Aldershot's seven-match winning run in the Ryman League came to an end on Tuesday night when they conceded the softest of goals to Harrow Borough.

They thus missed a great chance to go top of the Premier Division, their only consolation being that leaders St Albans dropped a point at home to Purfleet.

Aldershot were bad, a shadow of the side that had swept to an FA Cup win on Saturday, and manager Terry Brown was puzzled as to the reason.

"It was a game we should have won – the sort of home game you expect to score two or three goals. We had the lion's share of play, yet their goalkeeper did not have to make a worthwhile save. It was a below-par performance and I can't put my finger on why, only that we're not going to get the rub of the green in every game."

There is a fear that Aldershot have already used up most of their share of the season's luck. It has been a great winning run, but fortune has certainly favoured them in several close games.

Their luck ran out in the 69th minute when Harrow broke the deadlock with a poor excuse for a goal. John Lawford's corner was played back into a crowded goal area and Jimmy Aggrey's 'air shot' appeared to wrong-foot Nikki Bull who stood rooted as the ball crept over the line, with Richard Goddard claiming the final touch.

Harrow deserved credit for their resolute defence and, as the game progressed, dangerous counter-attacking.

But their task was made easier by Aldershot's predictability.

Their aerial assault had worked a treat against Aylesbury, but was much less effective against Harrow's big defenders.

A steady stream of high balls were directed towards Paul Moody who had scored two headed goals on Saturday, but Harrow, with the towering Aggrey to the fore, were quite capable of containing the veteran striker who looked battle-weary and in need of a rest when he trudged off after 66 minutes.

Aldershot's failure to come up with a different strategy was a disappointment to their fans who must have been anticipating win number eight from the way their side roared into the attack from the kick-off.

Harrow rode the early storm, albeit with a couple of narrow escapes. Moody controlled Roscoe D'Sane's cross with an excellent first touch, but then blasted his shot over the bar.

'Route one' almost worked when Moody flicked on a huge clearance from Bull and Jamie Taylor, clear on goal, drove the ball into the side-netting.

But the best chance of the half fell to the visitors. Former Farnborough player Pat Gavin showed a bit of class to release Danny Dyer who, from very close range, put his shot over.

Brown sent on John Nutter for Anthony Charles for the second half, but the quality of the final ball from the flanks remained poor. How Aldershot missed Jason Chewins in the left wing-back role.

A whistle-happy referee played his part in a scrappy 45 minutes, with both sides feeding on the odd half-chance.

Lee Holsgrove twice got into good positions, only to deposit the ball straight into Keita Karamoko's arms. At the other end, Bull got down well when Lawford fired a low free-kick through the defensive wall.

Richard Gell and Adam Parker brought fresh legs to Aldershot cause, but three minutes later Harrow went ahead with their streaky goal and an uninspired Aldershot never looked like pulling back the deficit.

Indeed, Harrow should have added a couple more as Aldershot threw caution to the wind in the closing stages.

Goodard and Lawford seemed to have served up a goal on a plate for Godfrey Torto, but the substitute was guilty of the miss of the night.

This Saturday, Aldershot travel to Aylesbury who will be out to avenge their cup defeat.

Aldershot: Bull, Hooper, A Charles (Nutter 45 mins), Ready, Cousins, Sterling, Roddis, Taylor, Moody (Gell 66 mins), D'Sane, Holsgrove (Parker 66 mins). Subs (not used) Carroll, Cooper.

Harrow Borough: Karamoko, Dyer, Lopez, Aggrey, Gavin, Marney, Walters, Fitzsimon, Lawford, Goddard, Charles (Torto 87 mins). Subs (not used) Berry, Yearwood, Hackett, Norman. Booked: Aggrey.

Attendance: 1,704.

Referee: B D Baker.