Bees denied by late Real Bedford stunner but stretch lead at the top to six points
Harborough Town moved six points clear at the top of the Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central with a hard-fought 2-2 draw at third-placed Real Bedford on Tuesday night.
And it could have been even better for Mitch Austin’s men, who were only denied all three points by a stunning last-minute equaliser from the home side’s Josh Allen.
Bedford had gone into a 19th-minute lead which they held until half-time.
But the Bees quickly hit back on the restart as Rory McAuley levelled on 46 minutes, before Austin’s men edged ahead through Brady Hickey 14 minutes from time.
They looked to be on course for victory, until Allen let fly to deny them in the dying moments.
“That was a bit of a sucker-punch at the end, but what a finish,” Austin told @HarbTownFC.
“You can over analyse anything, but the bigger picture is we have come away to probably the best footballing side in the country at this level, and have taken a point.
“I thought we grew into the game, and at half-time it was about getting their heads up and telling them the game could be won, and it nearly was.
“We squeezed, we harassed, and we disrupted them. To come away and not lose to one of your closest rivals has to be a plus, and it is a plus.
“I was delighted with how they came out in the second half, and this leaves us in good stead for the remaining games.”
So, with six matches of the season remaining, Harborough have a six-point advantage over second-placed Spalding United, and know 13 more points will seal the title regardless of what the Tulips do from now until the end of the campaign.
Harborough are back on home soil on Saturday after three straight away matches.
They host mid-table Bury Town at the Bee Hive, while Spalding are at home to Bromsgrove Sporting.