On a frosty night but a perfectly playable surface, Harrow began well enough. Joakim Ehui’s right-wing run and cross led to a piledriver shot from Gary Jones that home keeper Oualah could not hold, but was rescued by a hack clear by one of his defenders. Michael Barima then played a one-two with Danny Buckle and saw his shot deflected wide. Kabamba forced the first save of the night from Elvijs Putnins, Oualah doing the same at the other end to turn round Barima’s effort. Lovell, once of Harrow, turned sharply to force a smart save from Putnins, before a nice move saw Barima find Nicolai Tararov, whose first time lay-off set up Ola Williams whose shot was turned over by Oualah. Ehui and Darelle Russell then created a great chance for Buckle, who shot across goal from close in when it looked easier to score.

So, half-time arrived without a goal, but Harrow’s play was suggesting they might get one. But it looked as if their half-time tea had been laced, such was the sleepiness and ineptitude that followed in the second half. Simple passes went astray, longer ones were overhit, and in the 52nd minute when Putnins failed to gather a free-kick by Madigan, Kabamba was on hand to poach what was to be the only goal of the night.

Dave Anderson had seen enough by the hour mark, hooking Tararov, Russell and Evandro Delgado in a triple substitution, with most of the eight who remained on the pitch lucky to be doing so.

Steve Ferguson, one of the substitutes, had a shot blocked, but he and his two fellow new arrivals quickly submerged to the depths of their colleagues. Williams had a shot hacked away, Barima forced a decent save from Oualah, and Buckle fired over from Simeon Akinola’s flick on. But it summed up Harrow’s night when after an evening of generally awful crosses, Jones put over a pinpoint delivery to Buckle, but for reasons unknown the big striker chose not to jump for it when just a foot of lift ought to have seen him able to head the ball in.

This was a second half display that Harrow have to get out of their systems immediately as there are two absolutely vital home league games coming up in the next seven days, and league survival is now all they have left to grab this season.

UXBRIDGE: Zaki Oualah, Emmanuel Otira, Chris Owens, Rob Fitzgerald, Mark Dennison, Callum Madigan, Sean Lucien, Mark Smith (sub William Wambeek, 61 mins), Jake Lovell (sub Keon Mendoza, 57 mins), Nicke Kabamba (Matt Woods, 88 mins), Craige Tomkins.

HARROW BOROUGH: Elvijs Putnins, Michael Barima, Garry Jones, Ola Williams, Danny Leech, Ruddock Yala, Joakim Ehui, Nicolai Tararov (sub Steve Ferguson, 61 mins), Danny Buckle, Darelle Russell (sub Simeon Akinola, 61 mins), Evandro Delgado (sub Yassine Fehmi-Gil, 61 mins). Unused subs: Rob Wolleaston, Michael Peacock.

Referee: Mr C Evans

Att: 72