HARINGEY BOROUGH V NORWICH UNITED
Bostik League Division One North 21st October 2017 Coles Park
Haringey Borough returned to winning ways, when beating a resolute Norwich side trying to pull away from the relegation fight they are facing, and like Monday’s game with Maldon should have finished with more goals than that were registered.
Haringey kicked off with the wind, but it was the visitors who got in the first effort on target. Borough’s Valery Pajetat at full stretch pushing a Adam Hipperson shot out for a corner, which came to nothing.
The next twenty minutes it was all Haringey. First Anthony McDonald’s shot was pushed out back into the danger area and Ralston Gabriel’s effort went over the bar. Then from a Gabriel through ball, McDonald tried a chip from the edge of the box, which had the keeper beaten but landed just wide.
The breakthrough! A Ruaridh Kay cross, found McDonald and from the edge of the box hit a left foot drive into the net. This settled the nerves and twenty minutes later it was all over.
Good work by McDonald and Kay set up Gabriel and he passed the ball into the net for the second. This strike bought up double figures for Gabriel and it’s not even November yet! Norwich’s Jamie Spiller did hit the post five minutes later but the ball was then sent down the other end and Gabriel smashed home his second and Boro’s third.
Gabriel grabbed his hat-trick and Borough’s fourth, when good work by Heather and that man McDonald laid the ball on a plate so he could side foot it home.
Half-time Haringey Borough 4 Norwich United 0
The second half was a few minutes old when Haringey broke with a 3 on 1 situation, Benjamin going himself, with both Heather and Gabriel in better positions, the goalkeeper saving well.
Unlike the first half when Haringey used the wind to their advantage, Norwich were a bit ad hoc with their final passes and never really threatened Pajetat in Borough’s goal. Whereas Gabriel, McDonald and then Heather from a free kick, all had decent efforts to increase the lead.
Gabriel was replaced with 30 minutes to go and received justly a standing obviation. Only the second time a Haringey Borough player had scored a hat-trick at this level. Anthony McDonald away at Phoenix Sports being the first.
On Wednesday Haringey visit Gray’s new ground which they share with Aveley, then on Saturday the FA Trophy match against Harrow. Two tough matches but both winnable.
Haringey Borough 4 (McDonald, Gabriel 3) Norwich United 0
(half-time 4-0) attendance 148
COME ON BORO!
HARINGEY BOROUGH: Valery Pajetat, David Olufemi, Michael O’Donoghue, Kai Heather, Scott Mitchell, Quba Gordon, Daniel Aristidou, Ruaridh Kay, Ralston Gabriel (Michael Ademiluyi), Joseph Benjamin (Jamie-Lee O’Donoghue), Anthony McDonald (Ramil Sheriff)
UNUSED SUBS: Rakim Richards, Austin Byfield (gk)
Haringey Borough beat Norwich United 4 -0
