Disputed Penalty Decision robs Hawks of victory

A tough game at The Wardale Williams Stadium on a very boggy pitch. Harlow started the better of the two sides and created the first chance of the game on 3 minutes, a delightful cross field ball from Warren Goodhind found Shane Stamp wide left, he crossed the ball to Captain David Cowley who's first shot charged down but fell back to him only to shoot over the bar.

AFC Sudbury created there first chance on 7 minutes when Jordan Blackwell shot over the bar, on 14 minutes Terry Rymer tried to chip Ed Thompson but the Hawks stopper was equal to it.

AFC Sudbury winger Kris Newby was lucky not to see a Red Card when his swinging elbow connected with Shane Stamp, but the Referee Mr Cutmore did not see Newby's elbow connect.

The rest of the half saw Harlow dominating possession but without creating many chances, anything that was created by AFC Sudbury was dealt with by the impressive Craig Pope making his debut and the rest of the backline. On 37 minutes when Junior Dadson found Alex Read who neatly set up James Smith who dragged his shot narrowly wide. Dadson himself went close two minutes before the break, some neat footwork took him past three defenders but his shot just went past the back post.

The Hawks started the 2nd half strongly and when James Smith was fouled on the edge of the box, man of the match Cowley stepped up and curled the free-kick into the back of the net passed the helpless Marcus Garnham.

Smith then shot just wide on 70 minutes with the Hawks well on top.

On 82 minutes Rymer shot well over when well placed and two minutes later Dadson broke through the offside trap and squared the ball to Shane Stamp who shot straight at Garnham. A minute later Stamp again had a shot saved low down by the AFC Sudbury goalkeeper.

Then 3 minutes into 4 minutes of injury time Tyler Kemp ran down the left flank unchallenged, he passed to substitute Craig Parker who run across the face of the penalty box, Hawks substitute Marc Gorbell slid in and clearly knocked the ball away from the midfielder, the referee blew and gave a Penalty, The Hawks defenders and goalkeeper were furious not just at the alleged fould but also with it being outside the box.
After the protests James Baker stepped up and smashed the ball down the middle to give AFC Sudbury an undeserved point.