RYMAN LEAGUE CUP FOURTH ROUND Harlow Town 1 Harrow Borough 2

Harrow made light of their bleak pre-match omens on Tuesday night to seal their place in the last eight.

Borough boss David Howell was unable to assemble his team until 25 minutes before kick offafter players were snarled up in traffic caused by a road accident.

And he could have been forgiven for wincing at every tackle on his players as they were missing a qualified physiotherapist.

Their regular one was unable to make it and her last minute replacement failed to get to the Barrows Farm Stadium after her car broke down.

Step forward Kurt Morlese, who inadvertedly stepped into the breach after his good deed for the day had a sting in the tail.

After helping a pensioner off a bus, Morlese could not believe it when the driver shut the doors and continued on

his route [2014] with Morlese's kit bag on a seat.

Unable to play, the 23-year-old took on the wet sponge duties, much to Howell's appreciation and amusement.

"Every time he ran on to tend to someone, they would get up pretty quickly," laughed the manager.

And it was no surprise that Howell was in jovial mood after this victory, their third away win in the competition this season.

"It was a chance for the squad and fringe players to step up," he added. "I was just glad to get the game on as we had a lot of players short of match practice. A few of the lads got cramp but they needed a run out and will be better for it."

Howell handed debuts to Laurie Walker, Dorian Smith and right-back Tommy Higgins, promoted from the reserves.

After Dewayne Clarke had fired an early warning shot the visitors took the lead in the 13th minute when Warren Whitely, making a rare start, beat his man before whipping in a dangerous cross that Harlow defender Gudgeon headed into his own net from ten yards.

Walker boosted his confidence by sav

ing Bruno's free-kick while Clarke wasted another chance after being put in by Kai Williams.

Harlow were then reduced to ten men when Sylvester picked up two bookings in quick succession, yet this seemed to galvanise the home team and they levelled things up three minutes before half time.

Harrow conceded a free kick on the edge of the box but, after the wall did its job, the ball fell kindly to Jamie Richards who drove it low past Walker.

Walker saved from Green during the early exchanges of the second half while at the other end, acting Harrow skipper Danny McGonigle and Miles Jones were thwarted by Harlow stopper Hasell.

Harrow started making their numerical advantage count and Danny Leech, at the second attempt, swept the ball in after 79 minutes.

Harlow had a few chances to level late on but Harrow held on for a morale boosting win over a club they face again on Saturday. [25a0] Harrow Borough: Walker,Higgins (Hall, 70), Campbell-Grimshaw, Williams, Leech, Dahl, Smith (Fraser, 60), McGonigle,Clarke,Whitely (Masade,66), Jones