Two goals in the last 14 minutes from Boro‘, coming from 2-0 down, ensured a share of the spoils on the Kent coast against Margate and in the process extended Harrow’s unbeaten run to five games.

With longer term casualties, Richard Orlu, Kurt Morlese and James Fraser still missing, Manager David Howell was forced to make three changes because of injury to the eleven that started against Waltham Abbey. Gary Meakin came in at right back for captain Wayne Walter (groin), Peter Lyall replaced Danny McGonigle (shin) in midfield and there was a first start for Charles Ball, up front in place of Dewayne Clarke (knee). Rocky ‘You Tubes’ Baptiste, as he was referred to by the Margate announcer, skippered the side.

The weather was chilly, dry and overcast at the start but rain arrived in the middle of the second half. The pitch was firm, albeit a little bumpy. The game took a while to settle down with the first chance falling to Margate’s Lloyd Blackman in the tenth minute who screwed a shot wide having latched on to a long throw from Aaron Lacey. Two minutes later Harrow were indebted to keeper Andray Baptiste who saved well at he feet of Blackman who had broken through on goal. On fifteen minutes a cross from the Margate left wing caused confusion in the Harrow defence and Peter Lyall cleared a goal bound shot.

Harrow’s first clear chance was from a corner on the left but Charles Ball could only direct his far post header wide. It was then in the 23rd minute that Baptiste, in the Harrow goal, made a magnificent stop, a great diving save to prevent a hard left footed snap shot from Blackman from about ten yards out. Three minutes later Kwasi Frempong was the Boro’ saviour, clearing off the line when Baptiste failed to hang on to a cross while under challenge from the Margate forwards. Margate were on top at this point in the match with Blackman again shooting wide.

On 32 minutes the Margate skipper finally got his goal to put Margate one up when he again broke through, this time in the inside right position, getting to the ball just ahead of Andray Baptiste and a challenge from Ryan Watts.
A Harrow free kick was headed just wide by Ball on forty minutes and four minutes later Rocky Baptiste had a shot blocked with Kenta Nakashima hitting the rebound wide. The referees whistle ended proceedings in the first period with just over two extra minutes on the clock this despite the indication that a minimum of four minutes was to be played. Boro’ really couldn’t complain about the score line at half time, if anything Margate deserved more than their one goal advantage.

Harrow made tactical changes at half time to give Lyall and Frempong more support in midfield and indeed it was more even at the start of the second half. Andray Baptiste saved at the feet of the ever lively Blackman on 48 minutes, but this was the only chance for either side in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half. Just before the hour mark Nakashima made way for Jonathan Constant. Three minutes later, however, Boro’ were two down. A Harrow attack on the right wing broke down when Gary Meakin lost the ball on the edge of the Margate penalty area. Curtis Robinson, the Margate left back, released Anthony Joseph and from deep in his own half he ran towards the Harrow goal. Cutting inside when he reached the Boro’ penalty area he shot right footed into the corner of the net from about 16 yards.

Despite the goal Harrow began to get back in the match and on 69 minutes Charles Ball perhaps should have scored but headed wide. He had, however, been struggling with a chest problem, having breathing difficulties and was replaced a minute later by Warren Whitely.

Harrow scored on 76 minutes. A Ryan Watts corner on the right was cleared, but only to Peter Lyall who found Watts with a fine ball. The Harrow left back cut into the Margate area, beating two players in the process hitting the ball across the goal towards the far post only to see it deflected into his own net by Wayne Wilson.

Harrow were now in the ascendancy, although Margate should have scored when Blackman shot wide with the goal was at his mercy and only Andray Baptiste to beat. Growing Harrow pressure finally told, though, with the equaliser on 85 minutes. Lyall was again the provider with a ball over the Margate defence that found Constant who finished with a shot that went in off the right hand post.

Half chances were exchanged at both ends in the closing moments of the match, and Harrow were perhaps favourites to take the game at this late stage. Alas, it was not to be.

Harrow Borough:
1 Andray Baptiste
2 Dean Fenton
3 Ryan Watts
4 Gary Meakin
5 Danny Leech
6 Tobi Jinadu
7 Kwasi Frempong
8 Peter Lyall
9 Charles Ball (Rickey Browne 70 min)
10 Rocky Baptiste
11 Kenta Nakashima (Jonathan Constant 59 min)

12 Jonathan Constant
14 Warren Whitely
15 Rickey Browne
17 Keita Karamoko

Margate
1 Matt Reed
2 Aaron Lacey
3 Curtis Robinson
4 John Keister
5 Sam Groombridge
6 Charlie Reed
7 Wayne Wilson
8 Joe Healy (Ben Clarke 85)
9 Lloyd Blackman
10 Anthony Joeseph (George Anderson 67)
11 Dan Stubbs

12 Sam Cliff
14 George Anderson
15 Ben Clarke
16 James Duncan
17 Luke Wheatley

REFEREE
M. McCoy

by Andy Turner at Hartsdown Park