Late goal sinks Hawks

The Hawks were on the front foot during the first half, and a period of pressure paid off when Joe Benjamin took the lead for the home side. Against the run of play, a freak goal let Sudbury into the tie after Harlow squandered a host of chances.

With the second half a much more open affair the two sides traded blows, and as it looked as though the spoils would be shared, Sudbury struck with only three minutes left to seal the win.

Sudbury tested Harlow ‘keeper David Hughes in the first minute, when he had to scramble across goal to keep out a powerful free kick that was heading for the top corner.

It was the home side that began to exert pressure, and a long-range shot from Layne Eadie was parried into the path of Junior Dadson. A last-gasp block from Ross Bailey prevented a certain goal.

Alex Read was inches away from converting a Joe Benjamin cross, and then Fabion Simms failed to connect properly with a header from Mario Noto’s corner, when the midfielder should really have tested the ‘keeper.

Harlow deservedly took the lead on 16 minutes. A through-ball was deflected into the path of Alex Read, who chipped it over the onrushing Marcus Garnham in the Sudbury goal. Time stood still as the ball floated and bounced off the top of the crossbar, but Joe Benjamin was on hand the run the ball into the open net.

Dadson forced Garnham into a good save when his shot seemed to be heading for the top corner, before Mario Noto’s free kick deflected off the wall and crept past the upright.

Ibrahima Sonko headed a corner downwards, but the Sudbury defence held firm to clear off the line, and Junior Dadson had another good opportunity but his shot cannoned off the corner of the goal.

Harlow, with the wind behind them, had plenty of chances to extend the lead, but ultimately the failure to make them count would come back to haunt them.

Luke Callander and George Clark played a nice one-two to get round the Harlow defence, but Ibrahima Sonko stole the ball from Callander as he shaped to shoot. From the resulting clearance Joe Maybanks put his effort from distance wide.

With half-time approaching, the hosts were hit with a sucker punch. Callander hit a wayward shot that seemed to be heading well wide of the post. The swirling wind caught the ball, and looped it back on target and over the head of David Hughes, to the disbelief of the home crowd.

HT: Harlow Town 1-1 AFC Sudbury

The game was a much more open affair in the second half, and with the benefit of the wind behind them, the visitors were able to fashion more chances. Ross Bailey dragged a shot wide, before Craig Parker had a great chance to take the lead. He dashed into the box, but then sliced well wide for a horrible miss.

Jared Small forced the Sudbury stopper into a sharp save, while Alex Read put a shot from the edge of the area just wide of the post.

Sudbury’s Luke Callander blasted a free kick towards goal, spurred on by the wind, and David Hughes did well to tip over the bar. Substitute Liam Wales then beat the Harlow ‘keeper but Layne Eadie cleared off the line.

As it looked like the game would end in stalemate, Hughes couldn’t hold a long-distance shot. The rebound was hit against the post, and then ricocheted into the path of Craig Parker, who finished into the open net to secure all three points.

FT: Harlow Town 1-2 AFC Sudbury
ATTENDANCE: 245

The result sees the Hawks drop to 11th in the table. Still 5 points away from the playoff places with games in hand, but the top four are starting to pull away.

With Tuesday's game postponed, next up Harlow travel away to Great Wakering Rovers on Saturday 12th December. 3pm kick off.