Harrow Borough 0-2 Dorchester Town: Magpies earn big victory

DORCHESTER TOWN 2

Fletcher 60, Daws 67

DORCHESTER Town dominated Harrow Borough to earn a vital 2-0 victory in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South.

Coming into the game, the Magpies were two points ahead of 21st-placed Harrow and could ill afford a defeat.

But an assured away display containing a plethora of chances created finally yielded three points thanks to second-half goals from Will Fletcher and debutant Marcus Daws.

The result, which also ended a run of four losses, keeps the Magpies in 20th place but crucially narrowed to three points the gap to 16th-placed Plymouth Parkway.

READ MORE: Harrow Borough 0-2 Dorchester Town - how it happened

It also remarkably handed Dorchester their first clean sheet of the season at the 26th attempt.

Going into a game of such magnitude, Dorchester boss Tom Killick made three changes.

Tyrique Clarke was dropped following game time with the Magpies’ under-23s in midweek, allowing skipper Jordan Ngalo to make a timely return from a hamstring knock.

Top-scorer Shaq Gwengwe dropped to the bench, along with Leighton Thomas, but Drew Eccott-Young and new signing Daws came in.

On the bench, Lewis Waterfield, Jonny Efedje and Harvey Hughes all kept their places to sit alongside Gwengwe and Thomas.

In bitterly cold conditions, Dorchester allowed Harrow few chances all game but struggled to test home keeper Tyler Tobin in the opening quarter.

Fletcher, Will Spetch and Daws all fired presentable openings over inside the first 26 minutes before the Magpies upped their tempo.

Dorchester ended the half well on top as Daws headed over from Corby Moore’s cross, before Fletcher’s heavy touch spurned a one-on-one chance.

And, but for Tobin’s agile intervention, Jack Dickson would have made it 1-0 in the 42nd minute.

Dorchester’s endeavours were a sign of things to come in the second half as the Magpies continued to attack the Reds’ goal.

Dickson embarked on a trademark surging run before lashing wide, while Harrow required Tobin to come to the rescue again as Olaf Koszela directed Ollie Haste’s cross at goal.

One minute later, Koszela was too cute when clean through as Tobin wisely stood his ground to tip away his chipped effort.

However, Fletcher atoned for his teammate’s errant finish on the hour.

He too found himself clean through thanks to an incisive pass and he lobbed Tobin with success to make the crucial breakthrough.

Will Fletcher, right, scored Dorchester's first goal (Image: PHIL STANDFIELD)

The goal ended Harrow’s resistance, which had been hanging by a thread, and Dorchester immediately threatened a second.

Koszela saw a low shot blocked for a corner and Daws was denied by Tobin as the Magpies sniffed a second.

It duly came on 67 minutes thanks to the impressive Daws, who demonstrated the talent that convinced Luton Town to secure his services last summer.

Fletcher turned provider for the ex-Bournemouth and Luton man, who blasted beyond Tobin to record a pivotal second goal.

Dorchester secured a crucial three points against Harrow (Image: PHIL STANDFIELD)

Dorchester were fully in control now and set about earning a rare clean sheet, ending a 336-day wait since the 3-0 win over Hanwell in early February 2023.

Magpies sub Waterfield headed wide as the visitors nearly notched a third but the outcome was never in doubt as Dorchester locked up a precious three points.

Dorchester next face promotion hopefuls Merthyr Town at the Avenue Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Harrow: Tobin, Mirtahmasebi, Gurteen, Mfinda, Yorke, Seabrook, Mitchell, Jawara (Nallo 68), Muhemba, Ada (Cameron 72), Ibrahim (Tallo 66). Subs not used: Lukombo, Mugoya-Tabingwa.

Magpies: Horlick, Eccott-Young, Haste, Ngalo, Turner, Daws, Moore, Fletcher, Koszela (Waterfield 84), Dickson, Spetch. Subs not used: Gwengwe, Thomas, Efedje, Hughes.

Referee: Jack Oxenham.

Attendance: 166.