Second half recovery lets Borough share the spoils

Dec 9 2009 By Tim Edwards, Harrow Observer

RYMAN PREMIER Margate 2 Harrow Borough 2

HARROW recovered from two body blows to earn a deserved point on the Kent coast last Saturday.

Goals either side of the break from Lloyd Blackman and Anthony Joseph looked to have sealed the points for the struggling hosts before Ryan Watts's deflected strike gave David Howell's men a lifeline. With 10 minutes to go Borough substitute Jonathan Constant bundled home to earn his side a share of the spoils.

"I was happy with the comeback as we just didn't get ourselves together in the first half," said Howell. "Our midfield just didn't come to terms with the diamond system they played in the middle. Kwasi (Frempong) and Peter (Lyall) playing together for the first time had to deal with four men, and that is something we addressed at half-time by getting our two wide men in more.

"When they broke away and scored the second goal it looked as if it was going to be the start of the normal bad December for us, but Ryan has beaten a few men and his shot has gone in off a defend-er's foot. Then JC, who is always liable to pop up with a goal, did just that."

With the likes of several key players missing through injury Howell has been delighted with the contributions of his raw youngsters, Lyall, Gary Meakin and Charles Ball.

"I've had to bring them into the side at different times but they have come in and done really well", added the manager. "I think the only position Peter hasn't played in yet is goal!"

Howell says it is no coincidence that new sanctions introduced to improve player's timekeeping has resulted in Harrow's five-match unbeaten run.

After several players upset his pre-match preparations by turning up late for the umpteenth time this season, Howell imposed a £1 fine for every minute a player turned up after an agreed meeting time.

"Things were getting lax and I had to do something about it," he said.