Hawks win on opening day

Alex Read, the golden boot winner from the previous two seasons, wasted no time in getting off the mark when his well taken shot from distance found the back of the net. Read then turned provider for Junior Dadson to double the lead in the second half.

The Harlow defence were solid throughout, restricting the Cheshunt attack to speculative efforts, and the Hawks saw out the win to take three points on the opening day of the season.

The opening period of the game saw both teams sizing each other up, with possession changing hands several times without any clear-cut chances being created.

The best opportunity came from Billy Jones, re-signing for Harlow having featured for the Hertfordshire side during pre-season. Joe Benjamin cut back from the byline, but Jones could only hit over the bar.

The breakthrough came on 18 minutes. Alex Read received the ball 25 yards from goal, allowed it to bounce once and then instinctively turned and rifled a shot past the unsuspecting ‘keeper.

Cheshunt had opportunities to level the match. Kyle Assante and Tom Bruno both shot over the bar, before Jason Hallett fired into the side netting from an acute angle.

HT: Harlow Town 1-0 Cheshunt

The second half saw much of the same, with both sides struggling to find the final ball. Harlow were settling into their rhythm as the game went on, and on 57 minutes the lead was doubled.

Captain David Cowley crossed into the area to find Alex Read who held up the ball brilliantly with his back to goal. He laid off to Junior Dadson, who powered past the final defender before shooting low into the corner of the net.

Cheshunt should have pulled one back on 70 minutes. Former Harlow player Luke Marshall crossed from the byline, and Jason Hallett blasted the gilt-edged opportunity over from 10 yards out, again failing to really test Niklas Freund in the Harlow goal.

As the minutes ticked towards the final whistle, a goalmouth scramble in the Cheshunt area seemed destined to be a third for Harlow. Leon Antoine headed down for Lewis Perkins to shoot, but visiting defender Matt Toms threw himself in the way.

There was more brave defending at the other end, as Harlow had to defend a Cheshunt cross. Ibrahima Sonko headed the ball clear, and then charged down the follow-up shot to cap a fantastic defensive display.

FT: Harlow Town 2-0 Cheshunt
ATTENDANCE: 293

With the first win on the board, Harlow now make the long mid-week journey to Wroxham. The Norfolk side lost 1-0 away to Tilbury, so will be keen to put in a good performance.

The match kicks off at 7:45pm on Tuesday 11th August 2015.