Lots of things to remember this evening for! On the pitch, a comfortable win with some confident debuts for a number of youngsters promoted from the Borough academy side. Off it, first, the arrival of the cold weather; and second, man-for-man without doubt the best opposition support I have seen in all my years of following the Borough. Operating from a rickety wooden stand part held together by scaffolding, behind the two benches, the 80-100 ‘Clapton Ultras’ sang, for 90 minutes, with a brilliant repertoire of songs, they waved flags and scarves, they bounced up and down, they celebrated ‘pretend goals’, they let off flares (naughty! But entertaining nonetheless) and, after the game, they remained singing even when the players had departed. Those who follow such things on the internet knew about them, but to others like me they came as a total surprise and a thoroughly astonishing one.

Dave Anderson used the game to look at other players who are on the books, and not a single man who began the game at VCD began this one. There were debuts for left-back Bartosz Libera, winger Carl Weser and striker Keiran Noel, all from the academy, while centre-back John Sonuga also made his first outing. Jake Gilbert played in the striking role as he had apparently done regularly in his youth. On the bench were three more academy boys, all deployed for their debuts in the second half. Michael Barima captained the side, with six of his starting colleagues likely to have been no more than ‘glints in their parents’ eyes’ when he began his own football career!

The game only got the go-ahead after a late inspection and when it started, there was an early scare for Harrow when Nyanja got clear on the right and shot across goal. But Harrow settled, and Noel showed his eye for goal with a sharp turn and rasping shot that Diagne turned onto the top of his bar. The resulting corner, in the 16th minute, was an arrow-like delivery by Weser met by a powerful downward header by Sonuga to open the scoring.

Mott shot tamely wide for Clapton but Harrow were playing some nice stuff on a difficult surface. Libera collected the ball on the left, cut inside and thrashed a right-footer that went just past the far post. Noel had a first-time shot off-target, before Ben Long picked out Gilbert with a lovely pass that Gilbert hit first-time, with his left foot, wide of the mark. Never mind, the same combination paid off in the 32nd minute, as Long sent Gilbert through and this time he had a touch before stroking the ball low past Diagne.

Spencer’s cross just eluded his Clapton colleagues before Julian Smith broke forward on the right, crossing for Ryan Debattista who had made good ground into the box but conspired to lift the ball over from only two yards. Debattista then got through on the left but Diagne was equal to his low shot. Michael Peacock made a double-clearance off his own goal line as Clapton tried to reduce the deficit, but half-time arrived with Noel through a square back-line but mishitting his shot.

Weser had looked the part in the first half. He’ll surely get another run-out in the County Cup at Northwood, and might even get on the bench for a ‘bigger’ game in the meantime. But alas he had picked up a back injury and didn’t reappear for the second half. Tah-Mi Williams came on in his place.

Diagne saved Sonuga’s header from Long’s free-kick, while Charlie Horlock made his first serious save of the night to stop a fierce shot by Spencer. Camacho made a brave clearance over his own bar to stop a dangerous Noel cross, the resulting inswinging corner by Debattista nearly going straight in, Diagne having to react desperately to keep it out at the near post. In the 59th minute, Noel showed a natural predator’s instinct, gambling that Diagne wasn’t going to get to a bouncing ball, getting there just before him, nodding it over his head and going on to tuck the ball in from a very narrow angle.

Williams won a tackle in midfield and surged forward, his curling side-foot effort saved by Daigne, who also stopped a Peacock 20-yarder. With all three Harrow substitutes on, Borough were reduced to ten men for the third match running, but this time there was no indiscipline involved: poor Barima picked up an injury and had to limp off, Peacock taking the captain’s mantle. Gilbert had a late shot wide of the mark before the game finished, but not the home fans’ singing: Dave Anderson made the point of applauding them before telling the travelling Harrow contingent that we are all sacked!

CLAPTON: Pape Diagne, Borja Camacho (sub Billy Wise, 57 mins), Luke Kanjor, Justin Maynard, Idu Bogdan, Djalo Djibril, Geoff Ocran, James Briggs, Fahad Nyanja, Andy Mott (sub Dean Bouho, 75 mins), Aundre Spencer (sub Fusion Queta, 57 mins). Unused subs: Ian Steele, Jonathan Groves

HARROW BOROUGH: Charlie Horlock, Michael Barima, Bartosz Libera, Ben Long (sub Jordan Payne, 63 mins), Michael Peacock, John Sonuga (sub Ethan Sennett, 67 mins; booked, 85 mins), Carl Weser (sub Tah-Mi Williams, h-t), Julian Smith, Jake Gilbert, Keiran Noel, Ryan Debattista.