ends Boro's FA Cup dream

Sep 8 2012 By Matt Lewis

Barry Hayles

Harrow Borough 1-3 St Albans City

FORMER Fulham and Leicester City striker Barry Hayles popped up with a double to send Harrow Borough crashing out of the FA Cup.

The veteran hitman showed he still knows how to find the net as he scored in either half of a 3-1 win for St Albans that the home crowd could have little complaints about.

Hayles put the visitors in front when he headed Sean Shields’ cross into the bottom corner despite Borough keeper Jamie Jackson getting a hand to it.

It could have been two after 20 minutes when Lewis Toomey cut inside on his right foot but his strike crashed off the foot of the post.

As the half-hour mark approached Steve Ferguson won a flick on in the left channel to release Alwayne Jones but his shot and Rob Wolleaston’s follow-up were blocked.

With minutes to go before the break it took a fine fingertip save from Jackson to keep it at 1-0 as he sprung superbly to keep out Ryan Watts’ smartly-taken free-kick.

Seconds after the interval, St Albans right winger Shields shrugged off his marker on the edge of the area and unleashed a vicious strike that cannoned back off the bar.

At the other end Boro new-boy Gary Burrell saw his low drive well saved by Saints keeper and former Borough man Nick Jupp.

But with just four minutes gone in the second period, Shields once again enjoyed success down the right and centred for Hayles who stabbed home the second for City.

Moments later and the away side hit the woodwork for a third time as full-back Chris Seeby’s wayward cross deceived Jackson and rebounded off the upright.

Jackson was arguably Harrow’s best player of the afternoon and soon produced a stunning save to deny striker Toomey who was clean through on goal.

Referee Robert Hodges harshly awarded a penalty for handball against Garry Jones as the hour mark approached but Toomey’s spot-kick was well over the bar to keep Boro in the match.

James Gray nearly headed into his own net shortly after Toomey’s miss but the St Alban’s skipper was relieved to see his clearance bounce off the outside of the post.

City scored a crucial third on 77 minutes to put the result beyond doubt, the influential Shields sweeping home from eight yards after being set up by substitute Chris Henry.

A stoppage time header from Boro’s Jones was hacked off the line but there was still time for Joakim Ehui to grab a consolation as Harrow's FA Cup hopes were quashed at Earlsmead.