Harrow Borough 1-3 Kingstonian
SILLED WITH A KISS

The two sides with the worst home record and the second worst away record came head to head at Earlsmead this afternoon. Craig Rocastle was the surprise choice of skipper, while at the back Peter Barnsby was absent once more and Max Hustwick 'rested'.

Photo: kingstonian.net

The home goalkeeper Roberts, playing because Harrow's first choice is on International duty with Mali at the African Nations Cup, almost gave K's an early boost when he picked up a back-pass handing K's had an indirect free kick inside the box within the first 30 seconds. The visitors were unable to capitalise however, Rocastle firing his shot into a mass of advancing defenders.

James Pinnock put a weak header straight at the keeper after good work from Sills and Rocastle down the left flank, and Sills fired a left foot shot over the cross bar.

Photo: kingstonian.net

Whether it was the wind or the sloping pitch, the visitors seemed to be struggling to cope with the conditions and Harrow took a shock, but not undeserved lead on 23 minutes. Lance Key uncharacteristically miscued his clearance straight to Paul Adolphe who fed the ball to Daniel Dyer on the right side of the box who in turn drilled the ball low past Key's right and K's were behind.

Harrow nearly doubled their money soon after, Michael Barima waltzing through a static defence, but Key made amends for his earlier effort with a more characteristic good save.

Shaken by this spell of pressure K's began to make attacking forages of their own. Ball slid the ball through to Rocastle who tried the chip but didn't quite get the execution right, Roberts relieved to claim the ball.

Photo: kingstonian.net

The equaliser wasn't long in coming though, and shortly before the break Ball (above, hidden) fired K's level with a crisp left footed half volley which nutmegged the advancing keeper, following a flick on from Sills.

Within two minutes of the restart, Ball turned provider as K's went into the lead. His run down the left beat the offside trap and he squared it for Clarke who fired a shot across the face of the goal. An almost net breaking finish from defender Dean Marney from 2 yards gave K's the perfect start to the second period.

Both sides exchanged chances, Pinnock volleying over from yet another Sills flick on, and Lance Key producing a fabulous reflex save to push a Gavin effort onto the cross bar preserving the score in K's favour.

On the hour mark K's gave themselves a two goal cushion, Sills heading superbly home from twelve yards out (below) from Rocastle's pinpoint free kick.

Photo: kingstonian.net

Harrow didn't lie down, and to their credit continued to press the visiting defence. Key was forced into action once more when Fabio Valenti beat Duah and Thurgood for pace, saving well to his left. The same centre forward then almost took the corner flag out, when, six yards from goal he got his right foot volley horribly wrong, the ball flying well well wide.

K's didn't play as well as they have done in recent games, but still did enough to guarantee three points to leave Harrow rooted to the bottom of the league and still searching for their first home league win this season.