Hawks Do The Double Over Hoddesdon

After losing 2 games at home in a row, every Harlow Town player, staff member, coach and supporter knew that Hoddesdon away was a must-win game. Failing to win this game would’ve meant that we would still have been out of the playoff places, having played more games than some of the other teams.

With Hoddesdon sitting 20th in the Thurlow Nunn League, the boys in red were the definite favourites going into the local derby, and the performance certainly reflected that - as the players were exemplary under the circumstances.

It was a Starting-XI with a number of changes for Harlow; Taylor Hastings was benched in favour of a partnership of James Folkes and Fabion Simms. New signing Raheem Gray also made his first start, playing up top alongside Gavin Cockman.

It was a first 20 minutes that lacked clear-cut chances for either side. The Hawks were by far the dominant force, with Hoddesdon failing to create any half-chances for themselves, whilst Raheem Gray and Gavin Cockman both looked destined to open scoring to Harlow.

Inevitably, the goal did come for the Hawks, as James Folkes made a superb run all the way from centre-half, down the left wing, sending the Hoddesdon right-back to the shops. Folkesy then delivered a pinpoint cross into Jack Cousins who headed it onto the post, but Gavin Cockman was there to head in the rebound and to the delight of the many travelling fans, the Hawks had the lead.

Shortly after, a half-chance was created for Harlow, as Gavin Cockman launched a long-throw into the box that was headed towards the goal, and Junior Dadson tried to stretch for it for what would’ve been goal number 100 for the club, but he couldn’t get there and Hoddesdon got the goal kick.

Hoddesdon finally got an attempt away, as a free kick sent in by Jamie Att met the head of Callum Bennison, who directed it goalwards and forced James Pellin to palm it wide, although it was a routine save for the Hawks keeper.

With not long to go in the first half, Raheem Gray came incredibly close to doubling the lead, after Tom Jelliman played a great ball forward into him and with a burst of pace, he hit the shot slightly wide and the score remained 0-1 at half time.

Harlow showed no mercy when beginning the second half. Gavin Cockman came extremely close to doubling the lead, but a great low save from Liam Nugent was the only thing denying him.

Just moments later, a red corner was swung into the box and James Folkes, who was already on fire, smashed it home with a bullet header and the crowd went wild.

It wasn’t long until Harlow decided to kill the game off once and for all for Hoddesdon, and a moment of Raheem Gray excellence was what lead to the third goal. The ball was played into him and he bursted away from the Hoddesdon defence and gave Liam Nugent absolutely no chance, putting the game beyond doubt. On his first start, Raheem Gray had transformed the way Harlow attacked, and when scoring, he jumped straight into the crowd for what will be the first of many celebrations for the young forward.

Hoddesdon kept trying to get something in a game that had not gone their way whatsoever, and James Pellin was forced into making another impressive save from a free-kick, but that was all Hoddesdon could manage as it was too late, and Harlow were finally back to winning ways.