For the fourth time since the turn of the year, Harrow defeated one of the teams around them in the scrap at the foot of the Bostik Premier table.

Harrow began with the same side that started a week ago at Metropolitan Police but with a bitterly cold wind blowing from the clubhouse end, and on a much firmer pitch than has been the case of late, it was Worthing who had the early possession, and a clever corner routine led to Melvin Minter having to palm away a dipping effort from Darren Budd.

But it was Harrow who struck in the ninth minute as Charles Banya worked hard to stop the ball running out of play on the left, and tracked back inside to receive a return pass from Michael Bryan.

After hitting a shot that was heading for the corner flag, Banya saw the alert Ryan Moss arrive at the far post to redirect it into goal.

Lucas Cavagnari, the Rebels’ Brazilian goalkeeper, made a fine fingertip save to keep out a beautiful George Moore free-kick from fully 30 yards, and then held a dangerous Bryan cross.

Shaun Preddie brought down a breaking attacker and was shown a yellow card. with Jesse Starkey shooting wide from the resulting free-kick.

Adam Pepera then made a fine challenge to stop Isaac Newton but the ball fell to Starkey whose left-foot curling effort was held by Minter, who then saved at the feet of Reece Myles-Meekums who had been played in by Anesu Sisimayi’s clever ball.

The Borough custodian was then off his line quickly to clear the ball off Newton’s toe and Moore’s cross was met by a stretching Moss, who headed over.

Worthing like to play the ball out from the back but, as seen in the earlier fixture at Woodside Road, it can be fraught with danger.

Banya intercepted one such attempt and poked the ball past Cavagnari, falling over the keeper as he chased after it. Referee Muge waved away penalty appeals, deciding Banya had chosen to fall over rather than been brought down. Worthing threatened twice more as the half closed, first when Minter saved at Newton’s feet, and then when Starkey saw his effort tipped wide by the Harrow keeper.

There was more Worthing pressure as the second half began, with Preddie stopping a Starkey break, and Pepera blocking a Budd shot.

At the other end, Moore arrived at the edge of the box to try a side-footed steered effort from Banya’s delivery, but Cavagnari saved.

Worthing substitute Jared Rance brought a good stop from Minter, before Starkey had the ball in the net but Kieron Pamment, another substitute, had taken it out of play in the build-up.

Minter saved from Budd who had run a long way unchallenged, and Pamment put a free-kick over the bar.

Then Minter made his best save of the game, producing a point-blank stop from Starkey.

Although not under constant pressure, Harrow players and followers were living on their nerves to a degree, and it wasn’t until the closing minutes that they had their first serious efforts on goal of the half.

Moss brought down Moore’s deep cross, following a great break down the right wing, but his left foot shot was held by Cavagnari.

Then, with the game just into five minutes of added time, substitute Sahr Kabba brought down Minter’s clearance and charged through on goal, only to fail as his tried to take the ball round Cavagnari.

The three points lifted Harrow to 16th place on an afternoon when the bottom four sides all lost. And the weather forecast suggests it could be a little while before Harrow, or indeed most others at Bostik Premier level, see match action.

As things stand they are due to travel to Rayners Lane in the Middlesex Charity Cup on Tuesday and to Leiston in the league next Saturday.

Harrow: Minter, Moore, Cole, Preddie, Hall, Pepera, Cole, Cumberbatch, Moss, Bryan, Banya (Kabba 72). Unused subs: Bell, Merchan Rodriguez, Longe-King.

Attendance: 178.