“Never make a substitution when defending a set-piece”. It’s one of the standard adages of football, but Basingstoke manager Ernie Howe chose to ignore it one minute into stoppage time at Earlsmead on Saturday. With his side leading, but under sustained Borough pressure for probably the first time in the match and about to face a corner, off went forward Neville Roach in a time-wasting move, and on came substitute Nathan Wallace. The game restarted, over came Stuart Elliott’s corner, and Kevin McKenna found himself with yards of space in a disorganised defence to head home from six yards. It was a late equaliser that Harrow boss Edwin Stein will hope can ignite his side’s hitherto spluttering start to the season.

Making some changes from the side defeated at Bognor the previous Tuesday, Edwin Stein brought in young reserve Michael Wood for his debut and the ever impressive Danny Murphy. New signing Darran Hay started from the bench. Harrow had a good chance to go in front in the 3rd minute. Danny Murphy extracted himself from trouble with a mazy run and, via Abdulai Yoki, found Ross Fitzsimon with a through-ball. Fitzsimon beat the offside trap but couldn’t beat Tarr in the visiting goal. Play switched to the other end and Richard Goddard made a fine block from Lambert before Ray fired over from distance.

Harrow were then handed a golden chance to dominate the game when, after just 11 minutes, Lambert kicked out at Fitzsimon and was sent off. But as is often the case, this supposed advantage does not pay obvious dividends. Long-range shots from Murphy and Elliot were off-target, and Dean Marney poked the ball over the bar from close-range after Goddard had nodded on Yoki’s throw.

Having not had a semblance of an attack for half an hour, despite Harrow’s offensive failings it was a shock when the visitors went ahead after 39 minutes. Tarr launched a long-ball downfield, Roach beat Goddard to flick it on, and McAllister ran through to beat David Hook.

On the stroke of half-time, Murphy forced a good save from Tarr, but with Yoki limping off it was a sorry Borough who went in a goal behind at the break. Borough should have levelled seven minutes into the second half, when Michael Wood headed on Elliot’s corner, but McKenna bobbled the ball wide from six yards. Elliott fired a 25-yarder over the bar, but Basingstoke were close to doubling their lead when Roach went clear and lobbed Hook, but saw the ball clear the crossbar.

Harrow were enjoying plenty of possession, but could not make the extra man advantage count. Too many crosses did not find their mark.

But Harrow heads did not drop, and in the last ten minutes they put some extended pressure into getting an equaliser. There were good attempts from McKenna and Haule, Danny Murphy hit the bar and Fitzsimon shot wide.

Then came that corner, and Basingstoke’s effort to waste some time which back-fired, and Harrow had a point that at least keeps them off the foot of the table. That distinction, on goal difference, belongs to Maidenhead. Harrow visit York Road this Tuesday for what looks a must win match. For the superstitious, it will be Harrow’s 13th league game since their last win. Lucky for some?

  1 - David Hook
  2 - Michael Wood
   (sub Brian Haule 55)
  3 - Danny Murphy
  4 - Stuart Elliott
  5 - Richard Goddard
  6 - Perry Norman
  7 - Wayne Walters
  8 - Kevin McKenna
  9 - Dean Marney
   (sub Darran Hay 72)
10 - Ross Fitzsimon
11 - Abdulai Yoki
   (sub Robert Charles 45)