Harrow
(H) 19.8.00|
Maidenhead
Utd (2) 4
Morley (17), Driscoll (31), Glynn (62), Allen (68) |
Harrow
(1) 1
Gavin (44) |
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It was the stuff dreams are made of as the Magpies settled into life in the highest echelon of the league with tremendous ease, producing a display of skill, hard work and sheer determination. After last season's emotional promotion from Division 1, most pundits would expect low-spending United to struggle among the so-called big clubs, but on this evidence they look set to shake up the Premier Division and cause many upsets along the way. As well as new midfielders Matt Glynn and Andy Driscoll, United also gave debuts to recent signings Richard Barnard and Andy Morley, who were both chucked into the deep end but came up with stirring displays. It was a near-faultless performance from the home side and they still had several players missing injured or suspended, which bodes well for the strength of their squad for this vital season. Harrow, who survived relegation last season by scoring a goal in the last minute, were poor but they found it hard to find any rhythm against a Magpies side which never allowed them to settle. United started well and caused panic in the Harrow defence as early as the fourth minute when Lee Channell pressurised defender Mark Cooper into fluffing a header back to his keeper David Hook, the ball eventually going for a corner following Channell's follow-up shot. Striker Billy Cove, who is under even more pressure this season to score goals following Chuk Agudosi's departure, also looked sharp and fired a shot over the bar after a superb turn on the left. United needed a breakthrough to reward their early pressure and it duly came in the 17th minute thanks to a rather fortuitous goal from debutant Morley. The impressive Glynn made a brilliant burst through the middle, sprayed the ball wide to right wing-back Morley, and whether he meant it or not was debatable, but his cross/shot sailed into the far top corner of the net leaving Hook with no chance. The confident Magpies were now pouring forward in droves, creating chances from some superb passing moves, although it was Tim Cook's long throw which almost did the damage when the unmarked Lee Channell headed into the side-netting. However the second goal was not long in coming and in the 31st minute Driscoll floated in a corner from the left, Steve Croxford beat his marker to the ball and planted an unstoppable header past Hook from eight yards. Simple, but very effective. The only sour point for United came when Harrow grabbed a goal back just before the break with their first real chance. Substitute Padish Okuru floated in a free-kick from the right, Barnard came for the ball but misjudged it and Pat Gavin headed into an empty net. The home side responded immediately and thought they had restored their two-goal advantage in injury-time but Glynn was harshly adjudged to have elbowed Junior Hunter as he converted an excellent Channell cross. After the break United could have expected a Harrow fightback but they did not let it happen, especially with the brilliant goalkeeping of Barnard, who apart from his mistake for the visitors' goal, never put a foot, or indeed a hand, wrong. And the Magpies sealed their victory with two more second-half goals to kill off a dispirited Harrow, the first in the 62nd minute when Croxford flicked on a Cook long throw and Glynn this time got his name on the scoresheet by volleying in from close range. The last goal came in the 68th minute, Croxford clearing long and substitute Adrian Allen, who had only been on the field three minutes, burst on to the ball, fired a shot at goal, and even though Hook got a hand to the ball, it looped into the air and dropped into the onion bag. By this stage the game was dead and United had got the three points they so dearly yearned for. On this kind of form, and if they continue to show the clinical finishing displayed against Harrow, the Magpies should enjoy life in the Premier. |
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Maidenhead United: Barnard, Morley, Webster, Driscoll, Croxford, Hickey, Cook, Channell, Cove, Ulasi, Glynn. Subs: Allen (for Cove, 65), Beaton (for Driscoll, 81), Creighton (for Morley, 83). Harrow Borough: Hook, Rose, Norman, Newby, Cooper, Lyons, Hunter, Hurlock, Gavin, Xavier, Williams. Subs: Small (for Williams, 62), Okuru (for Norman, 33), Willock (for Newby, 78). |
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