Harlow see off Witham

Harlow started the game well and raced into the lead when Ibrahima Sonko headed home. Ryan Melaugh and Lewis Perkins added two more, before Alex Read scored one either side of the break.

The Hawks took their foot off the pedal in the second period, and the visitors upped their game to pull two goals back through Daniel Emmanuel and Lance Akins, but the damage was done and Harlow took a deserved three points.

It was the visitors that had the opening chance, when George Cocklin dragged a good opportunity wide. The Witham defence were then tested when Lance Akins and Tyler Hayes threw themselves in front of shots from Harlow’s Lewis Perkins and Junior Dadson respectively.

The Hawks opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Ibrahima Sonko rose highest to convert Ryan Melaugh’s inswinging corner. The powerful header flew into the top corner of the net, leaving Lewis Baker stranded on what would be a busy afternoon for the Witham ‘keeper.

Just five minutes later the lead was doubled. Alex Read exquisitely brought down the ball and turned the defence in one move, before playing in Ryan Melaugh. Melaugh strode into the area and shot past Baker to put the hosts two up.

A rare moment of opportunity came for Witham when a corner went over the head of Niklas Freund in the Harlow net. The ball dropped onto the goal-line, but Ibrahima Sonko reacted first to hook it away.

Harlow were three up when Junior Dadson broke through on the right wing. The pacey winger raced past left-back Haynes before seeing his shot tipped onto the post. The rebound fell kindly to Lewis Perkins who smashed home.

Just before the half-time break Alex Read was on the scoresheet when Witham failed to clear a corner. Read chested it down and hit home from close range to give the hosts a 4-0 lead going into the interval.

HT: Harlow Town 4-0 Witham Town

Witham came out in the second half looking like a different team, and within minutes had fashioned a chance. A corner fell to Daniel Emmanuel at the back post, but his goal-bound effort was blocked by the diving Sam West.

Before Witham could get into the game, the Hawks scored their fifth. Fabion Simms played a perfectly weighted ball behind the back line, and Junior Dadson once again used his speed to accelerate away from the Witham defence. He reached the byline and cut back for Alex Read to tap home his second.

Witham were improving as the half went on, and with 57 minutes on the clock they pulled one back. George Cocklin played a delightful cross-field ball to Daniel Emmanuel. He turned Harlow right-back Ben Glasgow before cutting in and placing a low shot into the corner.

Five minutes later Witham had another. Lance Akins’ glancing header converted a corner to give Witham hope of a comeback.

The visitors were beginning to get into the game, with goal-scorer Daniel Emmanuel beginning to exert influence on the Witham attack, but the Hawks stood firm. Niklas Freund saved easily from Lewis Gobold’s speculative shot, before substitute Jordan Pavett also forced the Harlow ‘keeper into action.

The Hawks were content to sit back, and having done the damage early in the game they allowed Witham to press forward. The hosts still threatened on the counter-attack, but the final whistle came without any more goals.

FT: Harlow Town 5-2 Witham Town
ATTENDANCE: 267

The Hawks extended their winning run to five league games, and seven in all competitions. They remain in fourth place in the league table, on 20 points from 9 games.

The next game for Harlow is away to Thamesmead Town on Monday 21st September. Kick off is at 7:45pm.