Supersonic Concord fly past Hawks

After the FA Cup heroics, Danny Chapman made five changes from Saturday’s match. In came Joe Benjamin, Jordan Gill , Ben Glasgow and Jared Small, and Craig Pope, Layne Eadie, Junioe Dadson, Ryan Melaugh were all rested. In an evening that saw few positive moments, the final change saw Sam Holloway come in for Fabion Simms, with Holloway making his first appearance since the horrific leg-break suffered last season.

Concord flew out of the blocks with great early pressure, and on 5 minutes a great cross from Max Cornhill was put away at the back post by Sam Bantick, with no marking from the Harlow defence.

Niklas Freund was kept busy early-on, saving from Bantick and keeping the ball out from a succession of corners. Two quick goals followed, when Steve Cawley poked home from close range for his second. From the resulting kick-off, a great cross to the back post and a diving header by Lewis Taafe put the hosts three up after only 19 minutes.

Another great chance for Concord followed, when Bantick smashed off the crossbar before Jay Dowie hits one in from 30 yards, giving Freund no chance. Concord were piling on the pressure, with Ben Greenhalgh seeing his shot cleared off the line by Jordan Gill before Taafe put the follow-up wide.

A great piece of skill by Taafe and great save by Niklas Freund, but ball went loose again and Adam Bailey-Dennis bundled home the 5th just before the break. Concord still didn’t let up, Greenhalgh shooting over before being denied by Niklas Freund once again.

HT: Concord Rangers 5-0 Harlow Town

Taafe was on fire, setting up the next two goals. His chipped cross was nodded in on 53 minutes by Jay Dowie before creating one again for Ben Greengalgh to stoop low and head in.

Despite the scoreline, Freund was doing his best to keep the home attackers at bay. Cawley missed an easy header, before another great save from Freund prevented Greenhalgh getting another. However, another great cross from Taafe saw Greenhalgh score again to make it 7-0 for the hosts with almost half an hour to play.

Niklas Freund turned away a great free kick from Ben Greenhalgh with a brilliant savebut then from the resulting corner Layne Eadie brought down Lewis Taffe in the box. Taffe capped a hugely impressive display by stepping up to put away the penalty, despite Freund getting a hand to it. Further chances followed for Concord, but Freund ensured no more goals were scored.

With the game coming to an end, Harlow’s Jordan Gill can consideder himself lucky to have only got a yellow card, before Joe Benjamin put a free kick over in one of the few sights at goal for the visitors.

Niklas Freund was the only Harlow player to come away with any credit, and without the German goalkeeper’s resolute display the score-line could have been into double-figures.

The Hawks will put the result down to an anomaly in an otherwise impressive season, and having already fallen behind in the league campaign due to other cup runs, bowing out of the Essex Senior Cup could be a blessing in disguise despite the terrible performance.

FT: Concord Rangers 8-0 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 102

Harlow will now travel to Merstham FC for yet another cup game on Saturday, in the FA Trophy First Round Qualifying. Kick off is at 3:00pm on Saturday 31st October.