Hawks beat battling Barkingside

The Hawks were once again made to pay for a slow start when Barkingside went ahead through a wonderful strike from distance. As the game progressed the visitors began to assert themselves on the game, and Harlow were level by half-time when Read finished from close range.

Ryan Melaugh scored the winner mid-way through the second half, but the hosts rallied and threw everything at the Harlow defence in the final minutes to try and salvage a point. The Hawks defence held firm to take their first win since the opening day of the season.

It was a nervous start for the visitors, were coming into the game without a win in five outings. Ryan Melaugh, into the starting eleven, saw a couple of speculative volleys fly over in the opening minutes, but it was the home side that were retaining possession.

Barkingside went ahead when Aundre Spencer tried his luck from distance. His long range shot flew into the net, beating Harlow custodian Alex Rossis who was making his debut.

Harry prince was dangerous in attack for Harlow. Fabion Simms played the ball through for Prince to run on to, but former Harlow ‘keeper Darren Behcet spread himself well and smothered the one-on-one shot.

Prince then got on the end of an Alex Read cross, but in stretching for the volley could only put it wide, while at the other end Jonathan Nzengo saw his shot go just wide of the Harlow post.

The visitors had been improving as the game went on, and this saw dividends before the half-time break. Ryan Melaugh’s free kick was palmed away, and from the resulting corner the Hawks equalised. Harry Prince’s corner was flicked on by the boot of Melaugh, allowing Alex Read to tap in from close range.

HT: Barkingside 1-1 Harlow Town

Harlow continued to press in the second half. Junior Dadson’s cross sat up nicely for Ryan Melaugh, but he couldn’t connect with the shot and it was saved easily.

Tall striker Luke With was a handful in the Harlow box, heading down into the path of Jonathan Adebayo who could only drag his shot wide.

Harlow looked most likely to score next. Joe Benjamin, replacing Harry Prince, sent a great cross-field ball in to Alex Read on the edge of the area. He chested the ball down, but right-back Kane Wilson’s perfectly timed covering tackle stole the ball from the striker as he shaped to shoot.

Alex Read had another chance moments later, when Junior Dadson whipped a cross in from the byline. The ball flew across the goal-line, and it was inches away from being put in by Read sliding in at the back post, but his outstretched foot could only put it wide.

The winner came on 74 minutes. Barkingside’s Dapo Abitogun saw his shot blocked by Ibrahima Sonko in front of the Harlow goal allowing Harlow to counter-attack. The Hawks played a neat passing move, streaking up the pitch, which ended with Joe Benjamin crossing in from the right hand side. Ryan Melaugh met the cross in front of the goalkeeper, heading it past him from close range.

The hosts sparked back to life, and were determined to get back into the game, piling on the pressure in the last ten minutes. Luke With raced through on goal, requiring Sonko’s last-ditch tackle to prevent a one-on-one opportunity.

With six minutes of injury time, the hosts had a great chance to steal a point, but the close range header was straight at Alex Rossis who gratefully gathered the ball to his chest.

Harlow weathered the storm to see out the win and a vital three points, while Barkingside, although not getting anything from this match, will be comforted that their performance didn’t look like that of a side propping up the table.

FT: Barkingside 1-2 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 107

The result moves the Hawks up to 8th in the table, albeit having played a game more than the sides around them. Harlow now have eight points from the initial five games.

The next game for Harlow is on Saturday 29th August, in the FA Cup Preliminary Round. We host Essex Senior side Southend Manor. Kick-off is at 3pm.