North Leigh 2 - 0 Harrow Borough

Following Tuesday’s draw at Winchester, Steve Baker’s resources were stretched even further with Sonny Hart, so influential in keeping consecutive clean sheets, suffering from a chest infection. Captain Shaun Preddie returned, although was only able to play for an hour. Isiah Noel-Williams also returned in midfield. Others in the starting eleven were carrying knocks, which must have played a part in a performance where, heavy difficult pitch aside, Boro never really got going and presented little in the way of an attacking threat.

Harrow kicked off going up an appreciable slope and started brightly. A deep Billy Leonard corner was met at the far post by a Moore drive that was blocked, and Leonard then moved onto a throw-in to lash a 20-yarder that North turned round the post. Shaun Preddie then turned up on the left-wing, only to be stopped by a nasty Isherwood tackle that brought a caution, with the full back arguably fortunate to escape stronger punishment.

Jaden Sharman then had a shot from a free-kick blocked, the ball rebounding to Bloom who blazed way over. Moore fired an angled shot narrowly past the far post, and Kamon-Sherell Assidjo was twice foiled by the home keeper, the second time a very sharp save to his left to a shot that was heading for the corner.

But The Millers began to get a toehold in the game as half-time approached. Steele had a shot on the turn blocked and Williams fired just wide, before Thomas’s free-kick was held by Jacob Knightbridge. The hosts then went ahead in the 38th minute after a needless foul was conceded in the Boro left back position with the home player in possession facing the touchline. The resulting free kick was played in low, with the Harrow defence allowing it to travel all the way across to the far post, where Jack Alexander gleefully stabbed it in. It might have been two by half-time as Awadh twice went close to doubling his team's lead.

Both Steve Baker and Darron Wilkinson were back out from the dressing room long before their players, presumably trying a ‘sort this mess out yourselves’ approach. However, regardless of whether if it was that or any words spoken, there was not much of an impact as the second half started where the first had left off, with Knightbridge saving well from Awadh. Jordan Thomas then curled a lovely free-kick against the crossbar with Knightbridge well beaten. Samuel Adenola’s shot was saved after decent approach play by Bloom and Moore, and Moore cut in from the left to force a save from North. But in the 62nd minute Thomas, the game’s outstanding player, was found from a throw in and was allowed to cut in from the left to smash an unstoppable effort past Knightbridge from the edge of the area.

Harrow huffed and puffed in the last half an hour but failed to create any clear cut chances of note and it was North Leigh who could have added further goals, but they were denied by a combination of Knightbridge and last ditched blocks and tackles.

The result means North Leigh have won their last three home games without conceding and are now dreaming of a great escape. Although other results were generally kind to Harrow, a win for Winchester means they have slipped back into the bottom four ahead of another huge game at Salisbury on Tuesday. Members of their coaching team were watching on and Harrow will need to put this performance out of their system quickly if they are to take anything from the trip to Wiltshire. And with Harrow's Under 23s securing another win, Steve Baker may need to consider other options.

NORTH LEIGH: Adam North, Scott Isherwood (booked, 10 mins; sub Michael Hopkins, 62 mins), Declan Peart, Jack Alexander, Owen Dore (booked, 48 mins), Aaron Heap, Lance Williams, Aaron McCreadie, Levi Steele, Amer Awadh, Jordan Thomas. Unused subs: Aaron Woodley, Luca James, Andrew Gunn.

HARROW BOROUGH: Jacob Knightbridge, Ezra Ikebuasi (booked, 55 mins), Jaden Sharman, Shaun Preddie (sub Kai Omoko Brosnan, 58 mins), Keegan Bloom (sub Johnny Allotey, 63 mins), Samuel Adenola, George Moore, Billy Leonard, Anointed Chukwu, Kamon-Sherell Assidjo (sub Montel Brown, 58 mins), Isiah Noel-Williams.

Referee: Mr C Bullock
Att. 147
by Simon Grigor