Harrow Borough preview

Wingate & Finchley travel to Harrow Borough on Saturday afternoon in the hope of pushing to secure a top half finish in the Ryman Premier League. The Blues come into the game off the back of a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to second place East Thurrock last weekend. However, Keith Rowland's men had been on a promising run before the home loss, losing only four of their last twelve games in all competitions, and can be encouraged looking at the table going into Saturday's derby. Harrow Borough sit four places behind the Blues, in 16th position, and are safe from relegation to the Ryman North division. In the form table, the hosts for Saturday's game sit one place above Rowland's side, gaining seven points from their last six games whilst Wingate have only picked up six. The hosts are also on a two game winning streak, having overcome VCD Athletic 3-2 and beaten a, then, in form Staines side 1-0, courtesy of a goal from former Blue, Spencer McCall. Wingate will have to be vigilant defensively and correct the defensive errors made in the East Thurrock game as Marc Charles-Smith, Harrow's top goal scorer, has found the net 17 times in this season' and has been well supported by Lewis Driver and David Taylor. But Wingate will be encouraged by the stat that they have not lost a game by more than two goals in any competition this season, the heaviest defeats being 2-0 and 3-1 losses. However, Wingate boast one of the top scorers at this level too, Billy Healey. The Finchley man has scored 19 League goals and has 34 goals to his name in all competitions in his debut season in N12, so the Harrow defence will have to be just as switched on. Alex Addai and Karl Oliyide will be looking to support Healey via the flanks, both of whom have looked dangerous under the stewardship of former Northern Ireland international, Rowland. Wingate's record in recent seasons at Earlsmead makes for poor reading, with losses against Hendon, 3-1, and Harrow, 5-1, at their shared ground last season, but in derby games such as these, all form and previous records fly out of the window and Rowland will be taking his side to Harrow with full belief that Wingate can return to Finchley with all three points. Preview by Nikhil Saglani