Harrow Borough started like an express train but were ultimately somewhat fortunate to reach the second round of the London Senior Cup last night following a 3-2 victory over Hendon.
Steve Baker’s side appeared to be cruising through after racing into a 3-0 lead after 11 minutes, but they then allowed their opponents to battle back and make the end of the contest more uncomfortable than it should have been.
Both sides made a host of changes for the tie; Harrow had five in the side who’d started Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Gosport Borough while the Greens made 10 changes from their 1-0 victory over Poole Town.
Borough came flying out of the blocks and struck first after five minutes when Anthony O’Connor netted after Adam Richards had headed down a corner.
The advantage was doubled five minutes later as Daylan Kearney fired home against his former employers after being played in by Harry Rush.
Having scored one, it took only a minute for Kearney to double his tally from 20 yards following a poor pass out of defence.
However, Harrow then seemed to rest on their laurels and after a couple of warning signs, Hendon pulled one back after 21 minutes through Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick’s downward header.
Borough’s lethargy increased after the break and they were left facing an awkward end to the tie when keeper Hafed Al-Droubi mis-kicked after coming out of his area, giving Michael White a simple task with 10 minutes remaining.
Hendon went close to snatching an equaliser but Al-Droubi dropped on a goalbound header to atone for his earlier mistake to see his side through to a second round tie at Tooting & Mitcham United.
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