Harrow Borough boss Steve Baker described his side’s Middlesex Senior Cup win as the perfect end to his first season

Boro overcame Spartan South Midlands Premier Division side Hanwell Town 1-0 thanks to Marc Charles-Smith’s injury-time penalty, bringing the cup to Earlsmead for the first time since 1993.

And reflecting on Saturday’s win, Baker said: “It was a perfect end to a perfect season.

“It has been a bit of a whirlwind three-and-a-half months.

“The main aim was keeping the club up so Saturday was the icing on the cake, it was nice to not be full of nerves.

“It was a tough game on a poor pitch. We played some good stuff in the first half and their goalkeeper made some good saves.”

Baker has made a considerable impact with the Reds since succeeding Dave Anderson in late January but the former Chipstead boss was quick to play down the dual achievement of survival and silverware.

“It was always achievable,” he stated. “I do not believe in overachievement, you can only achieve what you achieve.

“But it was an achievement which no-one expected,” he admitted. “I would be a liar if I said I was sure we would do it when I came in but we have kept calm and done exactly what we needed to.”

Extra-time looked a certainty when in the third of four additional minutes, full-back George McCluskey bombed forward to meet Lewis Driver’s pass.

His reward was to be felled inside the penalty area and from the resulting spot kick, skipper Marc Charles-Smith fired past stand-in Hanwell keeper Martin Herdman after allowing him to commit.

And Baker acknowledged to the part of McCluskey in the goal.

“All I ever ask the lads to do is what we worked on in training and in injury time George was getting forward as I asked him.”

He added: “Hanwell made it difficult for us. They were solid and played with up one front – I would have done the same in their position, with respect.”

Charles Smith was again the hero for Harrow, the forward having scored 22 times in all competitions for Boro this term, and Baker admits he got it wrong on his arrival when he played the former Staines Town and Billericay hitman as a lone striker.

“He has been fantastic,” enthused Baker. “Since Lewis Driver has been back we have played two up front and he has been excellent.

“He is a good skipper with a cool head and he has scored some good goals for us at key times.”

Baker was also able to confirm Harrow will not play their Middlesex Charity Cup final until pre-season.

That is because fellow finalists, Enfield Town Under-21s, played an ineligible player in an earlier round and have been expelled.