Adam Richards' late goal spared Harrow a fourth defeat in five as they drew 1-1 with Margate on the Essex coast on Saturday.

Borough's faltering few weeks after winning their first four games of the Isthmian Premier League season has now dropped them outside the play-off places for the first time, but they can be pleased with a point at Hartsdown Park, where the hosts are still unbeaten.

Things weren't looking so rosey when Margate pulled a goal out of nowhere an hour in, as Orlando Smith profited from some good fortune to slot in the opener.

Harrow finally built some pressure in the final quarter of an hour, and levelled in stoppage time when Richards danced through the home defence with the finest piece of quality of the match, before goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley's best efforts could only help his driven shot into the net.

Shaun Preddie and Mark McLeod were both named in midfield at Margate as Steve Baker looked to shore up the centre of the park - and it worked for most of the game.

Few chances emerged at either end early on, but Reis Stanislaus did force Pidgeley into an early save.

The hosts were calling for a penalty when Lee Prescott appeared to be fouled from one of few forays into the box before the break, but their appeals wer turned down.

The first 45 minutes were more enjoyable than the lack of chances may suggest, but the second eclipsed it once Smith slotted the hosts in front after an hour.

He took on Arinse Uade and beat the Borough defender, before a last-ditch attempt at a tackle inadvertently took the ball through for Smith to run on to.

He raced through unchallenged to fire beyond Melvin Minter, leaving Baker cursing his luck that Margate had scored with their first real chance.

Equally though, Harrow had made little either but should have equalised 10 minutes from time.

Michael Bryan dribbled into the box and did everything right to find Charles Banya, but his shot was weak and, more importantly, off-target.

Kurtis Cumberbatch saw a chance deflected wide before nodding a Bryan cross just wide, with time running out for the visitors.

But Richards stepped up in injury time to produce the move of the game and give Harrow a share of the spoils, beating a number of men before leaving Pidgeley clawing at the ball as it deflected into the net.