Premier Division
Hillingdon Borough 1 Harefield United 4
Saturday, 20 March 2004
A late brace of goals from Boroughs Old Boy Trevor Dennison, contributed to a final scoreline that some-what flattered the visitors Harefield United. With Harefield slender lead, the final 20 minutes had Hillingdon looking the more likely to score, but as they pressed forward, Dennison struck twice to deflate Borough and seal the game.
The afternoons fixture was in doubt with dangerous gale force winds swirling around Middlesex Stadium; both teams tried their best to master the atrocious conditions, with some result. Hillingdon played the first half with the wind at their backs but found their passes to the front men overrunning with monotonous regularity. They could have scored in the 6th min. but Scott Dashs fine, dipping 25 yard shot was parried over by the keeper.
Hillingdon finally opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Alex Gaye scampered on to a through-ball, rounded the keeper and slid the ball home from the narrowest of angles.
Borough continued to press their advantage, but were caught napping with Harefields first meaningful attack. A long ball somehow found its way to Alan Galloway; he drew the home Keeper off his line and coolly chipped the ball into the net for a 36th minutes equaliser.
Minutes later, Boroughs Keeper Matt Ferguson almost repaid in full, as his long, gale-assisted kick bounced over his opposite numbers head and brush the upright in what would have been a spectacular and freak goal.
Harefield were the happiest team at the break with the score at 1-1 and with a wind-assisted half to follow they were now the favourites.
For the first 10 minutes of the second half, Harefield used the wind well, and went ahead in the 50th when Russell Bindley broke several half-tackles; lost his marker; found himself 6 yards out and unchallenged, shot under the body of Ferguson.
Hillingdon responded with good short possession and pushed the visitors on their defences. In spite of playing into the ever strengthening storm, it was Hillingdon who looked the most likely to score again. Nathan Cobb, Harefields Keeper was, however, in defiant form. He forced several saves, one in particular from a fierce Andy Hingley free kick.
As the game progressed to its conclusion, Harefield regained control for the final few minutes. Hillingdon looked exhausted and Dennyson took advantage of Boros tiring resolve and fired home 2 goals in the 86th and 90th minutes to end Boroughs challenge.
G/K-M.FERGUSON, S.DASH, R.FENTON, D.BENNELL (J.Salmon), L.SAIDYKHAN, J.CONWAY, T.HEDGES, S.OBRIEN (D.Lawrence), A.GAYE, A.HINGLEY, D.MOAKES.
Scorers: Gaye 16th min.
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