Harrow Borough 2

Bromley 3

Going two goals behind during a nightmare first half, Harrow battled back bravely but just failed to earn a point at Earlsmead on Saturday.

Injuries to three regulars saw Boro give league debuts to Stefan McGarrell (from Walton & Hersham) and Johnny Kumah (Kingsbury).

Reappearing from times past were goalkeeper Noel Imber, on a month's loan from Wealdstone, and Gavin Maguire.

But Maguire survived for only 41 minutes, before he got a red card.

The experienced former Welsh international lost all composure in the face of intimidation by Tompkins, and received his marching orders after an off-the-ball incident.

Harrow had to play into the teeth of a gale-force wind in the first half, and though a speedy run and cross from McGarrell resulted in Mark Xavier having an angled shot saved, it took Bromley only two minutes to take the lead.

A left-wing cross evaded player-manager Alan Paris and Tompkins netted with a chip over the stranded Imber.

Four minutes later, a straightforward clearance from Bromley's giant keeper Wietecha was turned into a shot by the blustery gale, and Imber had to save.

Another shot on the run from McGarrell suggested Boro might ovecome the hurricane they faced, and they went even closer to drawing level after 15 minutes.

Kenny Webster's free-kick was blocked, McGarrell laid the ball out to Gary Issott, and his overhead cross found Xavier lurking at the far post, but his close range header rebounded from the woodwork. Yet Harrow were forced back and cracks began to show in the defence. After 29 minutes, Loveday's cross from the right was missed by all and sundry with the ball creeping inside the far post while White distracted Imber's attention.

This being the first of five successive home matches from which Harrow have to gain points to secure their Premier Division status, such a mishap unsettled one and all, none less than Maguire.

A minute after he made his early exit, Boro's disarray was almost compounded totally when Potter's shot hit the bar.

With Bromley resting on their laurels, Harrow fought back, only to be caught by a sucker punch in the 73rd minute. A minute afer joining the action, substitute Kent raced for goal and his shot squirmed past the sprawling Imber to make the score 3-0.

Further indignity saw Webster cautioned for a foul on the marauding Tompkins - Boro's skipper joins manager Paris on suspension in the weeks ahead.

In the last ten minutes, Boro did add some respectability to the scoreline.

Wietecha had just hacked Xavier's shot away from goal when Nko Ekoku's 81st-minute corner was headed out to Jeremy Lord, whose powerful 30-yard drive was parried by the keeper and Xavier blasted the rebound into the net.

In added time, want-away Xavier netted again, chesting down Ekoku's cross and calmly rolling his shot into goal.

Four further minutes of stoppage time saw Bromley defending desperately. But time ran out for Harrow -something their fans hope won't happen as the season comes to a close.

HARROW BOROUGH: Imber, Lord, James, Maguire, Paris, Webster, McGarrell, Issott (Ekoku), Gavin (Kumah), Xavier, Bates. Sub: Denny.

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