Harrow Borough closed to within touching distance of the Ryman Premier play-offs after a 1-0 win over rivals Kingstonian.

The Reds kept up the pressure on the top-five after Kenta Nakashima’s tenth minute winner.

Nakashima will have to return to Japan next month, because his visa is expiring, but the talented midfielder provided a valuable goal on Saturday which kept David Howell’s side firmly in contention for the play-offs.

The first opportunity of the match fell to midfielder Danny Hart whose shot cleared the crossbar.

Dewayne Clarke also came close to opening the scoring when his strike was acrobatically turned around the post by visiting goalkeeper Rob Tolfrey.

From the resulting corner, captain Wayne Walters headed the ball down and it was redirected home by Nakashima.

Kingstonian almost found a quick equaliser when Ian Pearce drilled an effort over the crossbar.

Boro had another decent chance to extend their lead when Nakashima broke and Ryan Watts’ cross was pushed around the post by Tolfrey.

The home side kept up the pressure and Clarke nearly found the target but his header was saved by the goalkeeper.

Boro almost added the second on the stroke of half time after another free-flowing move but Nakashima side-footed his effort into the path of a defender before Tolfrey claimed the ball.

Pearce forced a rare save from home keeper Nick Jupp at the start of the second half.

But Boro again came closest to scoring the next goal when Hart chested down the ball and ran through on goal. His effort beat Tolfrey but Max Hustwick managed to clear it off the line.

Kingstonian had one final chance to snatch a point but top scorer Bobby Traynor slid in late on for an effort which went wide of the target.

Boro travel to Croydon this evening and face Margate this weekend looking to continue the form which has thrust them into the promotion race.