Hawks play out draw with Romford

It was another disappointing afternoon for Harlow, who failed to take all three points despite once again controlling possession for the majority of the game.

A freak goal put the visitors ahead just before half time when a cross somehow went under the bar. Harlow hit back in the second half through a Billy Jones header, and even though the hosts threw everything at the opposition in the closing period, they had to settle for a point.

The Hawks had their first sight of goal when Ibrahima Sonko, wearing the captain’s armband, headed over from a corner with just a couple of minutes gone.

Romford didn’t muster their first attack until the 17th minute, forcing a spectacular save from home ‘keeper Niklas Freund. Romford’s Matt Frew sent a header goalbound, and diving Freund tipped it around the post.

It was the turn of Romford custodian, Michael Gooch, to keep the scores level when he pushed an Ibrahima Sonko header over the bar. Sonko was then on hand at the other end to throw himself in front of a Joe Bricknell shot.

The deadlock was broken on 43 minutes. Romford left-back Jamie Dicks sent a 30-yard cross deep into the box, which somehow missed everyone and dipped under the crossbar.

HT: Harlow Town 0-1 Romford

Harlow upped the tempo in the second half and began to use their possession to create chances. Ryan Melaugh produced a tempting cross from the left, but Gooch plucked it from the air inches from the head of attacker Billy Jones.

The left channel was paying dividends for the Hawks. Layne Eadie produced cross after cross with the ‘keeper never looking entirely comfortable. Alex Read put a header wide, and Gooch was fortunate that his flapped clearance didn’t fall into the path of a Harlow player.

The equaliser came from another attack down the left. Ryan Melaugh flew down the wing, before delivering a pinpoint cross into the 6 yard box. Billy Jones, in his last game for the Hawks before relocating to Gloucester, headed past Gooch who could do nothing to stop it.

Harlow began to pile on the pressure. A scrambled clearance fell to Junior Dadson on the edge of the box but he couldn’t keep the shot down.

In the dying minutes of the game the Hawks had chances to find a winner. Dadson reached the byline and crossed from the right. Louis Perkins’s outstretched foot diverted the ball goalwards, but it bounced off the post and Gooch gratefully smothered the ball on the goal-line.

Then deep in to injury time another Layne Eadie cross was sent into the box. Billy Jones’ header was spilt by the ‘keeper and the ball was hooked away before a Harlow player could react.

The final whistle sounded, and the Hawks had to reflect on two points dropped.

FT: Harlow Town 1-1 Romford
ATTENDANCE: 236

After four league games, Harlow find themselves 14th in the league table with five points.

The next game for Harlow is on Monday 24th August, away to Barkingside. It will be a 7:45pm kick off.