ENFIELD TOWN 3 HARROW BOROUGH 0

A new year, but the same old result. A heavy defeat signed off a dreadful festive period for Harrow, whose quickening slide towards the sole relegation spot continued with this, their 16th defeat in the last 24 league games.

With no Chinua Cole, Shaun Preddie moved to left-back. David Taylor made his first league start since his return from Australia, while there was also a return to the starting line-up for Anthony O’Connor. On a decent surface despite all the recent rain, the hosts made the early running. Youngs drove over and then Greene missed a sitter, firing over at the far post after the Harrow defence had failed to deal with Blackman’s long throw. When the Harrow midfield stood off their onrushing opponents in the 10th minute, it was a fatal error, as the ball was slipped through to Youngs, who got to it just before the outrushing Melvin Minter and squeezed it under the Borough keeper.

Minter saved Thomas’s header, and then did really well to keep out the same player when the ball arrived at his feet at the far post. Greene got past Howard Hall and hit a fierce cross-shot that David Long-King diverted over his own bar. Minter then held a curling free-kick from the same player.

In the ten minutes before the break, Harrow at last threatened, finally getting the ball down and playing some passes. Charles Banya jinked past a defender inside the area on the left and hit a low drive that Wright couldn’t hold. The Enfield keeper grasped the ball at the second attempt, just before the incoming Taylor. But Minter had to make another save, from Parcell, as the half closed.

Longe-King headed away a dangerous cross from Greene as the second half began, but Harrow threatened when Banya got in on the right and pulled the ball across for Sahr Kabba to hit first-time, Wright holding the shot. But Enfield doubled their lead in the 56th minute, a right-wing cross turned in by McKenzie from close range.

Harrow wilted visibly and a long period of home pressure ended with Youngs shooting across goal. When Preddie, looking uncomfortable in his role on the left, gave the ball away in the 68th minute, the hosts again attacked on the right, and a hard, low, driven cross was diverted past his own keeper by Longe-King. Cue gallows humour about a Harrow player finally scoring a league goal at the QEII.

The game long lost, Borough did nonetheless manage some late pressure. Banya got in on the left, a defender blocking his shot, and then combined with Kabba to set up Ryan Moss for a low curling left-foot shot that beat Wright but was cleared off the line by Parcell. At the other end Minter turned round a shot by Hockney and pushed Blackman’s free-kick over the bar.

The Harrow season now surely hits its most critical point, with games on the next two Saturdays against fellow relegation candidates who they have yet to meet. Needham Market visit the Rogers Family Stadium this Saturday and then Borough visit Burgess Hill Town on 13th January.

ENFIELD TOWN: Joe Wright, Mickey Parcell, John Kyriacou, Taylor McKenzie, Danny Rumens, Mario Noto, Ryan Blackman, Sam Youngs (booked, 35 mins; sub Jack Hockney, 79 mins), Ryan Blake (sub Steve Wales, 70 mins), Simon Thomas (sub Craig Calver, 74 mins), Aaron Greene. Unused subs: Junior Mubiayi, Nathan Dennis.

HARROW BOROUGH: Melvin Minter, Howard Hall, Shaun Preddie, Adam Pepera, David Longe-King (booked, 26 mins), David Taylor (sub Greig Stewart, 66 mins), Sahr Kabba, Kurtis Cumberbatch, Ryan Moss, Charles Banya, Anthony O’Connor (sub Mark McLeod, 66 mins; booked, 78 mins). Unused subs: Kyle Beggs, Tayo Davies-Coker, George Moore.

Referee: Mr J Mannix

Att: 382

by Simon Grigor