Harrow Borough secured their Isthmian Premier Division place on Saturday and boss Steve Baker has stressed they must avoid complacency next season.

The Reds have lost just three games from 15 in the league since Baker succeeded Dave Anderson, form which would see them far higher up the table if replicated over the course of a full term.

Marc Charles-Smith’s first-half goal sealed a 1-0 win over Leatherhead and the Reds’ place in the Premier Division for another year.

And Baker is all-too-aware of the pitfalls of over confidence.

He said: “If you were to go on the final eight games of the form table we are second. But we won’t be over confident coming back next season because it will be a different challenge.

“The challenge is adding the players we want and keeping the guys we want,” explained Baker.

“It it very similar to my time at Chipstead. They were second bottom and finished on a similar run to Harrow and then won eight out of nine at the start of this season.

“But that can’t last forever and you have to ensure you keep everyone on their toes.”

With just 25 points from 31 games prior to his arrival, Baker has overseen a haul of 28 points from just 15 league games.

And reflecting on the achievement, he enthused: “Obviously everyone was delighted on Saturday – it was a feeling of relief.

“You still always had that niggle that it could have gone wrong but it didn’t, so it is just massive relief.

“I am usually more nervous away from it all,” explained Baker. “Once you get to the game you can’t be because otherwise it transmits to the players.

“The team talk was no different to any other since I have been here because every game has been a must win for us.”

Skipper Charles-Smith got the game’s only goal after 27 minutes, netting from close range against his former employers.

But goalkeeper Nick Jupp shared hero honours with the goalscorer after saving a second-half penalty from Vas Karagiannis to preserve an invaluable three points.

Boro finish the season in 16th – five points clear of the relegation zone – and attention now turns to their Middlesex County Cup final against Hanwell Town on Saturday, May 9.

Harrow’s Middlesex Charity Cup final against Enfield Town Under-21s has been postponed after the Towners fielded an ineligible player.