Harlow overcome tenacious Tilbury

New signing Sam Holloway’s headed goal separated the two sides in a close game that had seen Harlow take the lead in the first half, before going behind soon after half-time.

The recent rain had left the pitch looking boggy, and both teams started tentatively as they accustomed themselves to the playing conditions.

The opening 20 minutes had few chances to speak of, Joshua Urquhart and Holloway confidently dealing with the Tilbury attack through the centre of the field, while Harlow’s Junior Appiah and Shane Stamp found no joy from their work on the flanks.

The game sparked to life on 24 minutes as David Cowley squared the ball to Layne Eadie, who took two steps before smashing the ball towards goal from 20 yards out. The shot flew into the net, shaving the corner of the goal as it went, leaving the Tilbury goalkeeper with no chance to get anywhere near it.

The goal spurred on the Hawks who began to pile on the pressure, before Tilbury equalised against the run of play. The Harlow defence failed to clear a corner, falling to Tilbury’s Rimmel Daniel who deftly lobbed it over Ed Thompson.

For the second game in a row Alex Read had a penalty appeal waved away. A tangle of legs in the box saw him end up on the floor before he could get a shot away, and the Hawks went into the break disappointed not to be in the lead.

HT: Tilbury 1-1 Harlow Town

It was Tilbury’s turn to take the lead as they came flying out of the block in the second half. A cross in from the right was met by Tom Wood, who volleyed low into the corner of the Harlow net.

The second half was as disjointed as the first, a series of minor fouls and stoppages preventing any flow to the game.

A moment of individual skill from Junior Appiah proved decisive when he took on two players in the box before being brought down by the third. Read smashed home the penalty to bring the score level at two-all on 63 minutes.

Harlow’s Fabion Simms struck narrowly over from a corner, and Tilbury’s Harry Cook tried his luck with a long-range shot before the final goal of the game gave Harlow the lead for the second time, 13 minutes from the end.

David Cowley put the corner towards the penalty spot and Sam Holloway, in his first game in a Harlow shirt, rose highest to head towards the far post. The ball somehow made it through a wall of players on the line, delighting the travelling support and players alike.

FT: Tilbury 2-3 Harlow Town
Attendance: 100

The win keeps the Hawks one point behind the league-leaders Needham Market, still with a game in hand. The next game for Harlow is on Tuesday 16th December, 7:45pm kick off.