HARROW BORO 1 HARINGEY BORO 1

Harrow are still in the Trophy, just, thanks to a last-minute equaliser from the penalty spot, but they will need to perform better in Monday’s replay in north London if they are to have a serious chance of progressing to the next round,

as it was only in the final ten minutes of this match that they put visiting goalkeeper Pajetat under any serious pressure.

A delightful pre-match ceremony saw Earlsmead Stadium renamed as The Rogers Family Stadium, in recognition of Peter Rogers’s 50 years as a Harrow director, not forgetting either all the efforts for the club made by his late father and mother. When the game began, the visitors soon showed why they are unbeaten in the Bostik North this season, as Gabriel turned Adam Richards just inside the home half, bearing down on goal until Melvin Minter made a brave save at his feet. Harrow’s first effort on goal saw Charles Banya feed Michael Bryan, who got to the right-hand by-line, pulling the ball across for Will Turl to fire into the near post side-netting. Banya then set up Bajram Pashaj who, falling, failed to get any purchase on his shot, allowing Pajetat to gather.

Minter saved a visiting cross-shot thus preventing McDonald running the ball in at the far post, and Curtis Ujah blocked a shot from the stocky Benjamin after a left-wing build-up. George Moore then got his head in the way of a cross that was heading to the incoming O’Donoghue. The bespectacled Djassi-Sambu made a good interception at the other end to stop a Banya cross. Gabriel, the Haringey top scorer, had a shot deflected wide, and Ujah headed a Pashaj free-kick over. Haringey went in front after 43 minutes with a clever goal, a right-wing free-kick chested into the path of Gabriel, who turned to slip the ball past Minter’s left hand into the corner of the net.

Haringey were close to doubling their lead in a strong start to the second half. Richards blocked Gabriel’s shot, Minter saved from Olufemi after a Kurtis Cumberbatch mistake, and Minter turned round a 25-yarder from McDonald. Shaun Preddie turned and shot wide for Harrow, but that was a rare effort on goal by the hosts. In an effort to pep up the attack, Steve Baker introduced Reis Stanislaus for a disappointing Turl, and Anthony O’Connor replaced a tiring Pashaj. Minter turned over a fierce shot by Gabriel, but a big melee after a pretty dreadful challenge by Haringey substitute Heather on Moore, that might have seen red rather than yellow, seemed to spark some life into Harrow. The Haringey defence did very well to get a dangerous Bryan cross over the bar, and then Pajetat was finally called into action, diving full-length to catch a fierce long-range Stanislaus shot.

With the game in its 89th minute, Minter was hugely lucky to get away with a dreadful error, saving at Gabriel’s feet after giving the ball away. But he switched play quickly to the other end, and O’Connor got into the Haringey box on the right and was felled as he turned sharply. There was no doubt about the penalty, and Cumberbatch stepped forward to send the keeper the wrong way.

Suddenly it looked as if Harrow might even win it, as Pajetat saved in stoppage time from a Bryan shot and then from an O’Connor header from Banya’s corner. But it ended level, so it’s off to Tottenham on Monday evening for the replay.

HARROW BOROUGH: Melvin Minter, George Moore (booked, 75 mins), Arinse Uade (booked, 83 mins), Adam Richards, Curtis Ujah, Shaun Preddie, Charles Banya, Kurtis Cumberbatch, Will Turl (sub Reis Stanislaus, 63 mins; booked, 86 mins), Michael Bryan, Bajram Pashaj (sub Anthony O’Connor, 68 mins). Unused subs: Mark McLeod, Alfie Cain, Howard Hall.

HARINGEY BOROUGH: Valery Pajetat (booked, 60 mins), David Olufemi, Michael O’Donoghue, Lawrence Yiga, Scott Mitchell, Rakim Richards, Ruaridh Kay (booked, 23 mins), Jorge Djassi-Sambu (booked, 59 mins), Ralston Gabriel (booked, 75 mins), Joseph Benjamin (sub Kai Heather, 63 mins; booked, 75 mins), Anthony McDonald (sub Michael Ademiluyi, 82 mins). Unused subs: Dean Fenton, Ayrton Coley, Austin Byfield.

Referee: Mr C Barnett

Att. 103

by Simon Grigor