Harrow Borough 2-0 Folkestone Invicta

Two moments of magic from Kenta Nakashima settled the issue as the Japanese player's last home appearance for Harrow Borough at Earlsmead had a fairytale feel on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Nakashima gave home supporters a perfect farewell gift as he took his personal tally to six goals in the last four matches before he returns to his homeland after this weekend's trip to Lowestoft.

Invicta had chances of their own but were denied by home goalkeeper Nick Jupp as third placed Harrow Borough made it five successive wins and eight wins in their last nine matches.

Nakashima's first goal was pretty special as he let fly from 25 yards in the 40th minute and the wide player doubled the lead in the 53rd minute.

The Folkestone side kept the same starting eleven of late and after surviving some early Harrow pressure, home centre half Tobi Jinadu cleared from close to the line when Darren Smith let fly from the right hand side of the penalty area.

At the other end, Invicta central defenders Liam Friend and Frankie Chappell blocked from David Ijaha and Danny McGonigle respectively a minute later.

Invicta player-coach Roland Edge then hit a well-struck 20th minute shot at Jupp when a cross from the left came back out to the edge of the penalty area.

A 23rd minute Josh Burchell cross from the left was then headed off the line at the far post by Nakashima.

Harrow striker Jonathan Constant then shot over from the right hand edge of the penalty area after Kwasi Frempong played the ball out wide to Danny Hart.

For Invicta, striker James Everitt shot just over from the edge of the penalty area two minutes later when a Jack Delo clearance found James Dryden down the left hand side and he played the ball on.

But it was NAKASHIMA's wonder strike that broke the deadlock when Ryan Watts played the ball up to him and he exchanged a pass with Constant before unleashing his shot.

It sums up Invicta's luck at the moment that when striker Everitt hit a similarly well executed 25-yard lob in the 47th minute Jupp got up to touch the ball over for a corner when it seemed destined for the top corner.

Smith then hit a 25 yard free kick just wide of the post in the 51st minute after a foul by Harrow captain Wayne Walters on James Everitt as Invicta continued to make a promising start to the second half.

But Harrow are the top golascorers in the Ryman Premier League so far this season and it was 2-0 when NAKASHIMA struck again from the left hand side of the penalty area.

Invicta responded by replacing defender Liam Dickson with another striker in Gary Lockyer.

Luke Webb later replaced Dryden and soon had a shot blocked by Frempong.

Ramon Whorms also came on as a late substitute for injured captain Micheal Eveirtt as Invicta finished the game with a completely new-look attack.

McGonigle hit a good 84th minute strike at goalkeeper Delo from the edge of the penalty area as the game began to peter out somewhat.

But Invicta were to have late chances as Jupp made a one-handed save to keep out a close range Webb header and Frempong cleared the follow up from the line.

James Everitt then hit a low 87th minute shot at Jupp as Invicta once again kept going.

A good strike from Everitt was then kept out by Jupp after a Smith free kick eventually came back out.

Everitt, who on another day might have had a second half hat-trick, then headed just over during stoppage time from a Smith corner on the left.

Nakashima was taken off before the end to allow him his own ovation. It was his day.

The game ends Invicta's run of scoring in 11 successive Ryman Premier League matches.

Recent signing Kayode Conteh was an unused substitute for Invicta for the first time.

HARROW BOROUGH: Jupp, Frempong, Watts, Walters, Jinadu, Ijaha, Hart (Walker 76 mins), McGonigle, Delgado, Contant, Nakashima (King 90 mins). Unused subs: Chanda, Fenton, Hall.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Burchell, Friend, Chappell, Edge, M. Everitt (Whorms 81 mins), Dickson (Lockyer 56 mins), J. Everitt, Dryden (Webb 74 mins), Smith. Unused sub: Conteh.

Attendance: 171.