I was heading north to visit family and spend a few days in the North East, so looked for where I could find the furthest north a Kent side playing football in todays league and FA Cup fixtures. I decided upon the FA Cup Preliminary Round fixture between Harrow Borough FC, who play in the Isthmian League, South Central, where they sit in seventh place, having beaten Ashford Town in their opening game, and Ashford United of the Isthmian League South-East Division.

Ashford United, managed by Danny Kedwell, fresh from a two year stint as player coach at Chatham Town, drew their opening Isthmian League fixture with Erith Town, 3-3. Their goals came from the prolific Gary Lockyer, Max Walsh and Noah Carney. In the previous prelimary extra round of the FA Cup, Ashford despatched Egham Town by three goals to nil.

Harrow Borough play at the Earlsfield Stadium, which holds a capacity of 3075 people, with seating for 350 and covered standing for 1000. In 1948 the ground built covered standing using ex World War 2 Anderson shelter sheeting, which still exists in the South-East corner of the ground.

The stadium is also known as the Rogers Family Stadium in recognition of Club Chairman, Peter Rogers who put 50 years of service into the club.

The club is managed by Ben Bukowski and their solitary league goal this season came from Leo Sery. The crowd for their first league match of the season was 154. Harrow Borough came into this season determined to regain their Step 3 status and much is expected of the new manager and the much changed new squad he has introduced over the close season.

The game kicked off in glorious sunshine. Both sides tried to play attacking football but Ashford United’s attempts to play through the channels were continue play blocked by Harrow Borough FC’s Stephan Langley, who was formidable at the heart of the defence. Noah Carney and Gary Lockyer caused problems in the home defence for the “Nuts and Bolts”, but there were few clear cut chances.

As the half time whistle blew both sides were deadlocked with the game goalless. As the teams left the pitch the two opposing managers knew their half time talk would be crucial as the game hung very much in the balance.

There was no real difference in the second half, until the hour mark, when Jethro Odumosu squandered a chance for Harrow on the hour mark.

Two minutes later Deago Dunbar-Bonnie missed a chance that seemed easier to score and it looked as if this was not to be Harrow Borough’s day.

In the 66th minute however the much changed when Max Miskin slipped the defence (and my filming) to fire home and complete the task his fellow teammates had made so difficult, putting the home team 1-0 ahead.

After initially dropping their heads, Ashford United showed some resilience and came back into the game. In the 79th minute they were level, when a long ball from Jack Saunders found the head of stalwart striker, Gary Lockyer, who scored to level the game.

Despite some advanced pressure from Ashford in the last ten minutes, including an effort by Lockyer that forced this save from Roraigh Browne in the Harrow goal, the game stayed tied at 1-1.

At full time the 192 fans in attendance had seen a good cup tie where neither side could secure the win. The replay is scheduled for Tuesday night at Ashford United and would be well worth the entrance fee!