STRIKERS old and new ensured it was another 'Blue' triumph in the Harrow/Wealdstone derby at Earlsmead today.

Former Brentford man Chris Moore scored the vital opener for the visitors, while teenage starlet Reece Grant bagged his first senior goal for the club to continue Stones’ domination of this fixture in recent years.

Harrow had their chances, especially in a first half where Stones’ keeper Jonathan North was in exceptional form.

However, the men of Earlsmead have now won just one of the last 15 encounters between the two sides and this defeat leaves Dave Anderson’s men still looking for their first league win of the season.

With Michael Peacock passed fit from the calf strain which saw him limp out of Tuesday’s draw with Kingstonian, Harrow’s starting XI was unchanged, meaning former Stoke U21 Manny Parry started life with the Reds on the bench.

Stones for their part made one change as skipper Wes Parker (pictured) missed the game through injury. Peter Dean came in on the right wing with Tom Pett switching to the left, Jey Siva dropping to left-back and Jerome Okimo sitting in alongside Cronin at the heart of the defence.

The visitors made the early running on a pitch slickened up by the morning’s torrential rain and could have led on three minutes. A ball into the home box deflected into the path of Moore who shot on target from close range only for Fulham loanee Max Obershmidt to make himself big and block the effort to safety.

Just five minutes later a corner was only half cleared and when Stefan Bailey played the ball in from the right, Elliott Godfrey went for placement but put his shot just the wrong side of the far post.

Pett blasted another effort into the backside of his own player Moore, while Oberschmidt palmed over a devilish corner from Siva which was sneaking under the bar.

Pressed back, Harrow were hanging on, but were close to grabbing a shock lead on 21 minutes when the pace of Akinola took him clear, but North sprinted from his goal to block the shot.

Six minutes later you could have been watching an action replay as the young Borough front-man again escaped all markers, but the impressive North advanced, got his angles right and denied him once more.

The home side’s Nigerian striker was proving hot to handle and when the otherwise immaculate Cronin fouled him three minutes from the break Borough sniffed a chance from the resulting set-piece, but though Shaun Lucian got his shot over the wall, North was in the right place to make it look easy.

There was still time for Akinola to test the visitors’ custodian again with a header before it was honours even at the break.

Anderson threw on Chris Benjamin for Saheed Sankoh in a statement of attacking intent after the interval and Borough were almost rewarded for their bravery four minutes into the second half. Skipper Rob Wolleaston attacked space in front of him before slipping the ball left to Akinola, but for a third time North spread himself magnificently to keep the scores level.

For a while it was nip and tuck as at one end Siva had one shot deflected wide and a free-kick saved, while at the other Lucian’s powerful header was well parried by the outstanding North.

It looked increasingly likely the first goal would be critical and Stones got it on 59 minutes. Godfrey’s initial effort from outside the box was blocked, but Pett’s follow-up squirmed through to Moore who showed an experienced striker’s instinct with a shot into the roof of the net.

Dean threatened a second with a spectacular volley blocked by Peacock before North excelled not once but twice on 68 minutes, first blocking at the feet of Lucian and then seconds later turning over a stinging drive from the former Uxbridge winger.

Sadly for Borough that was almost their last hurrah and Grant doubled the lead on 83 minutes, scoring from close range after Obsershmidt could only claw away Pett’s cross from the left. It was a special moment for the youngster who had only been on the pitch four minutes as a replacement for fellow scorer Moore.

So bragging rights again for Stones who now entertain Enfield in another derby game on Monday, while Harrow take their quest for a first win to Metropolitan Police.