HARINGEY BOROUGH v AFC KEMPSTON ROVERS
(FA CUP WITH BUDWEISER – EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND)
Borough’s United Counties League visitors from Bedfordleft having avenged themselves for their defeat at Coles Park in the corresponding match last season and brought an early end to Borough’s hopes of a fine run in this seasons “FA Cup with Budweiser”. Borough suffered cruel luck when two close range efforts crashed against the underside of the bar and stayed out in the last minute but, in truth, there can be little argument that the team which put in the greater effort over 90 minutes deserved their reward. Borough were slow starters and ‘keeper Austin Byfield was soon busy with one dive to his right to grab a powerful free header being particularly outstanding. Set pieces were a cause of some concern for Borough and it was fortunate that the visitors heading ability lacked accuracy as fine chances were sent over. Borough did come more into the game as the half wore on and Chris Benjamin worked himself a half chance from the left and inside the box but his finish lacked the power to trouble visiting ‘keeper Aaron Bodger. Dewayne Clarke made some penetrating runs but could not find the final killer pass to create any serious opportunities. At half time Andreas Loizou having carried an inury for the last few minutes of the first half was replaced by Cedric Lakole. Whatever the respective Managers may have said in the dressing rooms it was again the visitors who were out of the blocks first and they should have made the game safe in the first ten minutes as they created but wasted several half chances and one gilt edged opportunity. Again Borough took some time to get into their stride and the 66th minute goal which gave them the lead was aginst the run of play. Dean Fenton swung over a free kick from the right and it appeared to be the shoulder of Darrell Cox which got the touch to send it into the net. This spurred “The Walnut Boys”, as Kempston are known, to even greater effort but it took a dreadful misunderstanding between Austin and Lakole four minutes later to gift them an equaliser when dealing with a hopeful high ball swung in from the right for, despite there being no Kempston challenger anywhere near the scene, the ball trickled into the empty net via Lakole’s head. Worse was to follow six minutes later for a clearly rattled Borough failed to deal with a long ball into the centre of the penalty area and Danny Wilson was on hand to drive it home from close range. Borough sacrificed defenders for attacking players Roland Namquita and Lawrence Constanti after each goal and in the last quarter of an hour began to look more dangerous. A replay seemed a certainty in the 89th minute as a concerted attack led to both Cox and Clarke smashing the ball against the underside of the bar in the space of seconds but somehow it stayed out and Borough knew it was not to be their day. Kempston opted not to play out time around the corner flag and were rewarded with a stoppage time clincher when a sweeping move, with Borough inevitably caught with the majority of the team upfield, enabled substitute Josh Bamford to knock home their third goal unmarked some six yards out.
Borough squad:- Austin Byfield, Andreas Loizou (Cedric Lakole), Vas Soteriou, Dewayne Clarke, Nick Nicou, Andras Molnar (LawrenceConstanti 76), Dean Fenton, Stephen Obeng, Christopher Benjamin, Darrell Cox, Lewis Laws (Roland Namqiuita 70)
Unused Subs:- Rickelle Christian, Ben Butler, John Powles, Erbil Bozkurt (gk)
Borough now have two home League games in which to get their season on the right track when promoted AmpthillTownvisit on Saturday 18th (3pm) and Leverstock Green follow on Tuesday 21st. (7.45pm)