A late Anthony O’Connor strike saw the visitors take away maximum points by the odd goal in five at the SKYex on Tuesday evening as Harrow Borough left triumphant in the first League meeting between the two sides.

Both sides started quickly with a chance created apiece in the opening five minutes. First came for the visitors when George Moore fired the ball in low from the edge of the United box, ‘keeper Ravan Constable getting down sharply to hold the effort.

At the other end shortly after, Ogo Obi collected on the left and cut inside, his 20 yard drive being deflected over by a timely Borough defensive boot. Toby Little took the corner kick and picked out Obi but he couldn’t get much purchase on his effort and visiting stopper Hafed Al-Droubi grabbed the loose ball.

As the first half continued, it was the visitors who started to take charge. Former United under 18 from 2007/08 Michael Bryan struck a 20 yard free-kick that went over off the United wall, the corner was then played toward Anthony O’Connor at the far post, Constable doing well to push the ball away off the striker’s head.

A minute later O’Connor again proved a threat, this time he chased down a long punt from the Borough defence, Constable came to challenge before retreating with the Borough striker beating him to the ball and firing it across the face of goal, virtually bouncing on the line, before going wide of the far post much to United’s relief.

On 23 minutes Borough should really have taken the lead. Moore collected another long ball in the United box, he fired across the area to unmarked former United loanee Frank Keita who with the goal gaping managed to slice his shot wide of the post.

Just before the half hour mark the visitors deservedly took the lead when Bryan was given far too much space on the left side enabling him to cut inside the United box whereby he placed a perfectly curled shot beyond the reach of Constable into the far top corner of the net.

This seemed to be the kick up the backside the home side needed as within ten minutes a one goal deficit turned to a one goal advantage. On 33 minutes United drew level, Lyle Della-Verde collected the ball on the right side and played an enticing cross to the near post where James Clark arrived to glance a header past Al-Droubi.

Just six minutes later United were ahead. Keano Robinson’s long throw-in was helped on by Clark to Obi, the United striker turning his marker to get a shot away that struck former United defender Adam Pepera to send Al-Droubi the wrong way as the ball rolled into the net the opposite side to which the ‘keeper had dived.

As the half drew to a close the visitors were gifted a leveller when O’Connor was adjudged to have been bundled over in the box by United skipper Ismail Yakubu and referee Morrison pointed to the spot. Keita was more accurate this time, sending Constable the wrong way from 12 yards and we went in level at the break.

A half-time change of formation for the home side saw a better performance from Paul Hughes’ side in the second half. On 52 minutes United should maybe have taken the lead, Dan Spence fired in a free-kick from the left that dropped to Robinson, the defender scooping the ball over much to his own amazement from 6 yards out.

Within a minute Little went close to becoming the clubs all-time leading scorer when having collected from Dylan Switters, the United man fired in a low drive that was inches wide of the Borough goal.

Borough were soon back on the attack though creating a pair of chances, one either side of the hour mark. Firstly Moore fired in a low shot from 20 yards out that Constable dealt with comfortably, the same player troubling the United ‘keeper more three minutes later when a ferociously hit 25 yard free-kick flew past the wall before being bundled wide by the United stopper.

A quarter of the game remained when Obi collected the ball midway inside the visitors half before outpacing Shaun Preddie, his shot from just inside the box was easily held by Al-Droubi though.

Fifteen minutes remained on the clock and Constable was again required, this time diving smartly to his left to keep out a powerful Keita header after he had met a Moore cross around the United penalty spot.

Minutes later the visitors scored the telling fifth goal of the game as O’Connor got to a Bryan free-kick first, the striker heading smartly past Constable and in off the far post to give Borough the lead.

Try as they might, United could not find a leveller. Spence’s cross from the corner flag was headed inches wide by United substitute Elliot Benyon, the same player then went inches wide with an overhead effort before being put through in the last minute by Jacob Cook only to be foiled by Al-Droubi who did well to palm away the striker’s effort and it was former Hayes FC and Yeading FC player Steve Baker, now manager of Borough, who went home smiling with all three points in his pocket.

Report by Kevin Watts.

Photos by Montimagemedia ©.

United Man of the Match: James Clark.

Print the Teamsheet: Here.