Harrow Borough's new adventures in the Evo-Stik League South Premier South began with a 3-2 defeat at home to Weymouth, but the manner of the performance suggested a positive campaign lies ahead.

Steve Baker selected a starting XI containing seven players from last season. The newcomers were centre-back George Fenton, midfielder Bayley Brown, left-back Ryan Haugh and goalkeeper Hafed Al-Droubi.

On a pitch clearly showing the effects of two months of hot, dry weather, Harrow began confidently and went in front in the fourth minute.

Ryan Moss cut in from the right, and poked the ball past advancing Terras keeper Jordan Seabright to the waiting Anthony O’Connor. It seemed that O’Connor only had to poke the ball into the net but he made a hash of the chance, turning when it didn’t seem he needed to, and taking a very weak shot, but fortunately for the hosts Moss had followed up into the goalmouth and converted from close in.

Harrow looked to add a second and a superb run from Michael Bryan saw him cut in from the right-wing and drive a left-foot shot that went just inches wide. A George Moore shot was blocked before Weymouth threatened for the first time.

Abdulai Baggie made ground on the right, squeezed the ball wide to Ash Wells, and it took a fine Shaun Preddie interception to cut out his dangerous cross.

George Moore then got in on the left side of the Weymouth defence, electing to pass rather than shoot, Al-Droubi saved from Ben Thomson, and Haugh’s shot from 20 yards was blocked for a corner.

But with Harrow unable to build on their lead, it was the Dorset visitors who levelled in the 34th minute.

Haugh had no answer to the pace of Baggie and his clumsy challenge on the winger saw the referee point to the spot. Al-Droubi went the right way but couldn’t keep out Brandon Goodship’s penalty.

Suddenly Weymouth seemed to realise there was a weakness in the Harrow left-back area, and Preddie had to make a fine tackle on Goodship after Baggie had got clear.

A poor shot from Brown and a Moore left-footer wide for Harrow, and a Josh Carmichael header wide for Weymouth, were the final efforts on goal of a lively half.

If Harrow had been given guidance on stopping the threat from Baggie on the Weymouth right during the interval, it went unheeded in the 52nd minute when a ball inside the full-back sent him to the by-line and Goodship had the simple task of converting his low pass.

But the Borugh side that ended last season had spirit in abundance, and this again shone through.

Bryan had switched to the left-wing, and Jake McCarthy was relieved to see his interception of the Ulsterman’s cross come back off the foot of his own post. Moore had a shot deflected wide before, in the 65th minute, Bryan again put in a cross from the left, this time deep to the far post, where a determined Moss got between keeper Seabright and left-back Thiago Sa to bundle in a close-range header.

Harrow had another opportunity when a corner was half-cleared, Brown controlled the ball and hit a low shot forcing Seabright to dive full-length to his left to save, with Sa getting to the loose ball just before O’Connor. However, in the 71st minute it was the Terras who went back in front.

An attack developed in the inside-right channel and when the ball was lifted forward, Goodship held off Fenton to hit the ball low back past Al-Droubi and complete his hat-trick.

Haugh had to make a fine challenge on Goodship, but Harrow were soon looking for the equaliser. O’Connor was tackled as he was picked out by Lynton Goss’s low cross, Seabright kept out Moore’s low shot, Haugh fired over after more good work by Goss, and Seabright foiled Goss with a fine save to keep out his low shot.

The home side's last chance came in stoppage time when a left-wing build up saw the ball worked across the Weymouth area to Lewis Cole, arriving at the far post, but Seabright made a great reaction save and with it went Harrow's hopes of a point.