A better performance to start the year, but a result that Harrow supporters are getting used to, a fifth successive league defeat that slides Harrow further into the upper end of the relegation battle. And there was another sending-off, the third in successive home games.

After all the rain and a smattering of overnight snow, the Earlsmead pitch was nevertheless in good condition. Borough boss Edwin Stein welcomed back keeper Keita Karamoko, absent over the Christmas period. Eseyas Yhdego, Daniel Dyer, Richard Goddard, Andy Aransibia and Perry Norman also came into the side as the changes were rung after the abysmal display at Bishop’s Stortford.

Harrow’s shape looked better than at Stortford and helped them to some early efforts on goal. Davis Haule’s left wing cross found Aransibia’s head, and his effort brought a fine save from ex-Borough keeper Andy Pape. Then Yhdego embarked on a mazy run, ending in a shot that brought another diving save from Pape. Sutton warned that they posed a threat when Bolt’s free-kick flew across the goal, and Bailey volleyed over when a corner was half-cleared.

The game’s only goal came after 31 minutes. Watson got round Goddard on the left and his cross was stabbed in from 10 yards by Corbett.

In the remainder of the first half, Harrow poured forward in search of an equaliser. A nice move between Yhdego, Kevin McKenna and Dyer ended with a McKenna shot saved, Dyer’s shot from Yhdego’s cross was saved, Dean Marney’s shot from the left-wing as deflected over the bar, Darty Brown’s effort was save by the busy Pape, and Aransibia cut the ball inside from the left for Yhdego, whose shot twisted just past the post.

Sutton were the more dominant force at the start of the second period. Watson shot wide, Karamoko made a fine double-save from two Corbett headers, and Bailey’s shot was deflected wide by Watson. Bolt then cut in from the right and hit the near post with an angled drive. At the other end, Aransibia’s fierce shot hit his own man, Haule. This was a symbol of the afternoon for the Borough front two, who didn’t seem to be on the same wavelength throughout the game.

Worse followed for Haule when the referee’s assistant drew the referee’s attention to his use of an elbow, and the red card was flourished in his direction. That’s the sixth sending-off for Borough this term. With other players having earlier rushed to join in a ‘handbags’ situation that had nothing to do with most of them, whatever sanction is being imposed on the players for indiscipline doesn’t seem to be enough: either that or some of the players are sadly lacking in the brains department. This is something for the Club's management to address with some urgency.

Borough’s ten men came back into the game. A determined run by McKenna set up Yhdego for a curling shot past the post, and Yhdego was then foiled by Pape’s quick run off his line to save at his feet after Aransibia headed on to him.

Karamoko saved with his legs from Akuamoah, Watson blasting the rebound over the bar. With the game running into injury time, Harrow pushed forward Goddard, who was presented with a great chance to equalise. One-on-one with Pape, he took an unnecessary extra touch that allowed Pape to save at his feet. Brian Haule then pulled the ball back from the left-hand by-line but Goddard miskicked. Finally, Fabio Valenti volleyed a half-chance over the bar.

Next Saturday, Harrow host Hampton & Richmond Borough, who haven’t won a league game since August. There were aspects in this game that suggest that Harrow can use this to turn the corner, but it has become absolutely vital that this happens.

  1 - Keita Karamoko
  2 - Daniel Dyer
   (sub Mekel Hackett 83)
  3 - Eseyas Yhdego
  4 - Perry Norman
  5 - Richard Goddard
  6 - Dean Marney
  7 - Wayne Walters
  8 - Davis Haule
  9 - Kevin McKenna (c)
10 - Andy Aransibia
   (sub Brian Haule 83)
11 - Darty Brown
   (sub Fabio Valenti 78)