The scoreline looks comfortable enough. Tuesday's Middlesex Senior Cup quarter final could reasonably have been expected to return such a result, given the gulf in status between the two teams.

However, you cannot tell the whole story from the above. In reality, it took extra time for Harrow to clinch progress to the semi final, probably away to holders Hayes (who face a backlog in their quarter of the draw), and Yeading ended the game with only nine players on the pitch and an outfield player in goal!

Harrow manager recalled 'keeper David Hook after a long lay off through injury, whilst Derek Payne and Nikolaj Lund returned to the starting line up, as did assistant manager David Howell, the former England semi professional international. Among the team changes from Saturday's draw at Carshalton, Sean James had to withdraw through injury.

The Earlsmead pitch had recovered remarkably well from the battering it had taken from the previous days torrential rainfall. Among the spectators were broken leg victims Jon-Barrie Bates and Junior Hunter, both well on the way to recovery and looking forward to a return to action. Though not starting the match, on loan goalkeeper James Robinson still had something to celebrate, as he was presented with the Vice Presidents' Player of the Month award.

Yeading had a couple of early opportunities to snatch a lead, when Lee drove just over and then Hedge's mazy run resulted in Eaton's cross being sliced over his own bar by Walsh. Yet the superior skills of Boro's players were proving a constant thorn in the Yeading rearguard, such that Sparks was soon cautioned for a foul on the pacy Lund.

Boro's first chance came when a Steve Barnes corner was headed on by Richardson and Gavin headed wide at the near post. The hosts, who have only won the cup twice in their 68 year history, took the lead after half an hour. Dwayne Lewis set off on a run from midfield, passing to Andy Rose, whose cross was shot into goal by the falling Pat GAVIN from a distance of 12 yards, a clinical finish to a good move.

Richardson was then denied by a hasty clearance from the Yeading 'keeper, as the Boro' striker ran onto Denton's poor backpass. David Howell was proving to be Boro's best player of the half, defending capably and passing accurately. His free kick was headed on by Gavin but a poor attempt at a finish saw Richardson allow the 'keeper to grab the ball as he was rounded.

Gavin was also proving that the senior players had not forgotten the finer touches, as he backheeled his part in a one-two with Payne. As the half ended, David Hook played his part, making his first save of the game in keeping out Levene's cross shot.

Yeading set off in the second half with a new sense of determination, as if sensing that the Boro' lead was too narrow to hold onto. Callender shot just over, Bayliss shot just wide, then Hook had a remarkable escape as he slipped over when Levene threatened the home goal, only for the direction of his fall to allow him to grab the ball! Tucker had a shot saved, then Hook had to dive to punch clear O'Brien's shot.

Boro' had hardly got out of the starting blocks after the interval, but they woke up at last, as it looked as though they wanted to try and secure the result with a second goal. Barnes drove just over the 'bar, then Derek Payne saw his free kick hit the crossbar and bounce out of play. A fine three man move saw Richardson's drive pushed away at the near post, only for Boro' to suffer a sucker punch in the 79th minute.

O'Brien led a breakaway to force a corner and, from Tucker's kick, SPARKS bravely dived in the goalmouth to head a powerful equaliser. Bayliss soon squandered the chance of glory as he shot over, then saw two last ditch tackles deny him. As each time tried to avoid extra time, Richardson and Lewis were blocked by the visiting 'keeper, then Richardson shot agonisingly wide, after spinning on Rose's pass.

With the final action of normal time, Barnes sent in an inswinging corner, causing such anxiety that Yeading 'keeper Bannatyne suffered a bad leg injury in keeping the ball out of the goal. Unfortunately, that injury meant that the Yeading 'keeper had to be substituted at the start of extra time.

Without a substitute goalkeeper, Yeading had to put striker Bayliss in goal and within a minute of extra time starting, he was having to pick the ball out of his newly found net! Barnes sent over a corner that led to a goalmouth scramble and skipper Mark COOPER netted a close range shot. Soon after, Barnes had a cross pushed wide by the replacement 'keeper but Boro' went 3-1 up in the 100th minute, when, from another Barnes corner, the ball rebounded into the net, off the back off defender SPARKS's head.

Three minutes later, Sparks completed an eventful evening in a way he will want to forget. An appalling over the top challenge on John Hurlock's leg saw the Yeading defender receive a second caution and thus a red card, sent off for an assault that looked to have caused serious injury at first. Fortunately, Hurlock was able to continue. A remarkably eventful second half of extra time began with Hurlock being cautioned for a careless tackle of his own, before Boro' netted a fourth goal, in the 109th minute.

Hayrettin's left wing cross found Marcus RICHARDSON at the far post, and he headed high into goal. Two minutes later, and only seven minutes after he had entered the game as a sub, Yeading's Lake fouled Hurlock well off the ball, all the more stupid given that it was in full view of the referee! Out came the red card, dismissal for Lake for violent conduct! Failing to take the hint, it took the offender some time to end a tirade aimed at the referee, before he wandered off to an early shower.

Able once more to return to action, the resilient Hurlock had a shot saved by the diving Bayliss but Boro' moved 5-1 ahead in the 115th minute. A neat three man move ended with Keith NEWBY, only on the pitch for four minutes at that stage, netting an 18 yard drive inside the near post. Newby soon sent another effort just wide before Yeading farcically added to their misdemeanours through the experienced Andy Hedge.

It took three attempts to trip a succession of Boro' players before he eventually managed to catch one, Nikolaj Lund, who by this time was in the Yeading box! A penalty was the only possible decision but, having escaped a feasible red card for his odd behaviour, Hedge insisted on talking his way into a caution for dissent, before RICHARDSON netted a confident 119 minute spot kick.

Only a last minute save from Richardson's chip shot prevented Boro' from netting seven in successive county cup ties but by then it really was a case of getting off the pitch in one piece, victory having been achieved in a truly remarkable period of extra time.

Harrow: Hook; Rose, Howell ( Hayrettin ); Lewis, Cooper, M. Walsh; Lund, Payne ( Newby ), Gavin ( Hurlock ), Richardson, Barnes; other subs; Lyons and Robinson.

Yeading: Bannatyne ( Bissah ); Eaton, Sparks; Lee, Hedge, Denton; Shafer, Tucker ( Lake ), Callender ( O'Brien ), Bayliss, Griffiths.

The beginning of the end of the Champions League?