The Blues continued their fantastic recent form, securing a scalp against a team nine places above them in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.

Nothing could split the sides in an extremely lackluster first half, with the majority of action in the following fourty five minutes.

Jake Nickless netted the rebound from a penalty to secure the result for North Greenford, rounding off a more than adequate week following a 1-1 draw against Biggleswade United.

The first chance of the tie came with Connor Molyneaux’ low driven effort, hardly troubling the Hares’ ‘keeper Reece Mallett.

Harefield’s weakness in the opening stages was their susceptibility on the breakaway, but the vulnerability in midfield areas was made up by a strong backline, most notably Ryan Wharton’s interception of a Molyneaux-headed counter.

Lenny Farhall had a chance to put his side ahead, after being fed through by Sam Shaw had a touch palmed away by ‘keeper Sam House, but retrieved, swiveled and shot, having his effort blocked by Tom Ward on the goal line.

It wouldn’t be the last time Harefield were denied by a last-ditch clearance, but an attacking threat in Paul Underwood was lost due to injury, in the wake of a 50/50 challenge with Charlie John, meant the forward couldn’t continue past 45 minutes with Calum Rogers his replacement.

A notable plus for Jason Shaw and Michael Molokwu was Blaise Riley-Snow’s authoratitaive performance at the base of the midfield, adapting to the position not only in the first but the second half too.

A rapid cross from Farhall saw Damel Dioum clear the ball just over the bar leaving the half goalless, but neither side could argue they warranted the lead come the break with very little quality when in possession.

Both managers must have gave their respective sides impetus as both teams returned with positive starts, with Ekow Coker’s header just floating over the crossbar and onto the top netting.

Creative outlet Shaw sent in an outswinging corner to returning Harry McCorkell, whose glancing header forced a startling reactionary save from Sam House, inciting applause from both sets of fans.

With the first of the two matches in the same number of weeks truly in flow, full back Steven Green matched Jake Nickless’ speed to recover on another of Greenford’s speedy breaks.

Nathan Davis’ introduction came after Charlie John was injured in a collision, and almost had an impact less than ten minutes on the field, latching onto a pass from Nickless, racing down the channel to then cut back and send a placed shot just wide of the woodwork.

The wait for the breakthrough was far from long after Mallett brought down George Brown in the area, with Nickless placing the ball on the spot and initially missing from a poor set piece but made no mistake on the rebound.

The winger’s strike was his first of the season and was rightly deserved given his ninety minutes, but The Hares’ efforts to walk away with a point were far from over.

McCorkell would have felt hard done by after a second of his headers were hastily hustled well off the Ealing side’s line, this time by the towering Coker.

Luke Baldwin’s low strike fell gratuitously close to House in goal, but North Greenford knew when time was nearly up and deployed a series of harsh fouls and ‘put it in the corner’ balls to make time pass.

Marciano Dramani picked up a yellow card late on for the former, not before Farhall’s quick feet found Foday Sesay, but the same couldn’t be said for his footwork as the ball found it’s way out of play and meant North Greenford came out on top.

It is hardly all change in regards to the Premier Division table, but a vital victory for The Blues means they are four points clear of basement club London Colney, while Harefield are solidly rooted in 11th but have four games in hand over Edgware Town.

Harefield take on Dunstable Town next Tuesday (4th) and will look to use it as a springboard before they take on North Greenford United at Berkeley Fields on Saturday week (8th).

Harefield United Team
Reece Mallett
Rowan Larrington
Steven Green
Ryan Wharton (c)
Gary Edwards
Blaise Riley-Snow
Harry McCorkell
Luke Baldwin
Lenny Farhall
Samuel Shaw
Paul Underwood

Subs:
Calum Rogers (Used)
Foday Sesay (Used)
Danny Glock
Jacob Ballheimer

North Greenford United Team:
Sam House
Mark Webb
Damel Dioum
Tom Ward
Ekow Coker?
Joe Mills
Charlie John
George Brown
Marciano Dramani
Connor Molyneaux
Jake Nickless?

Subs:
Liam Barry
Simon Wright
Nathan Davis
Redha Zerki
Ryan Kirwan (Used)