A visit from a side that had taken just a single point from the last eight games: surely this could be the chance for the Harrow corpse to, at least, twitch, if not stir itself to a level whereby supporters could dream of the most unlikely escape act? It wasn't to be. The spirit was willing and there was some considerably better football than of late, but the twin Spring failings of not being able to take presentable chances, and making truly calamitous errors, were once again on display. Kai Omoko Brosnan and Ben De Lacy-Turner returned to the starting eleven, Jaden Sharman and James Ewington dropping to the bench.

Attacking the school end, Harrow looked livelier, way, way livelier than in recent games, with some quick, slick passing. Brosnan made a surging run in from the right to fire a left-foot shot just over and, although Billy Leonard had to make a good headed interception from Foot’s cross, Harrow were looking good. Anointed Chukwu’s firm header from Roman Charles-Cook’s cross was saved by Hall, a Billy Leonard angled shot was blocked, and De Lacy-Turner headed wide following Roman Charles-Cook’s long throw. Chukwu and Isiah Noel-Williams then won successive headers, allowing Brosnan to strike a shot that was deflected just wide.

But even when they’re on top, the 2022-23 Harrow Borough can make the most awful of errors. Facing his own goal, Hamilton Bunga allowed the ball to bounce and then failed to clear, allowing Neale to rob him and motor in on goal, only to fire over the bar. Let off, Harrow went back on the front foot, and De Lacy-Turner ought to have fired them ahead when through on goal but with defenders closing in on him he pretty much dribbled the ball into Hall’s arms. Chukwu shot over when Ahmet Biler’s free-kick was half-cleared, and Foot made an important interception when Brosnan got to the by-line and pulled the ball back. Hall then saved Chukwu’s header from Leonard’s left-wing cross, and the Dorchester ‘keeper then kept out a Leonard effort. But again, a long period with Borough on top ended with a golden chance for the visitors, as Gwengwe managed to put a left-wing cross wide from just a few yards out in the centre of the goal.

Biler put a right-foot shot just past the near post, before the visitors opened the scoring, in the 39th minute. From a Harrow corner Chukwu attempted a square ball to Leonard across theedge of the box that was the greatest example of ‘hospital pass’ you could (not) wish to see. It was picked off and away stormed Dorchester in a two-on-two situation, and though the Harrow defence blocked Gwengwe’s initial shot, they didn’t clear the ball and in the scramble that followed Samuel Adenola was unfortunate to fall on the ball and handled. Gwengwe found the net comfortably from the penalty spot.

Worse followed. Although the second half opened with two Leonard shots over the bar, and another by De Lacy-Turner, blocked, in the 53rd minute, Brosnan managed to completely slice a left footed clearance to Lewis Waterfield on the edge of the area. His touch put Gwengwe through, before he was cynically fouled by last man Bunga, who was perhaps fortunate to escape with a booking.
I have no idea of how many penalties Knightbridge saves in West Ham training during the week, but something doesn’t look right with his ‘jigging about’ routine as he faces on, and he has rarely looked like saving any of the all-too-many spot-kicks given away by his colleagues. This time he got a left hand to Gwengwe's strike, but it was just too far into the corner and the visitors doubled their lead.

At least, here, Harrow didn’t fold at two-down. Chukwu shot across the face of goal, before finding substitute Johnny Allotey, who dragged a bobbling effort wide, a bad miss. Chukwu and James Ewington then set up Allotey whose shot was blocked, before Harrow scored their first goal in four games, in the 68th minute. Brosnan drove into the visitors’ box on the right, Hall tipping away his low shot, Allotey following in at the far post to net.

Ewington found Allotey, whose effort was narrowly wide, but The Magpies might have stretched their lead when Bunga erred again, an awful header letting Gwengwe in on goal, stopped from getting his hat-trick by a fine Knightbridge save. Samuel Adenola had two shots off target, Knightbridge pushed away Neale’s long-ranger, and Allotey failed to get a shot away when he had the chance too: something he was not the only culprit of on the night.

So, a week regarded by many as the most important in Harrow’s recent history ended, pointless and battered, with relegation creeping closer. 12 home defeats is the worst record in the league. At least tonight there was some pride evident in the performance. Borough would probably need to win four, or even all five, of their remaining games, to have even a hope of staying up, and having won only seven of 37, the odds seem firmly against that happening. Supporters will be hoping that they at least show the spirit and increased attacking threat on show here.

On Saturday they travel to Hartley Wintney, one of the two sides below them. Phaedrus, a scholar in ancient Rome, wrote of his observation of two bald men fighting over a comb. It's an analogy appropriate to North Hampshire this weekend.

HARROW BOROUGH: Jacob Knightbridge, Roman Charles-Cook (sub Johnny Allotey, 60 mins), Ahmet Biler, Hamilton Bunga (booked, 53 mins; sub Sahid Nallo, 86 mins), Sonny Hart, Samuel Adenola, Kai Omoko Brosnan, Billy Leonard, Anointed Chukwu, Ben De Lacy-Turner (sub James Ewington, 60 mins), Isiah Noel-Williams (booked, 88 mins). Not used: Jaden Sharman, Prince Kandolo.

DORCHESTER TOWN: Ryan Hall, Jordan Foot, Tiago Sa, Lewis Waterfield, Louie Slough, Kieran Douglass (sub Harvey-Joe Bertrand, 13 mins), Alex Moyse, Matt Neale (booked, 47 mins), Baylin Johnson (sub Callum Buckley, 90 mins), Shaquille Gwengwe (booked, 67 mins), Ferdinand Okoh (sub Jake Graziano, 66 mins; booked, 90 mins). Not used: James Howell, Jordan Ngalo.

Referee: Mr H Blair
Att. 160