Clarke ensures encouraging away draw for Harrow Borough

Mar 6 2009 Harrow Observer

Sutton United 2 Harrow Borough 2

Dewayne Clarke scored his third goal in as many Ryman Premier games as Harrow came from behind to steal a point at promotion-hunting Sutton.

The striker pounced to put David Howell's men ahead after 48 minutes, but the hosts levelled four minutes later through Bentley Graham.

Matt Hann's 72nd minute effort edged Sutton in front but Danny McGonigle's strike four minutes from time earned Harrow a well-deserved point.

"I suppose it was a point gained as we were losing with not long to go," said Borough manager David Howell.

"We edged the first half and could have been two or three up. We scored not long after the break. Sutton lost their way a bit, but a couple of mix ups with our goalkeeper got them back into it.

"But we stuck to our task and ended up getting something from the game."

Harrow lost skipper Wayne Walters, back after serving a one match ban, at half time with a hamstring injury that will keep him out for a minimum of two weeks.

He will be joined in the treatment room by midfielder Dorian Smith, who also suffered a hamstring problem in his first game after extending his loan deal from Welling United to a second month.

"There was a slight hamstring concern with Wayne before the game, but he declared himself fit even though I had my doubts," added Howell.

Clarke tested Sutton goalkeeper Paul Nicholls early on, and the number one had to be alert again in the 19th minute when McGonigle's bullet header forced him into a good reaction save.

Sutton's Chukki Eribenne then beat the offside trap only for the ball to hit a divot in the pitch as the chance went begging. Jonathan Constant should have put the visitors ahead minutes later after seizing upon Matt Hann's mistake but he lacked composure with just Nicholls to beat.