Michael Harriman dedicated his goal on Saturday to his best friend Kiyan Prince.

Prince, who played for QPR’s junior side alongside Harriman, was stabbed to death in 2006 outside his school in Edgware.

Harriman attended the same school and after scoring his first senior professional goal in the Football League, he was keen to honour it in memory of his friend.

He said: “I always said that when I scored my first goal I would dedicate it to my mate Kiyan Prince, who sadly passed away a few years ago.

“I know he is watching me up there and that was definitely for him.”

Harriman’s strike came with six minutes left and calmed any nerves, having held a 1-0 lead since the 18 minute following Leon Legge’s header.

It was a special goal for the on-loan QPR player.

“It was a great moment for me,” he said. “I will remember my first professional goal in the league for a long time and I am really happy right now.

“You won’t forget your first goal and you remember the place you scored and how you scored it. It was a good day for me and the boys and to get three points, after last week’s defeat to Colchester, it has been good to bounce back with a result.”

Harriman played superbly, in a more advanced position, as Elliott Hewitt took over at right-back.

The move into midfield came naturally to Harriman.

“It is one aspect of my game that I think I am very good at,” he said.

“I have a lot of energy, getting up and down and I think that helped me. I really enjoyed it, it was a great game and I was delighted to have scored.”