Not for the first time this season a failure to take their chances cost Enfield Borough dear as Harefield United scored a late goal to claim a 1-1 draw at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Saturday.

This fixture was originally played on the opening day of the season with Borough winning 2-1. But due to an administrative issue, the Spartan South Midlands League decided it had to be replayed. Given these circumstances, having to settle for a single point was double punishment for the Panthers.

Enfield had a great chance to score in the first minute, but after a strong run down the left Solomon Nwabuokei chose to shoot from a narrow angle with teammates better placed to convert.

Borough keeper Milvydas Lukosius saved well from Samuel Shaw before Tage Kennedy broke clear only to be denied by Jacob Ballheimer.

But the hosts did take the lead after 17 minutes when Bruno Tavares seized upon a weak header back to the keeper to slot home.

Sean Mangan nearly equalised soon after when his header from a free-kick went narrowly wide. Nwabuokei repeated his earlier sortee down the left, his cut back striking a defender’s hand, but the referee waved away penalty appeals.

The visitors started the brightest after the break with centre-forward Craig Tomkins drawing a fine save from Lukosius before finding the net with a firm header only to be denied by an offside call.

Play switched to the other end when Nwabuokei’s pass released Tavares. The striker beat the keeper in a foot race and lobbed goalwards, but a covering defender cleared the danger.

Thomas Opoku replaced Sivi Bao and was quickly in the action, seeing his close-range effort partially blocked by Ballheimer, a defender clearing the rebound off the line.

Harefield then had three good chances within a minute. Lukosius saved Tomkins’ free-kick, the ball was not properly cleared, substitute Leonard Farhall was denied by the keeper and Calum Rogers headed over from close range.

After a Richard Ennin penalty appeal had been turned down, Tavares went close to a second when he hit the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

With 10 minutes to go Kennedy ran clear only to be denied by Ballheimer’s outstretched leg.

Harefield had desperately sought a way back into the contest and it finally arrived four minutes from full-time. Guy Kiangebeni produced a superb tackle to deny Farhall at the expense of a corner, but from the kick Mangan rose highest to nod home the equaliser.