Hawks stay top after win in Norfolk

Luke Cuthbert’s 66th minute header earned Harlow Town all three points against a spirited Wroxham at Trafford Park.

Wroxham took the lead through Nathan Stone’s 3rd goal in as many games, the striker nodding in Christy Finch’s ball at the back post after 33 minutes.

Harlow found a way back into the game just before the break as Alex Read notched his 14th goal of the season, picking Matt Halliday’s pocket on 43 minutes to slot past Elliot Pride.

The league leaders were having the better of the game as it reached the hour mark and they took the lead through Cuthbert’s 66th minute header.

Harlow ‘keeper Edward Thompson made a superb triple save as Wroxham searched for a retort – before Stone missed a gilt edged chance with 10 minutes left but could only scuff wide – but despite their best efforts they couldn’t find a way back into the game.

The league leaders came out quickly and fired a warning shot in the first minute, top scorer Alex Read sending a looping header onto the roof of the net after just 30 seconds.

The home side responded with an attack of their own, Christy Finch robbing Harlow centre back Michael Toner to spark a break, the striker finding Remy Gordon on the left who fired in a well struck shot that Edward Thompson palmed away.

The away side were playing with a confidence that complemented their league position - playing the ball about with zip on the slick surface – with The Yachtsmen sitting back and trying to hit them on the break, Finch almost finding Nathan Stone with a lovely ball in, before the former sent a 25 yard free kick into the wall and out three minutes later.

Harlow were looking more and more dangerous down the left hand side as the half progressed, David Cowley almost catching Elliot Pride out with a dipping ball in that clipped the left hand post and went out.

Read was a constant threat – with the pace of both his and strike-partner James Smith’s attacking play causing problems for the Wroxham defence – and they linked up well with 20 minutes gone, Smith flicking the ball into Read’s path, who sent a low shot in that Pride got down to well to palm away.

From the resulting corner the hosts broke, Gordon finding Danny White down the right to spark a four on two situation, White’s ball in being intercepted on the edge of the box by Josh Urquhart as Wroxham failed to capitalise.

The counter attack was Wroxham’s best hope of an opening and they were looking dangerous every time they broke, Finch providing a great outlet down the left.

And it was this outlet that gave the hosts the lead on 33 minutes. Forshaw found Finch with a delightful through ball, the striker sending in a looping cross that found Nathan Stone towering in at the back post to head into the ground and past Thompson for 1-0, despite Urquhart’s best efforts on the line.

Finch was playing with the bit between his teeth, the Wroxham frontman almost doubling his side’s tally four minutes later, White nodding down David Hinton’s free kick into his path with Finch just unable to connect on the angle.

Wroxham were dealing well with Harlow’s attack, but a lapse in concentration with a minute left of the half let the league leaders back in.

Matt Halliday let the ball pass him by with Read lurking, the Harlow striker nicking in behind to take a touch and place his shot past Elliot Pride to send the game in level at the break.

The away side’s vociferous support upped their game at the start of the second half in attempt to spur their team on and it almost worked two minutes in, Robbie Martin sending in a devilish ball from the right that Pride tipped onto Read, the ball rebounding off the striker and wide from three yards.

The hosts weren’t intimidated, sending down an attack of their own a minute later as Ben Price sent in a lovely cross from the right, Danny White finding a pocket of space to flick a header just over the bar from 10 yards.

Wroxham were finding themselves sitting deeper and deeper as Harlow asserted their authority, Cowley stinging Pride’s gloves with a smart strike before Smith sent a dipping left footed effort from 18 yards that flicked the outside of the net on the way through.

The Yachtsmen responded in turn with a quick break, Stone chesting down Forshaw’s ball in into White path, who hit a sweet half volley that Thompson turned wide.

This proved to be only a brief respite for Wroxham as Harlow continued to press and they got the goal their play deserved with 66 minutes on the clock.

Cowley – who was a constant thorn in Wroxham’s side all game – again wriggled himself into space down the left, sending in a lovely ball that Luke Cuthbert met on the penalty spot to flick into the far corner.

Fabian Simms then fired a shot over from 18 yards as the away side pressed for a third, before a superb triple stop from Edward Thompson denied Wroxham.

White had the first effort after a quick break, Thompson tipping into Finch’s path who could only find the goalkeeper’s outstretched left foot with his effort and Stone trying for a third time on the angle, the Harlow shot-stopper regaining his balance to tip wide in superb fashion.

Alex Read forced Pride into a smart stop before Cowley struck just wide as the visitors went looking for a third – with White forcing Thompson into another smart stop down the other end as Wroxham kept plugging away.

Stone then missed a great chance for the hosts with time ticking away -the striker being found by White only to scuff his shot just wide from eight yards - and this would prove fatal for The Yachtsmen as Harlow held on for the win despite their late efforts.

Thanks to Thomas Crabb (Wroxham FC) for the above match report.