RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE
Maidstone 4
Harrow Borough 4

BRANDON Horner capped an astonishing second-half fight-back as Harrow Borough ended a traumatic week with a gutsy point at morning leaders Maidstone on Saturday.

Dumped out of the FA Cup by North Greenford four days earlier, Dave Anderson’s side looked set for more league woes when they trailed 4-1 on Stones’ 4G pitch with just 35 minutes to play.

However, rather than wilting Borough rose to the occasion as Simeon Akinola (pictured) bagged the second of a brace and Michael Peacock also struck, before Horner’s first goal for his new club became the third the visitors had scored in the space of 24 minutes to salvage the unlikeliest of draws.

Despite claims earlier in the week three or four players had ‘kicked their last ball for the club and wouldn’t see the red shirt again’ there were only two changes from the FA debacle at Berkley Fields and one of those was enforced.

Berkley Laurencin, signed on a short-term loan from Hendon, ousted Alex Tokarczyk from between the posts, while new signing Jake Gilbert filled the void left by skipper Rob Wolleaston’s latest hamstring problem.

Borough were relatively untroubled for the first quarter of the game, Laurencin’s 20th minute tip over from Michael Phillips’ shot and a block by Peacock to keep out Zac Attwood’s drive three minutes later the only chances of note.

Things looked rosy for the men of Earlsmead on 25 minutes when they stole in front. Shaun Lucien attacked down the right and when his cross found Akinola back to goal he swivelled beyond his marker and planted a left-foot shot wide of Lee Worgan.

The lead though lasted just two minutes before an Alex Brown thunderbolt from distance crashed in off the underside of the bar giving Laurencin no chance.

Just four minutes later the visitors fell behind when Adam Louth headed one corner from the right off the line, but the next from the opposite side flew in off the far post.

Anderson’s response was to make a double change at the break with Jordon Berry and Marcel Barrington replacing Chris Benjamin and Rhys Murrell Williamson.

However, within seconds of the restart it was 3-1 Attwood tapping in a Frankie Collins cross from close range.

And just two minutes later it looked to be game over as Brown side-footed home a corner for his second of the afternoon.

However this was to be no ordinary day and on 55 minutes the comeback kicked in as Barrington sent Akinola racing through and the highly rated young front-man applied a cool finish.

Lucien immediately left the fray to be replaced by powerful striker Ronnell Dennis who was soon making his presence felt.

Borough’s midfield trio of Saheed Sankoh, Berry and Gilbert were now getting on top and on 73 minutes they took the next step in their great escape.

Louth took a free-kick short to Berry, his ball found Peacock on the edge of the box who played a one-two with Sankoh before firing right-footed just inside the near post.

Amazingly, six minutes later the comeback was complete as Horner latched onto a loose ball 20 yards out and thumped an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Both sides had chances to win it in the last 10 minutes, but for Borough this was a point gained and one they hope will be a launch pad for better times ahead, starting with tomorrow’s visit to Carshalton Athletic.