Hawks held by Wroxham

A sublime strike from Alex Read secured a draw for the hosts, having earlier gone a goal behind. Harlow will once again rue missed chances as they dominated most of the second half, but just couldn’t find a winning goal.

The home side started brightly, midfielder Shane Stamp coming close to opening the scoring after a near one-two with James Smith. His shot was saved well, turned around the post by visiting ‘keeper Elliott Pride.

Wroxham began to get into the game, and Danny White found himself in space inside the Harlow area to release a powerful shot. New signing Andrew Walker was equal to it, tipping it over the bar.

With 25 minutes gone Wroxham opened the scoring. A Harlow attack broke down, and the resulting long-ball clearance was expertly plucked from the air by Danny White. He turned and shot under Walker to put the away side ahead.

Wroxham had chance to double their lead minutes later. Kyle Baker broke through the defence and squared the ball for striker Jordan King in acres of space. He only had to beat Walker, but his shot was expertly saved from close range.

Junior Dadson had chances to draw level for the hosts, two shots going just wide, while Marc Gorbell’s header also just shaved the post.

It was top-scorer Alex Read who pulled Harlow level four minutes before the break. He received the ball 20 yards out, and seeing Pride off his line struck the ball over the keeper for it to dip under just the crossbar.

A frantic end to the first half saw both sides go close. First James Smith expertly turned his defender, only to see his shot crash of the bar, before a great passing move by the Wroxham forward line saw Josh Urquart with a last-ditch tackle to prevent the shot.

HT: Harlow Town 1-1 Wroxham

The second half began at the same fast pace, strikers for both sides creating chances. Alex Read released a shot from an almost impossible angle, to be pushed wide for a corner, before another King once again found his effort saved by Harlow custodian Walker.

The Hawks began to exert real pressure on the hosts who looked to be tiring badly as the half went on. Junior Dadson had several half-chances, while Read was only denied by a late block tackle.

It was then Wroxham’s turn to be denied by the woodwork. Kyle Baker, who had looked threatening all game, cut in from the left and his right-footed shot smashed off the bar.

As the half drew to a close, the fresh legs of Junior Appiah, who had replaced Dadson, passed the Wroxham defence and made it to the byline. His cross was inches from being converted by the diving header of Shane Stamp, but it was the winger that ended up in the back of the net rather than the ball.

Despite Harlow’s dominance of the second half, Wroxham held on to share the spoils in what was a thoroughly entertaining match with plenty of chances for either side.

FT: Harlow Town 1-1 Wroxham
ATTENDANCE: 220

Despite dropping two points, the result was enough for the Hawks to leap-frog Needham Market into first place. The league-leaders had fallen to a 1-0 defeat to Brightlingsea Regent, giving Harlow a point advantage at the top of the table.

Needham still have two games in hand, but with some tricky away midweek ties coming up it is still all to play for.

The next game for Harlow is away to Cheshunt on Saturday 21st February. It is a 3pm kick off.