There was virtually no threat in an attacking capacity while they looked as brittle as a Christmas glass bauble at the back. Talented players who were at the heart of the club’s seventh place last season look either (to be charitable) way off form or off the pace, or (to be, I fear, more realistic) disinterested and demotivated. This team is heading for relegation unless some drastic changes happen now – and even that might be too late.

The realistic among the home support would have been hoping for a postponement, but the news came through in the morning that the game was on, and while the Earlsmead pitch was heavy it was most certainly playable. Josh Andrew returned from suspension, and Excellence Muhemba partnered Marc Charles-Smith up-front, in the two changes from last Saturday’s loss at Gosport. Ben Tricker was an absentee while George Fenton dropped to the bench.

The game wasn’t four minutes old when Harrow lost the ball in the far right corner of the ground. Weston’s no.11, Harper, picked it up, and shook off various half-hearted challenges as he stormed 60 yards or so down the left wing. He played it infield to Ash, who went through the Borough central defence to fire home.

There were 86 minutes to go but heads dropped immediately: you could tell that the Harrow players thought, or knew, that the game was lost already. Waite lifted another effort narrowly over Luca Ashby-Hammond’s bar, Shaun Preddie made a fine challenge to prevent another shot, and Ashby-Hammond kept out another effort from Ash. Harrow’s first attack of any seriousness came after 20 minutes, when it took a good tackle on Muhemba to stop him making clean contact on a George Moore pass.

At the other end Laird curled an effort over the bar before Borough conceded again after 33 minutes. Michael Bryan slipped as he turned just outside the Weston box and, as with the first goal, as soon as the visitors won possession they were able to sweep forward virtually unchallenged, Waite being left at the end of the move with an easy finish.

Half-time arrived with virtually no response from the hosts to that second goal, but early in the second period there was some life from Harrow, with some better possession in their opponents’ half, although it was Weston who went closer to scoring as Martin’s shot whistled just over the angle. Harrow made a double substitution and, while it was most certainly a good idea to try to introduce some new life, not for the first time lately Harrow substitutions resulted in an immediate goal for the opposition, as a cross came in from the right, was only half-headed clear, and Waite lashed home the dropping ball.

Purnell in the Seagulls goal had to make his first save of the afternoon as he dived bravely at Moore’s feet. Moore then shot narrowly wide from Dylan Ive’s pass, and saw another shot beaten away by Purnell, but Weston, who began the game only three points ahead of Harrow, so are hardly world-beaters, were able to manage their lead very comfortably, and in the first minute of added time Waite ran through on the left, rounded Ashby-Hammond and slotted in his hat-trick goal.

It’s less than eight weeks since Harrow got a deserved draw from their visit to Weston. Have the Seagulls really improved dramatically in that time? I think not. That leads to a different conclusion. Harrow now sit fifth from bottom. They have amassed nine points from the last 51 on offer. The last five league games have seen two goals scored (and one of them by Dylan Kearney, who’s no longer at the club) and 13 conceded. The two teams below them are each only two points behind with three games in hand. Happy Christmas it certainly is not. Boxing Day sees them travel to one of those two sides just below them, Hendon. If anyone of a red persuasion is looking forward to this game, I would suggest they seek medical advice before the GP surgeries close for Christmas.

HARROW BOROUGH: Luca Ashby-Hammond, Josh Andrew, Ryan Haugh, Adam Pepera (booked, 78 mins), Shaun Preddie, Jordan Ireland, George Moore, Lewis Cole (booked, 59 mins; sub Leo Donnellan, 69 mins), Marc Charles-Smith, Michael Bryan (sub Dylan Ive, 64 mins), Excellence Muhemba (sub Juwon Akintunde, 62 mins). Unused subs: Kunle Otudeko, George Fenton.

WESTON-SUPER-MARE: Luke Purnell, Aaron Parsons, Dan Martin, Scott Laird (sub Sam Hendy, 81 mins), Christopher Knowles, Greg Tindle, Nick McCootie (sub Isaac Pearce, 74 mins), Jacob Cane (booked, 19 mins), Bradley Ash (sub Ryan Jones, 89 mins), James Waite, Vincent Harper. Unused subs: Jack Goodall, Charlie Madden

Referee: Mr J Oxenham

Att. 118

By Simon Grigor