Charlie Taylor’s goal 10 minutes before half-time boosted Sutton United’s play-off hopes on Tuesday night.

Taylor’s goal capped a fine personal performance on his return to the starting line-up, with the recalled Anthony Joseph and Danny Phillips also catching the eye.

Sadly, Taylor was forced off with a hip injury following a foul for which Lewis Cook was booked 20 minutes from time, five minutes after Joseph had made way for Matt Hann.

Early on, United had plenty of the ball and territorial advantage, but Harrow’s Cook and Ryan Watts looked lively, supporting experienced striker Rocky Baptiste.

United should have been ahead of 20 miinutes. Joseph’s superb pass allowed Taylor fire in a cross from the right that caused a penalty area scramble.

Sonny Cobbs and Sam Gargan both mis-kicked before Phillips’ scuffed shot deflected in off Taylor, only for the assistant referee to spot his offside position.

A rare moment of defensive uncertainty, on a night when United defended solidly, gave Watts a half-chance soon afterwards, but keeper Kevin Scriven was well-placed to keep out the resulting snap shot.

Scriven then made an excellent save down low to his left when Baptiste met Watts’ cross with a far-post header.

Taylor was a constant threat to the visitors' defence.

He deftly chested Steve Perkins' pass in to the path of Gargan, whose volley from 20 yards would have provided a memorable goal had it been anything other than straight at Andray Baptiste in the Harrow goal.

Taylor then supplied the breakthrough 10 minutes before the break.

He beat defender Danny Leech to a through ball and went on to round Baptiste and tuck away an excellently taken goal.

Before the break, Scriven watched dangerous crosses from Watts and Cook flash in front of goal without anyone able to get a touch.

Early in the second half, United should have given themselves breathing space as Cobbs shot disappointingly wide from the edge of the area after Joseph had pulled the ball back in to his path.

Gargan then missed the clearest chance of the night, receiving a square pass from the left from Taylor in the middle of the penalty area and with only Baptiste to beat, but seeing his shot smothered by the advancing keeper.

It might have been an expensive miss but for the alert reactions of Scriven four minutes later.

James King's low first-time shot, after Watts had pulled a cross back, threatened to creep inside the post, but United’s keeper dived low to his right to turn the ball away.

United then lost Gargan to a back injury, but Steve Watts was immediately in the action, first meeting a free kick from the right with a downward header that bounced up over the bar.

Scriven's clearance then went into the path of Taylor, who held off a challenge but shot too high.

With Joseph and Taylor then both off, United were reliant on Hann to supply the pace in attack.

He almost scored with his first touch, getting behind the defence to meet the free kick that had followed Cook's foul on Taylor and shooting first time on the turn only to see Baptiste produce a fine save.

Twice more Hann found himself in threatening positions but on both occasions he was kept out by good defensive blocks.

Francis Quarm also sent a shot over the bar as U's looked for the second goal, but with Harrow unable to cause more than the occasional flutter in the United defence, one was ultimately enough.

Sutton: K Scriven, K El-Salahi, J Hawes, J Goodliffe, S Perkins, S Cobbs, D Phillips, F Quarm, S Gargan (sub S Watts 55), C Taylor (sub A Pouton 71), A Joseph (M Hann 65). Subs n/u B Hawes, S McKimm. Goal: Taylor (35). Booked: Pouton (88-foul).

Harrow: A Baptiste, R Orlu, R Marsh-Browne, W Walters, D Leech, P Lyall (sub K Morlese H-T), R Watts, J King, J Fraser, R Baptiste, L Cook (sub K Nakashima 73). Subs n/u S Dahl, D McGonigle. Booked: Marsh-Browne(30-foul), Cook (67 – persistent infringement), Walters(88-retaliation).

Referee: S Butler (Maidstone) Att 378 Sutton were also in action on Thursday this week, visiting Croydon Athletic in the quarter final of the Surrey Senior Cup, and are then at home to Hendon on Saturday and away to Billericay on Tuesday.