Safe draw for Harrow - although boss Anderson feels his team had the better of the game

RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE

Harrow Borough 0 Margate  0

HARROW Borough moved nearer to Ryman Premier League safety as the battle of two former AFC Wimbledon managers ended goalless at Earlsmead last night, writes Tyrone Callender- Edwards.

Several Wombles’ fans were in the crowd to see Borough boss Dave Anderson pit his wits against the man who succeeded him at Kingsmeadow, Terry Brown, with the former being left with cause to feel he should have won the bragging rights in the bar afterwards from his old mate.

The hosts certainly produced a performance light years away from Saturday’s dismal defeat at fellow strugglers Wingate, but could not produce the killer blow their first 70 minutes at least deserved.

Boss Anderson made three changes in his quest for a reaction, Steve Butterworth coming in for Oliver Hawkins, while skipper Rob Wolleaston and Spencer Belotti were given starts in place of the injured Harry Odametey and Shaun Lucien.

The pitch proved a huge factor in this match as it appeared very heavy and difficult to dribble on, but the first chance of the game came after 10 minutes with a overhead through ball from Charlie Wassmer which was allowed to bounce by left back Adam Louth enabling Matt Bodkin to shoot across goal and force a good save from ex-Arsenal keeper JamesShea.

Margate boss Brown would have had his heart in his mouth minutes later following a ball from Simeon Akinola to Steve Butterworth, who performed a Dennis Bergkamp-esque touch evading his marker, but Gates’ skipper John Beales recovered and fully committed to a slide tackle in the box which luckily for him was timed to perfection claiming the ball and only the ball.

Wassmer picked up the first caution of the game following a late challenge on Akinola who carried the ball from his half to just outside Margate’s box. Osobu stood over the free kick and saw his effort deflected goal-wards leaving ex – Aldershot keeper Nick Bull rushing to his near post to clear.

With the majority of first half chances coming from Dave Anderson’s men it was a shock they were not yet in the lead at the break.

A great counter attack initiated by Osobu looked promising as he played a ball into the path of Butterworth who took the ball well in his stride before returning it to the winger for a shot deflected wide.

Minutes after the restart, Osobu - who had been at the heart of the majority of Boro’s attacks, played an exquisite through ball into the path of striker Butterworth but his heavy touch meant the chance was lost.

Harrow kept pressing with attacks early into the second half but Margate appeared to be weathering the storm. On 58 minutes an Akinola shot at the near post looked like it might have been creeping in following a massive deflection which quick-thinking Bull managed to stretch to keep out.

With neither team looking to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, a fair draw was pending.

However, a late effort from Jefferson Louis in which he got the better of Massiat (who had been superb all game) left Shea to make a crucial save with his legs to preserve a precious point.